Samurai Warriors 4

Sengoku Musou 4 (戦国無双4) is the fourth main entry in the Samurai Warriors series. Plans for its development was first revealed on Hisashi Koinuma's Twitter and its console availability was later announced at SCEJA Press Conference 2013. The title is being made to celebrate the series's tenth anniversary.

Koinuma returns as producer; Tori Mieda returns as director. The overall theme for this title is "to tell the history of the era's unification" with a Samurai Warriors twist. Koinuma commented that the new story telling method gives more coverage to the "losers" of history in a way which he thought was neglected in previous titles. They believe this title combines traits which fans from any part of the series could appreciate.

First print bonus is a downloadable serial for Yukimura's Samurai Warriors outfit. Reserving the title grants a Yukimura and Nobuyuki microfiber towel. Reserving the game from various Japanese outlets rewards special costumes for select characters. The Treasure Box will include a character illustration book, an original soundtrack CD, 15 postcards and the same bonuses as the Anime Box. The Anime Box edition will include the Blu-ray volume for the anime and a printed card decorated with the anime character designs. The BD featured in both editions includes scenes which were cut for the TV broadcast. The Gamecity Set includes a character and story book and four hand towels. Ordering from Gamecity adds two original clear files with the purchase.

Gameplay
Similar to Chronicles, players must select two characters for each battle and can freely switch between them as they fight. Character quotes between the two characters will change in battle based on their affinity rating and relationship with one another in this entry's canon; these traits are distinguished by the face icon present over each character's portrait during selection. Specific team combinations may unlock new missions for each stage. If two player co-op is being used, the second player is assigned to the second character chosen before the stage. Players lose the ability to switch between characters while working together. The character who picks up the weapon box from fallen generals in battle is the one who earns it and KO counters are kept separated.

A new feature called "Shinsoku Action" is a fast attack characters can use to charge into crowds and/or attack an enemy general's weak point. These attacks can be performed by reversing the usual charge attack combo order (i.e. undefined, undefined, as opposed to, , undefined). Shinsoku Action replaces the C1s for all characters. Certain characters are assigned the "Shinsoku" moveset type. This means they have a bias for using these attacks in their combos; their charge moveset is the same as the Special type's structure.

When an enemy general is low on health, characters can perform a new killing blow (tate) on them if they fulfill various conditions such as stunning their opponent, dashing towards them or so forth. Similar to Warriors: Legends of Troy, these are finishing moves are unique animations which can be triggered when undefined flashes on their opponent.

"Musou Gokui" is a feature similar to Awakening Musous. Players can use their Spirit Gauge and press R3 to temporarily enter a powerful and invulnerable state. Once activated, the character's strikes will have a secondary effect. If the player uses their Musou while in this state, they will automatically use their Ultimate Musou.

Proficiency levels have been added to all characters' attacks. Each action's effectiveness and strength will increase based on the frequency the player uses them. Proficiency is divided into four major categories located under a character's normal stats: normal attack, charge attacks, special skill, and "shinsoku action". Resetting character stats to their default state also resets proficiency levels in this entry.

The customizable item system returns with a new rare item called "Heirloom" (kahou) being added. This is a permanent item which can be reused every battle to heal or bolster a character. Each character has their own treasure, and each treasure can be gained by defeating enemy generals under specific conditions. Armor has been omitted but power up items can take their place in combat.

Weapon forging returns with a system reminiscent to the third title, but the three weapon types introduced in its predecessor (Normal, Power, Speed) have been discarded. Characters can earn multiple copies of the same weapon (or their third for returning characters). They can earn one rare weapon to diversify its base attack and appearance.

Weapon attributes are visually categorized by a colored gem and can only be learned by the gem(s) matching its color. Attributes may also be sealed and require the usage of a rare gem earned by completing battle objectives in order to unlock. Characters can donate their weapon attributes to strengthen another character's weaponry. Once the procedure is completed, however, the player will need to reforge the donor's weapon if they wish to reclaim its optimized properties. Players can exchange excess gems in favor of rarer ones to a certain degree.

Other details include:
 * Morale remains an important factor for influencing enemy AI. Enemy morale can be decreased greatly by hunting and defeating the new bannerman units on the field.
 * Characters have a smoother animation for mounting horses than previous titles.
 * Edit characters have more customization options and star in their own mode called "Rurou Enbu".
 * Online co-op is available for all modes.
 * Data can be transfered and saved between either PlayStation port of the title. Crossplay between the two ports is not supported.
 * Save data from the Sengoku Musou 2 HD Collection can be used to unlock 10,000 gold in this game.
 * Downloadable content so far include scenarios, costumes, and edit character parts. There are no secondary costumes in the vanilla game; players can only obtain alternates through DLC.

