Listen.

This game is awesome.

This game is also horrendously flawed.

I understand that this is really a Nobunaga’s Ambition game. I get that. But in America, this game is going to appeal strictly to fans of the Pokemon series. The last game I played like this was the Tenchi Muyo RPG - that’s how little I understand what the hell I’m doing. I understand the battle mechanic - move your dude, let another dude beat your dude up, beat that dude up. Simple. I got that. However, a lot of aspects of this game make no sense if you’re new to the Nobunaga’s Ambition series (i.e. EVERYONE IN AMERICA.) I’m lucky I already understand how battle system works, because the rest of the game makes no goddamn sense. For starters, the game moves in “months.” But Alex, you’re thinking. That doesn’t tell me much. Yeah, it doesn’t tell me much, either. I still don’t understand how or why I change months in this game, and if I use a month to putz around and get items or grind, how does that affect my overall gameplay? Will I suddenly be attacked? Will I get less points in the end? I don’t know, because I’m not told how months affect what the fuck I’m doing. Instead of losing battles, taking what little experience I got from them, and trying again, I was resetting in paranoia, afraid that my losses would only lead to future losses. WHICH, IT TURNS OUT, THEY CAN. I think? So there’s that. Then, when you recruit new warriors, you have to shove them in a spare castle. I think. I’m not sure, because it never properly explains that, so I’ve been accidentally “dismissing” warriors that I didn’t think I needed, and it turns out YOU CAN’T GET THEM BACK. So here I’m like “oh, fire won’t help at all in this water village” and BOOM no more Charmander forever. Or maybe I can get them back? I’m not sure, because I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GOING ON.

So now I’m accidentally stuck with a team of six when I could have like 12 spread between castles. So I decide “you know what? I think I’ve really fucked this to hell. Let me just try again.” So I go to new game. “You can’t start a new game until you delete your save file.” uh… okay? How do I do that? There doesn’t seem to be an option… finally I consult the manual. Apparently to wipe a save file, I have to wait for the logo screen to come on when I boot the game, then hold ABXY until it deletes it. Kinda defeats the purpose of a new game button, huh? Also, it’s IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WITHOUT HAVING THE MANUAL.

Lemme give you a hint. Play this game with the manual right next to you. It is an absolute necessity. I honestly may buy a strategy guide. I do not understand how all these professional game reviewers said that this game is such an easy pick up, because it’s not. It could not be a more difficult thing for a typical Pokemon player to pick up and go with. It took me like six tries to beat level two. Unless you’ve played a game like this before, this is in no way, shape or form easy to just pick up and go.

Do I recommend buying this game? Absolutely, especially if you’re a Pokemon fan who’s ready to try something just a little different. Be patient, and keep that manual handy. You can’t just barge through this game like Mario or Zelda, it requires a whole new way of thinking.