Surprise #2: Pokemon + Nobunaga’s Ambition Is A Tactical RPG

Tecmo Koei transformed Pokémon into Pokémon Tactics with Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition. Like other strategy games, you have to move before you can attack. The distance you can move depends on what Pokémon you’re using. Flying Pokémon, for example, can soar over obstacles.

Once you get in range, you can select attacks or if your Pokémon are in trouble, trainers (warlords in this game) can use items to heal them. Defeated Pokémon drop treasure chests with gold and items for players to pick up.

Warlords also have command abilities they can use to turn the tide of battle in Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition. The hero character (either a male or female trainer) can scout for new Pokémon to partner with by searching fields and caves from different countries and target other castles to conquer. Players can pick a castle to storm once a month in game time, of course. While you’re moving your units, enemies can try to takeover your castles too.

Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition comes out for Nintendo DS on March 17 in Japan.