Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence - Ascension

Sphere of Influence - Ascension takes you on a more personal journey through the Sengoku Jidai period of Japan. Take control, rise through the ranks and explore an even more detailed game than the original. This standalone expansion improves on the original in almost every way.

Fans of understatement would describe Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension as sprawling.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension is a very deep, complex, and well made game with high quality experiences from the lowest to the highest level of rule in Feudal Japan.  It is also a tease, showing you all of this quality without taking the time to actually explain itself. Frustrating camera controls and a total lack of guidance leave a bad taste in the mouth when the game so easily could have avoided both and been truly great.

A great strategy title that hides itself behind some pretty inaccessible beginnings. What it lacks in visual flair it more than makes up for in strategic depth. The political system especially gives a great simulation of the trials of leadership. For strategy fans, this should definitely be on your radar. For anyone new to the genre, give it a go but be prepared to exercise patience while you learn how the game works.

A great Sengoku period strategy game with thousands of unique historical figures that sadly doesn't offer much beyond the previous release in the series.

Nobunaga's Ambition is a turn-based strategy sim that does it's best to impress. Although it may not be my cup of tea, it will currently come as a welcome entry to fans of the genre.

I find myself in an odd situation where I felt miserable playing Nobunaga’s Ambition, mostly because it’s just not the kind of game that I enjoy. However, at the same time, I couldn’t help but be impressed at the level of depth and polish in the overall experience. Still, it remains that this game did nothing to make me want to delve deeper into the genre of Grand Strategy.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension is a hell of a game built upon an already solid framework. This blows the already great Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII out of the water, and is an essential purchase for anyone who enjoys complex strategy games, or has a passing interest in Japanese history.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence - Ascension offers a more accessible approach than its predecessor, while bringing its historical chops and in-depth 4X mechanics to the forefront to make for an engaging experience.

Ascension is a fantastic stand-alone that is a superior game in every way to its predecessor. It’s perfect for both new players and veterans and both with have plenty of content to get their teeth into.