04.17.03 - 10:37 AM
Koei has been a longstanding producer of some of the most elaborate and cinematic games to capture the historical and semi-fictional events of mystic Asia. From the hack-and-slash of the Dynasty Warriors series to the fast-paced strategizing of Dynasty Tactics, they seem to have an endless supply of inventive ways of bringing ancient Chinese legends into the livingroom. After a veritable horde of Dynasty games, Koei has taken a break from the madness only to settle back into waters not visited since the first Kessen: feudal Japan. Nobunaga's Ambition Online is Koei's return to a series once thought abandoned for the glamour of ancient Chinese senshi. Though this time, the war to control 16th century Japan will be fought with real players in real-time. Today, Mark gives us our first look at Koei's first ambitious foray into the MMORPG jungle. I think you'll find something of merit in what Koei hopes to accomplish with this title. Also, since a picture is worth a thousand words, we've put together a little gallery of screenshots of the game for your enjoyment. Nobunaga's Ambition Online is currently in beta testing in Japan and is expected to be released on those shores this summer for the PlayStation 2. A domestic release has yet to be announced, but we'll keep you posted.
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| Stephen Harris |