Story Mode
Story Mode has been changed to be an overview world map of Japan, a la Empires titles. Players can select their preferred scenario through two methods:
 * Chihou - focuses on a specific region/clan as opposed to individual characters with in-depth character events and dramatization. Each scenario has four chapters to distinguish themselves from one another.
 * Oda no Shou - covers Nobunaga's conquests and the generals who either followed or opposed him as he made way for the capital.
 * Takeda no Shou - centers on Shingen's campaigns in the east and introduces the heroics of the Sanada brothers within his service.
 * Chugoku no Shou - highlights Motonari and his son's battle of wits against the tactics of the Ryōbei duo, Kanbei and Hanbei.
 * Kantou no Shou - offers the heroics of Ujiyasu, the famous hero of Sagami, with a secondary focus of his daughter learning how to fight for those dear to her.
 * Kyushu no Shou - Yoshihiro's conquests in the western island with a secondary focus for his nephew's character arc and future.
 * Tohoku no Shou - Masamune's inheritance of the Date clan and his strategist's test of loyalty to him during their takeover of the east.
 * Shikoku no Shou - showcases Motochika's conquest of the island and his encounters with a persistent femme fatale.
 * Tokugawa no Shou - features Ieyasu during one of the lowest points of his clan's history and moves towards the turning point for him and his followers.
 * Uesugi no Shou - Kenshin's divine conquests and his many battles to aid those in need.
 * Kansai no Shou - dramatizes Nagamasa's reign in Oumi and his relation with his wife Oichi. His followers' relations with one another are introduced in this scenario.
 * Tenka Toitsu - has the entire land as the stage for an overall summary of the land's events. It continues from the introductions in the Chihou scenarios to focus on a detailed end for the era.
 * Tenka Toitsu no Shou - dramatizes the events after Honnouji and the tensions between the East and West prior to Sekigahara.
 * Sanada no Shou - focuses on the wedge between the Sanada brothers and their motivations for choosing their conflicting paths at Osaka Castle.

Clear the Takeda and Oda chapters to unlock the Tenka Toitsu options; finish other stories to unlock the others. The majority of the cast can be unlocked by clearing the stages in each scenario.

Free Mode
Similar as previous titles. Edit characters can be used in this mode.

Rurou Enbu
Roughly translated as "Mercenary Mode". This mode reenacts Mercenary Mode as seen in other Warriors titles yet borrows traits from the main story mode found in the Chronicle titles. Edit characters act as mercenaries and are given the choice to start under one of the factions mentioned in Story Mode. After their allegiance, they are given the freedom to travel between different provinces of the Warring States to complete various requests focused on the main cast. Different times of day can be seen in this bird's eye view of Japan.

One of the main draws of this mode is providing multiple perspectives of the main cast not otherwise seen in Story Mode. Player characters can either befriend or alienate a character of their choice through personal conversations, fighting them in battle, or by traveling with them. The conversations require the player to select between two text options to complete; like the Chronicles games, one response is positive and the other is negative. Their affinity ranking for the player character affects their personal messages during battle. A single member of the main cast is allowed to accompany the player avatar's adventures at any given time.

Rare weapons are easier to earn in this mode. Additional edit parts can be earned, although the majority of the sets will be DLC. Characters who don't have much screentime in Story Mode have more time to shine here in side stories. Additional side stories can become available by clearing each chapter in Story Mode. Players must play this mode if they wish to unlock Goemon, Okuni, Musashi and/or Kojirō.

Characters
Over 50 main characters and over 1,000 named NPCs will be in the title. The new characters from Chronicle 2nd, Goemon, Musashi, Kojirō and Okuni reuse their designs from their debut or Samurai Warriors 3 respectively.

Returning

 * Yukimura Sanada
 * Keiji Maeda
 * Nobunaga Oda
 * Mitsuhide Akechi
 * Goemon Ishikawa
 * Kenshin Uesugi
 * Oichi
 * Okuni
 * Kunoichi
 * Magoichi Saika
 * Shingen Takeda
 * Masamune Date
 * Nō
 * Hanzō Hattori
 * Ranmaru Mori
 * Hideyoshi Toyotomi
 * Yoshimoto Imagawa
 * Tadakatsu Honda
 * Ina
 * Ieyasu Tokugawa
 * Mitsunari Ishida
 * Nagamasa Azai
 * Sakon Shima
 * Yoshihiro Shimazu
 * Ginchiyo Tachibana
 * Kanetsugu Naoe
 * Nene
 * Kotarō Fūma
 * Musashi Miyamoto
 * Toshiie Maeda
 * Motochika Chōsokabe
 * Gracia
 * Kojirō Sasaki
 * Katsuie Shibata
 * Kiyomasa Katō
 * Kanbei Kuroda
 * Muneshige Tachibana
 * Kai
 * Ujiyasu Hōjō
 * Hanbei Takenaka
 * Motonari Mōri
 * Aya
 * Masanori Fukushima
 * Takatora Tōdō
 * Naotora Ii
 * Munenori Yagyū

