MK404 Plays Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada PT1 - Bannerspear of the Tiger
6Recorded on May 1, 2024.
Zach is ready to swing for the Sanada. Josh hops in later.
"Witness the might of the Sanada!"
So Warriors games are typical turn-your-brain-off kind of junk food games that only appeal to a couple of folks who like the 1-vs-1000 mindset and enjoy the campy mood the provide. Samurai Warriors was the "more serious" alternative to Dynasty Warriors as their telling of the Sengoku-jidai or the Warring States period has a bit less flamboyant flair than the Three Kingdoms song and dance from the sister series. ...Until SW3, then it was a match made in heaven for both continuities. However, the games never strayed much from their arcade-y roots, preferring to let players experience the setting one character (or faction in 4's case) at a time in fairly short bursts.
This one was different.
Spirit of Sanada is part of the SW4 family of games and decides to tell the story of the Sengoku-jidai from when the Sanada clan first started making a name for themselves right around the midpoint of the era. Only this time they go much more in depth and turn it into a legit single-player story mode. And it's a pretty refreshing change of pace!
The year is 1561 - Masayuki Sanada, a fledgeling soldier and up-and-coming tactical wiz, is in service to Shingen Takeda, the legendary Tiger of Kai. Chatting it up with Shingen's son, Katsuyori, Masayuki fortells a bleak omen inbound for his lord when both lads notice a clear full moon on a peaceful night sky... Indeed, they're coming up on the Battle of Kawanakajima, Shingen's fourth clash with his longtime nemesis Kenshin Uesugi, the Dragon of Echigo. The two stalwarts make battle plans to finally settle their beef; Masayuki's in charge of ensuring Shingen's safety and the whole of his family of the Sanada. With the bannerspear marked with the Six Coins of Sanada in hand, he prepares to leave his first true mark on history...
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Preamble
9:00 - Intro ~ An Ill Omen
12:58 - Chapter 1 - Turmoil
27:00 - Exploration Task: Supplies for the Takeda
46:00 - Multi-Stage Battle: Battle of Kawanakajima - Battle 1 ~ Escape from Mt. Saijo
1:06:00 - Battle 2 ~ Battle of Hachimanbara
1:24:50 - Battle 3 ~ Pursuit at Zenkoji
1:48:00 - The Brothers Sanada
1:49:30 - Chapter 2 - Alliance
2:17:28 - Exploration Task: The Imagawa Retainers' Machinations
2:42:00 - Multi-Stage Battle: Battle of Suruga-Sagami - Battle 1 ~ Invasion of Suruga
3:05:00 - Wandering Strategist
3:10:27 - Battle 2 ~ Tsukui Reconnaissance