Latest Reviews of Koei Tecmo Games
Mini Review Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake (PS5) - A Gorgeous Return to Series' Roots
“I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me”
Koei Tecmo is almost single-handedly keeping the niche historical simulation strategy subgenre alive at this stage, which is fitting, as back in 1985, when the company was just Koei, it was primarily responsible for creating it. Not to be confused with the series' latest, PS4's Romance...
Review Fate/Samurai Remnant (PS5) - Characters and Story Thrive in This Historical Action RPG
Saber toothed
There's an awful lot to like about Fate/Samurai Remnant — an action RPG set in 1600s Japan. With the country on the brink of unprecedented societal change, protagonist Miyamoto Iori finds himself at a loss. A diligent student of soon-to-be-outdated swordplay, Iori gets by on local busy work, but can't shake the feeling that his life...
Review Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Review (PS4) - The Demon King of Owari Rises
No-man's fool
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening is the sixteenth entry in the venerable strategy franchise (which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year) from Koei and its most accessible yet. While still convoluted compared to even another strategy title of this scale, the love and dedication to Japan’s iconic Sengoku era and the...
Farewell party
Reisalin “Ryza” Stout and her friends are back in another heart-warming RPG which closes out the 'Secret' sub-series. The long-running Atelier series is well known for featuring young alchemists who spend much of their adventure gathering ingredients, crafting new items, and beating up foes. Atelier Ryza 3 is no exception to that...
Review Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (PS5) - A Warts and All Survival Horror Remaster
Photographic Violence
Here at Push Square it's site policy that we don't believe in the supernatural. Vampires, werewolves, and Frankensteins? Poppycock, hogwash, and flannel, we say. Having never believed in ghosts we've never considered what we'd do should we ever come face to face with one. We can plan for World War 3 or Covid 2 or bumping into...
Review Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (PS5) - Excellent Action RPG a Must Play for Masochists
The stuff Wuxia dreams are made of
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty raises the bar for Soulslike combat to such an extent it deserves to break free from that descriptor entirely in favour of something new. It provides deeply intricate combat and an exhilarating arcade alternative to FromSoftware's more contemplative formula. A game like Elden Ring seeks to...
Fallen empires
After the disappointment of Dynasty Warriors 9 and its cardboard open world, we desperately wanted Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires to be good — to finally get Koei Tecmo's flaship franchise back on track. And while Empires is easily a better game than its predecessor, it still suffers from many of the issues that Dynasty Warriors 9...
Mini Review Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (PS5) - Remaster Is More of a Trick Than Treat
Camera shy
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water wasn't anything special back in 2015 on Nintendo Wii U, and it's no better six years later. A sub-standard remaster ports the horror title to PlayStation 5 to conveniently coincide with Halloween, but for as creepy as it can be, it's not a particularly enjoyable game to actually play. If we were offered...
Review Samurai Warriors 5 (PS4) - Rebooted Hack and Slasher Is Fantastic Fun, for the Most Part
Incident at Honnoji
It's been seven whole years since the last mainline instalment in the Samurai Warriors series, and as far as we're concerned, 2014's Samurai Warriors 4 is still one of the best Warriors games on the market. Samurai Warriors 5 has quite the legacy to live up to, then, but is a rebooted storyline, a fresh art style, and a slew of...
Review Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection (PS4) - Cut-Throat Action, Old-School Design
Ninja star
Ryu Hayabusa has been enjoying an early retirement ever since the Ninja Gaiden series was put on ice years ago. Team Ninja has been busying itself with the Nioh games in the meantime, a more deliberate style of action title that takes things in a different, yet more modern, direction. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings Ryu back with...
Latest Koei Tecmo Articles
Hands On Atelier Sophie 2 Seems Like a Very Promising JRPG Sequel
The story continues
Atelier’s Mysterious Trilogy was recently re-released on the PlayStation 4 but Gust has obviously decided that it isn’t quite finished with that story. Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream takes place in between the first and second games, and we were recently given access to the opening couple of hours on...
News Summer's Only Just Starting with Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's New Stage, Free on PS4
Feeling hot hot hot
Summer's almost over here in the UK, and we still haven't had the chance to spend an evening at a tropical beach party - for shame. Fortunately, we may not be out of luck just yet, because Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's new stage promises just such an experience. Releasing alongside the cunningly named 'Hot Summer' costume set on...
Gamescom 2015 This Trailer Has Everything You Need to Know About Nobunaga's Ambition
Ambitious is right
Koei Tecmo is pushing Nobunaga's Ambiton: Sphere of Influence hard at Gamescom 2015, so it's no surprise that the publisher has released a brand new trailer for the strategy title. Showcasing just about everything that you can expect from the feudal escapade, it's shaping up to be a promising game for those of you interested in...
Gamescom 2015 Attack on Titan Will Eat You Alive on PS4, PS3, and Vita in 2016
Mmmm, crunchy
Well, it's happening: Attack on Titan is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita in 2016, Koei Tecmo has confirmed. There are currently no details on how the game plays, but we do know that it's being developed by Omega Force - the studio behind the Warriors games. It's not like it's got much else going on, right? In any...
