Rebirth of a Franchise: Pokémon x Nobunagas Ambition

When 2011 saw the 5th generation of gotta-catch-‘em-all critters landed on the Nintendo DS in Pokémon Black and White, many gamers and even some long time fans lamented that the series, though still showing much of the stellar quality seen in the original Red and Blue games of GameBoy yore, was beginning to feel a little stale. And who wouldn’t blame them? Pokémon, with all its bells and whistles, is essentially the exact same game it was when it debuted over 15 years ago. The only real differences between generations are the total number of wild and wacky ‘mons (that clock in at over 600 now) and the addition of more strange invisible Pokémon stats that only the most hardcore players pay any attention to.

The only real differences between generations are the total number of wild and wacky ‘mons (that clock in at over 600 now) and the addition of more strange invisible Pokémon stats that only the most hardcore players pay any attention to.

Sure, there have been the varied and numerous offshoot titles: a Pokémon Snap here or a Rumble Blast there… Virtually every game genre, from roguelikes to puzzlers, can now be enjoyed with a generous side of Pokémon. And while legions of children and diehard fans still get their kicks from the countless releases debuting year after year under the Pokémon label, there is a growing number of older fans who just don’t feel the same charm they once felt from the franchise. These jaded fans needed something new, something fresh that combines the Pokémon they loved as children with an exciting gameplay system that simultaneously drips with nostalgia and challenges them as now mature gamers.

It seems that GameFreak has heard fans’ pleas, and has teamed up with Tecmo Koei to give us Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition.

I know what you’re thinking. “What on earth is Nobunaga’s Ambition?” Out of the minority of readers who have happened to have actually heard of it, I bet only a fraction of you can say you’ve played a Nobunaga title. Nobunaga’s Ambition, or Nobunaga no Yabō, is a Japanese RTS series that first appeared in English on the Sega Genesis in 1991, and bears many similarities to Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Unlike Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is set in China, Nobunaga’s Ambition takes place in feudal Japan. The games are loosely based on Japanese history and feature a number of historical heroes for the player to select. The ultimate goal of, of course, is to conquer all of Japan. Now, if you’re thinking to yourself, “Boy, those Samurai Warriors characters sure look like the ones in Nobunaga’s Ambition,” that’s because they’re one and the same. Much like Dynasty Warriors is an action spinoff of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so is Samurai Warriors the action version of Nobunaga’s Ambition. In fact, the character designs for Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition are actually directly based on the designs used in Samurai Warriors 3, not the original Nobunaga’s Ambition. But where does Pokémon fit into all this?

Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition sets off to be an entirely new crossover, bringing the best of both worlds to the table. Players start off by selecting to play as a male or female general who is automatically paired with an Eevee. As you make your way through the various kingdoms of Japan, you will meet historical figures who have been similarly paired with a Pokémon ally to fight beside them in tactical, grid-based battles against other rulers. Unlike the traditional “catch ‘em all” mentality of the Pokémon series to date, the crossover only has one Pokémon paired to each warrior, with up to six warriors able to join together and battle at any given time. Some new Pokémon and additional “trainers” can be scouted in the game’s various areas to increase your army, however only 200+ Pokémon will actually be available to scout in the game. That’s only 1/3 of the total number of existing Pokémon to date, meaning someone’s favorite ‘mon is undoubtedly going to get left out.

Throughout the game, both allies and enemies will “evolve” in appearance along with their Pokémon, but it hasn't be confirmed whether this will be just a gimmicky Pokémon tie-in or actually effect the gameplay. I’d put my money in the Pokémon and their trainers gaining new abilities as they evolve, similar to the main games in the series. The game’s campaign is said to clock in at about 20 hours, after which a “free mode” will be unlocked that reportedly expands game time to 200+ hours. Hopefully Nintendo will be as good about extending the life of Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition as they have been with the main Pokémon series — fans have reason to be hopeful, as numerous downloadable “episodes” that expand the narrative have already been planned by the company, with one being available from day one in Japan.

With all these new features, does the unexpected crossover in Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition really the potential to be the breath of fresh air Pokémon fans have been waiting for? It may not be able to rival the depth and longevity of the main series, but it should offer enough new content and intriguing gameplay to shoot it right to the top of best offshoot Pokémon games. I, for one, am ready to put my money on just about anything with “Pokémon” written on it (a sad existence, I know), but this new direction for the series is certainly worth getting excited about, even if you’re a cold-hearted Pokémon cynic.

But that new announcement of Pokémon Black/White 2? I don’t even know what to think.