Newcomers

 * Nobuyuki Sanada
 * Yoshitsugu Ōtani
 * Hisahide Matsunaga
 * Kojūrō Katakura
 * Kagekatsu Uesugi
 * Takakage Kobayakawa
 * Koshōshō‎‎
 * Toyohisa Shimazu
 * Lady Hayakawa

Related Media
Attendees of the Sengoku Street in Numata 2013 event can receive Samurai Warriors fliers and may choose to purchase series merchandise. A Numata themed hand towel is exclusive to this event. The MITSUNARI 11 collaboration from the previous main entry continues with this title. Human sized cardboard cutouts of Mitsunari and Sakon can be seen at Yume-kyo Bashi Akarikan.

A press conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary for the series took place on December 6, 3:30 PM (JST) and was broadcast on NicoNico Live. Koinuma was a guest for the fortieth episode of the Japanese TV show, Game Maniacs, to talk about this game. The press conference to celebrate the game's completion was streamed on NicoNico Live March 5, 13:00 (JST) for fans to enjoy. A third NicoNico Live broadcast prior to the game's sale date is planned on March 13, 20:00 (JST).

Masamune is the mascot for Koei-Tecmo's second collaboration with ANA, this time featuring gourmet menu of Miyauchi. Another renewed collaboration for the series is the TBI group character menu; consumers who purchase a dish from the menu can receive a character postcard. The ongoing collaboration with Kumamoto Taxis, Sengoku Musou Taxi, will have Kiyomasa, Gracia and Musashi taxis starting on February 20. People who buy two Lotte items at select stores between March 4~March 17 can receive character themed bookmarks as a gift with their purchase. The series's second charity event for the 2011 Tohoku natural disasters, Gi no Tameni 2, will take place on March 30th; proceeds will be donated to ongoing disaster relief and restoration efforts.

One of the new collaborations for the project is downloadable content themed to the 2014 Taiga drama Gunshi Kanbei. Players can download the drama Kanbei's outfit for Sengoku Musou Kanbei. Outfits for the Taiga drama Kanbei, Hanbei and Hideyoshi can be used by edit characters. Fans of the weapons within the series can purchase replicas in 2014. It is a collaboration with the same swordsmiths who made the Evangelion Japanese Swords. Character themed glasses are also planned. Samurai Warriors characters are mascots for a blood donation drive and will appear on eighteen different posters. This game will join Sengoku IXA, Sengoku BASARA 4 and other games to be a part of the annual Sanada Yukimura festival.

Sengoku Musou Seiyuu Ougi 2014 Spring 10th Anniversary, a voice actor event to celebrate the series's ten year anniversary, took place on March 8~9, 2014. Like the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 collaboration, Hello Kitty versions of the characters can be purchased at the anniversary event. Ruby Party's dessert lineup will also include cookies and other goods themed to this event. Nico Nico users could tune into a special live broadcast before the live event, which additionally ties into the Geten no Hana Yumeakari stage event, on February 25, 20:00 (JST). Fans who couldn't make the event can still purchase leftover event merchandise.

A three-part Kodansha Gekkan Shounen Comic publication of this entry is drawn by Seijiro Narumi. The first part is called Sengoku Musou ~Ishida Mitsunari no Shou~ Senjou wo Kakeru Yume; the second short is Sengoku Musou ~Date Masamune no Shou~ and the third is Sengoku Musou ~Sanada Yukimura Nobuyuki no Shou~. Consumers who purchase the published volume can obtain a serial code for the game.

Sengoku Musou SP Sanada no Shou, a TV anime special, is being made by TYO Animations with a screenplay written by Yuka Yamada. It will air on March 21, 2014 and roughly cover the events of Ueda Castle. Takeshi Kusao (Yukimura Sanada) will appear on the 117 episode of Hiyama Nobuyuki no Animejyu to talk about the anime short and answer fan letters on February 26.

Vocal & Drama CD Sengoku Musou 4 Ouka Ranman will feature character image songs from new characters in this entry.

Image Song

 * Reverb
 * Performed by Kuroyume

* Also used for the TV anime. Consumers can digitally purchase the single through one of five Sengoku Musou 4 music cards, or cards which have pin numbers for downloading Reverb online. The collaboration product code included on these cards unlocks the "Black Feather" heirloom (one-time use each battle in which user momentarily enters a hyper attack state and gains the Slay element to their attacks) and the option to listen to the image song during battle.