14 DAY TRIAL // PlayStation 2 owners might have a reason for joy, since a new title is close to be released exclusively for the gaming console by Koei. Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power is a historical simulation set during the 16th century in the Feudal Japan and it comes from "The Man" itself - Kou Shibusawa, Koei's co-founder and well known game producer (think of Romance of the Three Kingdoms or the P.T.O. series).
The game, set during the Sengoku (the Warring States), offers the chance to control Nobunaga or any of his rival lords in a quest to unite Japan under one ruler. To do this, you will have to win 7 scenarios which cover over 30 years of history (from the 1551 Struggle for Power to the events following Nobunaga's death in 1582). Uhm.... wait a minute, then! Doesn't it sound strange if you can play as Nobunaga, but your character dies before the game's over? Hmm... maybe that's why there are only 7 scenarios available!
Anyway, it's worth noting that, for the first time in the series, all the battles will be carried out using a full 3D game engine, plus the fact that you can risk all your game progress with an "all in" option, which allows you to send your entire empire in battle. If you win, congrats! You got yourself a new territory. If not, game over, dude! Small piece of advice: try this after six straight hours of playing the game, with no saves. You'll really feel the adrenaline then.
Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power tries to be more than just your regular military domination game. It actually tries to "bring back to life" the Feudal Japan and comes packed with different character edit functions and options. If you want to grab this title, you should head towards your nearest game shop starting the 5th of February, when the game will be launched in the United States. Don't forget - it's a PS2 exclusive!