Koei Tecmo announced pre-order bonuses and shared two new gameplay videos for Samurai Warriors 4: Empires.

First, the pre-order bonuses:

Amazon, Best Buy, EB Canada and GameStop pre-orders will receive a ‘Bonus Item Set’ consisting of an additional castle option, the ‘Golden Castle,’ the ‘Osaka Campaign’ scenario, and an additional costume for in-game character Takakage Kobayakawa. In addition, fans will receive an exclusive costume for one of the most popular female characters of the Samurai Warriors series, Lady Hayakawa.

The new gameplay videos detail a few of the options available in battle preparation and whilst on the battlefield. Battle preparation includes choosing which of the tactics or formations proposed by the magistrates to deploy prior to battle.

In a press release, Koei Tecmo explains:

Tactics can be either basic (i.e. Troop economy, Blocking enemy Aid, or taking action to increase troop strength prior to engagement), deployed before battle, or executable (i.e. Cavalry Charge, Officer Capture Etc), deployed during battle. Formations affect the way the army is structured and offer relevant bonuses on attack, defence, or speed. A well thought out, balanced strategy is essential when choosing formations, as the enemy could use opposing formations to overrun player troops.

Battles in this title follow the classic Empires-style of “Base Battles.” By claiming enemy bases and turning them into allied bases, players can establish “supply lines” linking together strongholds on the battlefield. In this title, they can also claim “chains” of enemy bases by cutting off enemy supply lines and isolating them. An enemy base positioned in between two allied bases will automatically be claimed for the player’s side! Analysing the enemy battalion placements and efficiently working together with allies can help push the lines up until they can lay siege to the main enemy camp.

While maintaining the exhilaration of the “one vs a thousand” battle-style, these options add a wide variety of strategic elements, from planning a route of attack, to deciding which characters to use, and what commands to give to allied officers.