News Koei Tecmo's Secret Game Is Apparently to Do with Attack on Titan
The harder they fall
Well colour us surprised; Koei Tecmo's secret title - which is due to be officially revealed tomorrow - is Attack on Titan related, according to information gleaned from the wrapping of the franchise's latest manga volume. For those out of the loop, Attack on Titan is all about humanity's survival against massive, naked humanoid...
News Koei Tecmo Is Bringing Arslan: The Warriors of Legend West on PS4, PS3
Charging overseas early next year
We've been keeping an eye on Koei Tecmo's new musou crossover for some time now, but we were never too sure whether or not it would end up coming West. But today, the publisher's revealed that Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will be venturing overseas on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in early 2016. First, let's...
News Koei Tecmo Is Teasing a Title That Apparently Isn't a Warriors Game
Nah, it's probably Dynasty Warriors 9
Let the speculation begin: Koei Tecmo is teasing a reveal for a game that "is not Warriors" according to a newly opened website. Whatever the unannounced title is, though, it's being developed by Omega Force - the Japanese studio that supposedly never sleeps. The reveal's happening in seven day's time, on the...
News Samurai Warriors 4-II Is Getting a Luxurious Limited Edition on PS4
4-II-itous
If you're looking to bolster your collection of rare video game bits and pieces, you could do worse than snag the limited edition of Samurai Warriors 4-II, which NIS America will be selling exclusively via its online store. The premium package will cost $64.99, and comes with a few nice extras. You get a nice looking collector's box, an...
News See If All This Nobunaga's Ambition Gameplay Gets Your Tactical Juices Flowing
One battle at a time
Koei Tecmo's made a big push today to promote upcoming strategy title Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence by releasing not one, not two, but four gameplay videos of the release in action. Each clip shows off various tactics that you can employ as you look to conquer Japan and wage war with its famous historical warriors...
News So, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Is Flaunting a Second Season Pass
Ouch
You could have made an argument that Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's downloadable content had gone too far months ago, but now it's really becoming difficult to defend its business model. Announced today on its official Twitter account, Koei Tecmo's releasing a second season pass for the brawler that'll be available on the 22nd July, and it'll...
News Samurai Warriors 4-II Conquers a Release Date on PS4, PS3, and Vita
Lightning strikes twice
Before you start, yes, we're well aware that there seems to be a new Warriors game hitting the market every other month, but given the recent quality of Koei's hack and slash franchises, we're not too worried - at least, not yet. The next instalment to be heading West is Samurai Warriors 4-II. Not quite a sequel to the...
News Samurai Warriors 4: Empires Mixes Slashing with Strategy in Its First Trailer
Plus, build your own castle
The latest in Koei's Samurai Warriors series is carving its way into Japanese stores this September, and this time, it's bringing a bit of strategy along with it. Samurai Warriors 4: Empires takes the fourth game's large cast of characters and pits them against each other as their warlords try to conquer feudal Japan,...
News Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's New Deception Costumes Come Off as You Battle
Ripped to bits
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's got a new costume set based on the Deception franchise, and, much like the outfits of those that you destroy with brutal traps and contraptions in the latter series, these fresh costumes also rip, break, and fall apart as you take damage. This isn't the first time that the latest Dead or Alive release...
News Here's a Quick Look at Custom Characters in Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3
Slash it your way
Upcoming handheld hack and slasher Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 lets you create your own character, or indeed, characters, and then throw them onto the field of battle to rage way against legendary Japanese generals. Of course, character creation is nothing new to Warriors titles, but like the Empires spin-off series, the...
News Nobunaga's Ambition's First English Trailer Will Get You in the Conquering Mood
Forceful unification
It's been a heck of a long time since an English trailer's been released for a Nobunaga's Ambition game, but with Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence marching onto PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 later this year, publisher KoeI Tecmo's given the West its first official look at the strategy title. Featuring some rousing...
News Of Course There's Going to Be a Samurai Warriors 4: Empires on PS4, PS3, and Vita
What did you expect?
Well, looks like Koei Tecmo is taking Samurai Warriors 4 to all of the usual stops. Much like just about every other mainline Warriors title, the sengoku period slasher will be getting its own Empires spin-off. It'll be marching into Japanese stores on the 3rd September, which likely means a spring 2016 Western release, if it...
News Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 Skewers a Digital Only Western Release Date on PS Vita
Like lambs to the slaughter
Spin-off hack and slasher Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 has nabbed a release date on Vita, and the good news is that you don't have too long to wait. The portable samurai slaughter simulator will launch on the 24th June in Europe, and we would assume that a North American date will also hover around a similar time frame...
News Samurai Warriors 4-II's First English Trailer Introduces a New Hero to the Chaos
The crimson crusader
According to history, Naomasa Li was apparently a bit of a badass. One of Ieyasu Tokugawa's most renowned retainers, he led a unit known as the 'Red Devils' - a nickname brought about by their crimson armour. Although it's thought that his death was mostly due to a wound that he received during one of Japan's most decisive...
