~!!~

Honda Tadakatsu is depicted as a huge robot. More specifically, his intro sequences are very much like launch sequences from the Gundam series although his method of getting around the battlefield is more akin to a Dom of the same series. Due to this, he gets a nickname among fans as "Hondam". Being a robot/Gundam, Tadakatsu cannot speak and talk but rather he makes mechanical sounds for his responses (if not actions). This robotic appearance somewhat reflects his title of being the Strongest of the Sengoku.

Tadakatsu is a very loyal retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and considered his "ace"/best fighter. He always appears to the aid of his lord (it is even reflected in Ieyasu's skillset in Sengoku BASARA 2 Heroes, where he calls upon Tadakatsu to ride on and attack). As such, he would always follow Ieyasu's orders (usually to attack the enemy). Whenever he appears in battles, as much as possible, he keeps true to his title defeating nearly every enemy he faces, or proving to be a great challenge to them. However, when the battle turns to the favor of the enemy, he is very much willing to sacrifice himself to protect/save his lord.

Tadakatsu's main focus is his modes. He can activate various weapons and equipment from his backpack, all of which will have various effects on him. Additionally, his drill charging skills also gains some additional effects depending on which mode is active. His Basara attack is also one of the strongest in the game, as it can easily clear the screen of regular enemies, but disables camera movement for its duration preventing the player from hitting enemies behind limiting its potential (this is fixed in Sengoku Basara 3, as the player can now move the camera). His S-String is also one of the hardest to control after a certain point (though this became more manageable in Sengoku Basara 3).

In Sengoku Basara 3, Tadakatsu's modes are expanded. Modes can be mixed for different results (like Flight Mode enables movement in Cannon Mode). Tadakatsu's Flight Mode actually enables him to fly, allowing him to avoid some enemies and/or obstables as well as allowing bomber runs with Cannon Mode. Cannon Mode allows the player to aim the cannon, but normally disables movement. Tadakatsu also gains a new Heavy mode which changes all of his attacks, but disables guards and slows down movement. Additionally, when dashing, Tadakatsu can break boxes and some fences as well as damage enemies by simply bumping them.

Due to his size, Tadakatsu is unable to mount horses. Instead, players can use his jetpacks/boosters as an alternative. Additionally, for the same reason, Tadakatsu is immune to grabs and similar moves (such as Motochika's net), though he will still take some damage.

His personal item changes the cannon shells to electric shots (Sengoku Basara 2), or activates his Support Mode for the entire battle (Sengoku Basara 3)

Hougeki Keitai

砲撃形態 (Cannonfire Mode)

Juuki Keitai

重機形態 (Heavy Machine Mode)

Dengeki Keitai

電撃形態 (Electric Attack Mode)

Inabikarisao Keitai

(Lightning rod mode)

Historical information [ edit | edit source ]

Honda Tadakatsu (本多 忠勝?, March 17, 1548 – December 3, 1610), also called Honda Heihachirō (本多 平八郎), was a Japanese general (and later a daimyo) of the late Sengoku through early Edo period, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings.

A native of Mikawa Province in Japan, he lived during the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods. Ieyasu promoted him from daimyo of the Ōtaki han (100,000 koku) to the Kuwana han (150,000 koku) as a reward for his service. In addition, his son Honda Tadatomo became daimyo of Ōtaki. In 1609, he retired, and his other son Tadamasa took over Kuwana. His grandson, Tadatoki, married the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Senhime. Despite his years of loyal service, Tadakatsu became increasingly estranged from the Tokugawa shogunate (bakufu) as it evolved from a military to a civilian political institution. This was a fate shared by many other warriors of the time, who were not able to make the conversion from the chaotic lifetime of warfare of the Sengoku period to the more stable peace of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Such was Honda's reputation that he attracted from the most influential figures in Japan at the time. Oda Nobunaga, who was notoriously disinclined to praise his followers, called him "Samurai among Samurai". Moreover, Toyotomi Hideyoshi noted that the best samurai were "Honda Tadakatsu in the east and Tachibana Muneshige in the west". Even Takeda Shingen praised Honda, saying that "[h]e is a luxury of Tokugawa Ieyasu".

Tadakatsu is often referred to as "The Warrior who surpassed Death itself" because he never once suffered a significant wound, despite being the veteran of over 60 battles by the end of his life. Honda was 62 at the time of his death.

He was also the father-in-law of Sanada Nobuyuki.

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