It feels like something of a full circle moment for Nobunaga’s Ambition to land back on a Nintendo console.

Originally getting a release as far back as the SNES – one you can even check out on Nintendo’s virtual console – it’s even more apt that Koei Tecmo’s historical strategy sim was also available day on Nintendo Switch 2.

And while this one already got a release on the original Switch, it’s the Switch 2 version that truly allows you to experience the game as intended. Because it has some of the best JoyCon 2 Mouse Controls of any game available right now.

This immediately makes it a vast improvement over the Switch version with the control scheme obviously less clunky and performance being much improved. Though this one is still, admittedly, a tricky game to get your head around.

The new Complete Edition features all content made available for the original 2022 release, including the multiple scenarios and even some new ones to really fill out the content and possibilities for you and your ambitions for conquering and ruling.

And one of the other big complaints about the previous release has also been addressed with more elaborate, detailed tutorials which really deep dive into the mechanics of the game. They can almost be too in-depth, and sometimes not fully clear exactly what you should and shouldn’t be doing, but you will gradually pick up the rules and requirements as you keep playing.

Essentially, you take on any number of the scenarios with semi-accurate historical relevancy with a dose of embellishment and see them through by taking control of land, building on it and assigning roles to your lords, giving them their own control, then preparing to fight back against imposing armies and getting the advanttage on others.

It’s all neatly presented with story told through cut-scenes and break-out character portraits, providing the player some context on the different warring families, lineage and relationships between those in your own camp and others.

You make a choice by selecting a faction from the map, each with difficulty depending on their positioning, quality of their forces, and the attributes they possess.

Plus there’s over 2,200 officers in the game, so there’s a large number to meet right away, and multiple states for you to control and take charge with as you try to influence and affect history as best you can.

You’ll eventually get to pick laws and policies for your people to follow, ala Civilization and grow your gold, people and resources overtime by comanding loyalty, fealty, and, of course, going to war and claiming victories.

The thing about Nobunaga’s Ambition is it is a particularly challenging strategy game to delve into from the off, so you’re going to need to have at least some passing interest in the genre and even the games in order to get the most from the game. Though this is easily the biggest and best version of the game so far, so it’s also the perfect entry point for series newcomers.

For strategy gamers looking for a slightly easier entry point on Switch 2, though, Civ 7 is definitely going to be the better bet as there’s a lot of words, lots of mechanics, and layers to unpack and comb through.

This new complete edition does come with 6 new scenarios, too with the Birth of Nobunaga serving as something as a tutorial campaign to help you get to grips with the game. And it definitely helps for the most part, really giving you a close look at all the central mechanics so you can eventually go into any campaign with an idea on how to play.

There’s a lot of layers to the game too, as family feuds can really factor their way into the game, with ambitious relatives trying to seize their own advantages and unexpected moments creating shocking consequences that you have to try and adapt to and come to terms with.

The battles in the game do feel a tad limited compared to some others you see in games like Total War, but the aim is to really find the most strategic approach to victory, skirting enemy armies away from their leaders, sneaking up behind leaders and even using the environment to your advantage, like battling from atop a hill or on certain surfaces.

As mentioned, the controls are incredibly fluid using the mouse now. It’s super satisfying just sitting back on the sofa, control cupped in hand, just clicking through the screens. It works just as well as a normal mouse, with satisfying thrumming and vibrating when clicking and in particularly poigniant moments.

It’s not the most demanding use of visuals on Switch 2, for sure, but it offers something no other game is and in many ways, ironically, makes some of the best use of the new system compared to many other third party games that have launched. That said, this one definitely feels better on the big screen and slightly too compressed handheld.

It’s a tough challenge, no doubt, and definitely won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but if you’re looking for a hardcore strategy game that really shows off how good Switch 2’s JoyCon Mouse support is, Nobunaga’s Ambition is an excellent showcase title.

Verdict

Nobunaga’s Ambition Awakening Complete Edition is the best edition of arguably the best instalment in the series to date. With Switch 2’s JoyCon Mouse 2 support and the extra processing power and visual output, you now have the best way to play a very deep and complex strategy classic. If you want a really challenging, intricate and involved scenario based campaign, this is definitely one of the most interesting games for Switch 2 out there.

Pros

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Nobunaga’s Ambition Awakening Complete Edition is out now on PlayStation 5 and Switch 2

Played on Nintendo Switch 2

Code kindly provided by Koei Tecmo for review purposes