Koei Tecmo released the first details, direct-feed screenshots, and opened the official website for its newly announced Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru, due out for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS Vita in Japan in 2016.

Get the information below.

■ Overview

The Story of Sanda Yukimura’s 48-Year Life

Of the military commanders that appear in the Samurai Warriors series, Sanada Yukimura is the most popular. In Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru, players will delve deeper into the life of Sanada Yukimura throughout a single, grand story.

The game depicts the full, 48-year lifespan of Sanada Yukimura, starting from his birth during the era of Sanada Mayasuki, to him observing his father and finding a goal, up until his death in the Siege of Osaka. Follow a dramatically produced story where Yukimura’s appearance changes as he grows.

Castle Town

The story begins and advances in a “Castle Town” suited to the era. Interact with townspeople, train to prepare for upcoming battles, and experience the everyday lives of military commanders and the sequence of events that lead up to battle previously unseen in the Samurai Warriors series. Your Castle Town will increase with the “Sanada Main Castle,” “Ueda Castle,” and “Osaka Castle” as you advance the story. Additionally, events may be triggered in accordance with the town’s changes, and new facilities will also be introduced.

Long-Term Battles

Battles last over a long period across several battlefields (scenarios). By also depicting the preludes, like the reinforcing castle battles, that lead up to the final battles, it keeps the fights more connected and gives players the feel of the larger scale war. Additionally, time will pass in real time from morning to night during battles, your own efforts will influence the progress of other battlefields, and battle scenes are equipped with all sorts of new experiments. Also, you can play as familiar Warriors military commanders in both battles where the House of Sanada Yukimura participates and other battles of the same period.

Playable Sanada Masayuki

The long requested Sanada Masayuki, Sanada Yukimura’s father, makes his playable debut in Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru. Additionally, a great number of Warriors characters related to the story will appear to fully depict Yukimura’s life.

Full 3D Country-wide Maps

In the Taiga drama Sanada Maru, Koei Tecmo general producer Kou Shibusawa works as a “3D Map Supervisor.” These “full 3D country-wide maps” of Sengoku era Japan are used to explain the story’s current state of affairs. First introduced in Koei Tecmo’s history simulation game Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence, these well-received maps with easy to understand terrain will also appear in Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru. By moving the camera around the map, you can see the state of the battle-torn land from various angles. Just like the Taiga drama Sanada Maru, Kou Shibusawa is also on board as supervisor for Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru‘s 3D maps.

■ Game Flow

The story begins in the Castle Town. It follows a cycle where from there, you’ll depart for exploration and long-term battles before returning to the Castle Town.

Castle Town

In the Castle Town, you’ll advance the story by controlling Yukimura and Masayuki. By advancing the story, you’ll gain accsess to a range of activities as various facilities are added.

—Interaction

There are a great number of military commanders and townspeople within the Castle Town that you can interact with to trigger various events.

—Training

By training and furthering the development of your character, you can prepare for coming battles.

—Procurement

Collect materials required to strengthen weapons in order to gain an edge in battle. You can also buy a horse and take it to the battlefield.

—Missions

When talking to military commanders and townspeople, you might be appointed “missions” to advance the story, which you can fulfill by gathering information and heading out to explore.

—Sanada’s Rokumonsen

By succeeding in conversations and missions, you can save up your Rokumonsen. By using the Rokumonsen, you can trigger your special “Next Move” attack in battle.

—Transient Daily Life

The Castle Town has fishing spots and fields, various facilities like an shop that sells everything, and you can acquire items or train in each place.

Exploration

Freely adventure throughout areas connected to the Sanadas, like “Sanada’s Hometown,” “The Foot of Mount Asama,” and “Lake Suwa.” Collect items and explore savage lands in stages somewhat different from the series’ traditional battlefields.

■ Characters

Young Sanada Masayuki (voiced by Kenta Miyake)

A warrior who supported to the House of Takeda for the over two generations from Takeda Shingen to Takeda Katsuyori, who after the fall of the House of Takeda took lead of the House of Sanada while fighting against neighboring daimyo. Given that he won’t hestitate to betray and conspire, is is known as two-faced, and this way of life misleads his son, Yukimura.

Kid Sanada Yukimura (voiced by Yuka Saito)

A young warrior whose natural ambition sees him training every day while striving to be of service to the House of Sanada. In Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru, he is a playable military commander.

Adult Sanda Yukimura (voiced by Takeshi Kusao)

A warrior who mastered not only the martial arts, but also strategy while exiled to Kudoyama after the Battle of Sekigahara. He builds a small fortification called “Sanada Maru” and repels the Tokugawa army, and his bravery before the eyes of Tokugawa Ieyasu is handed down to future generations.

■ Niconico Live Stream

A Niconico live stream on August 4 at 20:00 JST will share the game’s final release date, first gameplay footage, and latest information.