Shingen the Ruler

The game is set during the Sengoku period of Japan. The player is Takeda Shingen, who is based in the holding of Kai and Shinano. The goal of the game is to conquer central Japan, roughly spanning from Kyoto to Kamakura. With the exception of "General Li" and "General Su" in the holding of Noto, the remaining warlords depicted in the game are actual historical figures, including Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kenshin. Play starts in January, 1545, and the player may make one action per month. The player must build and train an army, cultivate provinces, make (and break) alliances with neighboring daimyo. The game featured both random disasters (such as festivals) and predefined events (such as the death of Shingen's father). One could also train Shingen's heir, Takeda Katsuyori. Combat consisted of a field skirmish, followed by a battle at the castle itself. Each holding's field and castle varied in layout. An automatic battle system was also provided, which calculated damage done by each army.