The twelfth Nobunaga game for the PS2 features more of the same as previous volumes in the series but includes the concept of technology to the empire management and adds 20 new generals to the ranks which must be unlocked before they can be assigned to their positions in your armies. Over 80 types of technology such as guns, armor, and weapons of war affect the tide of battle and influence how military campaigns conclude. Along with the march of war, gamers are wont to form alliances with neighboring clans in order to build strategic positions where they may provide their aid if another clan attacks and quid pro quo. To add to the intrigue, generals and retainers in your own empire must be kept in good graces if they're to remain loyal and energized. In addition to all five scenarios from the PC version of the game, the PS2 conversion includes four new scenarios which must also be unlocked before they are accessible.

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

NCS Game Notes & Spoilers
* In the intro to the game, swirling clouds above a crimson backdrop give way to an image of a sword and the Nobunaga logo. After resting for a bit, a map of Japan appears and the camera focuses in on a geometrid gric which becomes fully fleshed out villages. The camera plows further ahead and focuses on a battle in progress where warriors are slashing and chopping each other by the hundreds. The sequence changes to an onrush of horse riding soldiers being met by gunfire as crouching soldiers kneel and fire away with their muskets. The battlefield is littered with the dead - if you look at the middle foreground, you can spy a wriggling death squirm in progress as a dying soldier twitches his last. A resplendent Nobunaga appears with his men and sweeps his cape with a dramatic flourish... Title screen appears.

* Upon starting a game, the basic controls and button assignments are summarized in a dialogue sequence. There is no spoken dialogue in the game but grandiose music plays in the background continuously. Thankfully, there is no lengthy start up story or details to plow through - the game starts up immediately and you're in control within 5 minutes from boot to initial control.

* The game starts with your base capital at the center of the screen. To get started, build nearby buildings and farms to slowly grow your city and base of power. The types of buildings that one may construct at the outset are limited by your level of technology and foundries. Every construction takes up gold and human capital. Three buildings may be constructed in your first turn and available construction sites are highlighted in a light blue overlay around your capital. Once each building type and site is selected, press the TRIANGLE button to proceed. Construction sites will them be shown with building materials at the site as work begins.

* If you've nothing better to do, you may sit there and watch the construction sites as they slowly go from patches of land with wooden boards on them to active sites with little animations and steaming swirls of smoke as industry gets under way. They'll eventually flesh out into interesting little structures.

* Armies may also be built up gradually with each turn. Standard infantry, cavalry, archers, trebuchets, and cannons may be purchased to fortify your defenses and eventually, your marching armies who head to battle against other empires.

* CONTROLS are as follows:

L-Analog / Cursor movement
R-Analog / Camera focus in, rotate, pan, etc
O Button / Activate action
X Button / Toggle map movement; use with the D-pad or L-Analog to look around the world
SQUARE / Bring up the action menu which allows you to do everything
TRIANGLE / Changes game modes
SELECT / Brings up joypad configuration, game objectives, story background
R1 Trigger / Go back in page (reading) / On a map, it will return you to home base if you're inspecting opponents
L1 Trigger / Go forward in page (reading)
START / Game options and/or quit game and return to start menu
L2 Trigger / Bring up stats, maps, and battle strength stats
R2 Trigger / Centers map

* Scholars differ on what prompted Akechi to turn against his former liege but one possibility is the successful siege at Yakami Castle where Akechi was able to negotiate the peaceful surrender of Hatano Hideharu. However, when Hatano was brought before Nobunaga, he was killed. Blaming Akechi for Oda's treachery, Hatano retainers killed Akechi's mother, Makiko.

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