News Samurai Warriors 4-2 Invades Western PS4s and Vitas This October
Cherry blossom falls again
If you haven't had your fill of feudal Japanese warriors carving each other to pieces courtesy of the rather brilliant Samurai Warriors 4, then you'll be pleased to know that Samurai Warriors 4-2, a sort of add-on title, is heading West later this year. The hack and slasher will launch on the 2nd October on both...
News Conquer Japan in Nobunaga's Ambition on PS4 and PS3 Later This Year
The Demon King cometh
Fans have been desperate for localisations of Nobunaga's Ambition titles for years now, and those prayers have finally been answered. The series, which sees you strategically conquer feudal Japan, has been a mainstay in its homeland for decades, first appearing back in 1983. Here in the West, we'll be getting Nobunaga's...
News Ar nosurge Plus Is Getting a Limited Physical Edition After All, But Only In North America
Be reasonable
Yesterday, Koei Tecmo announced that it was bringing Ar nosurge Plus West, but it would only be available digitally. That's unfortunately still the case in Europe, but North America will actually be treated to a limited physical release courtesy of NIS America. It's quite a neat little package, too, although it doesn't include...
News Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 Could Be Invading Western Vitas
Ronin overseas
Koei Tecmo's localisation spree continues, this time with word that Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 will be marching onto Western Vitas. The title's been rated by the Australian Classification Board, so although we're waiting on official confirmation, it does indeed look like it's happening. Releasing on the Nintendo 3DS and the Vita...
News Koei Tecmo Continues the Vita Love with JRPG Ar nosurge Plus
Digital only, though
Koei Tecmo's been good to Sony's often forgotten handheld. The publisher's brought a steady slew of titles to the Vita over the last few years, and it's going to be continuing the trend with Ar nosurge Plus - a portable, enhanced remake of last year's PlayStation 3 game. We quite liked Ar nosurge on PS3 - read our review...
News Toukiden: Kiwami's Animated Trailer Is Well Worth a Look if You're a Wannabe Slayer
Setting the scene
Many often complain about CG trailers that don't show gameplay - ourselves included - but we can forgive promotional material that really manages to convey a certain atmosphere, or sets a scene especially well. Want monster hunting on PlayStation? Look no further than Toukiden: Kiwami Enter Toukiden: Kiwami's animated trailer,...
News You Can Pick Up Two Free Mitama in Toukiden: Kiwami Today on PS4 and Vita
Eternal freedom
Just a quick heads up: you can now download two new mitama for Toukiden: Kiwami free of charge on PlayStation 4 and Vita. The two spirits up for grabs are Ichimonji Mari, and the rather comical Oda Nobunyaga - a recurring Koei character who's essentially a feline version of feudal Japanese warlord, Nobunaga Oda. Ichimonji Mari is an...
Hands On Atelier Sophie 2 Seems Like a Very Promising JRPG Sequel
The story continues
Atelier’s Mysterious Trilogy was recently re-released on the PlayStation 4 but Gust has obviously decided that it isn’t quite finished with that story. Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream takes place in between the first and second games, and we were recently given access to the opening couple of hours on...
News Summer's Only Just Starting with Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's New Stage, Free on PS4
Feeling hot hot hot
Summer's almost over here in the UK, and we still haven't had the chance to spend an evening at a tropical beach party - for shame. Fortunately, we may not be out of luck just yet, because Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's new stage promises just such an experience. Releasing alongside the cunningly named 'Hot Summer' costume set on...
Gamescom 2015 This Trailer Has Everything You Need to Know About Nobunaga's Ambition
Ambitious is right
Koei Tecmo is pushing Nobunaga's Ambiton: Sphere of Influence hard at Gamescom 2015, so it's no surprise that the publisher has released a brand new trailer for the strategy title. Showcasing just about everything that you can expect from the feudal escapade, it's shaping up to be a promising game for those of you interested in...
Gamescom 2015 Attack on Titan Will Eat You Alive on PS4, PS3, and Vita in 2016
Mmmm, crunchy
Well, it's happening: Attack on Titan is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita in 2016, Koei Tecmo has confirmed. There are currently no details on how the game plays, but we do know that it's being developed by Omega Force - the studio behind the Warriors games. It's not like it's got much else going on, right? In any...
News Koei Tecmo's Secret Game Is Apparently to Do with Attack on Titan
The harder they fall
Well colour us surprised; Koei Tecmo's secret title - which is due to be officially revealed tomorrow - is Attack on Titan related, according to information gleaned from the wrapping of the franchise's latest manga volume. For those out of the loop, Attack on Titan is all about humanity's survival against massive, naked humanoid...
News Koei Tecmo Is Bringing Arslan: The Warriors of Legend West on PS4, PS3
Charging overseas early next year
We've been keeping an eye on Koei Tecmo's new musou crossover for some time now, but we were never too sure whether or not it would end up coming West. But today, the publisher's revealed that Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will be venturing overseas on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in early 2016. First, let's...
News Koei Tecmo Is Teasing a Title That Apparently Isn't a Warriors Game
Nah, it's probably Dynasty Warriors 9
Let the speculation begin: Koei Tecmo is teasing a reveal for a game that "is not Warriors" according to a newly opened website. Whatever the unannounced title is, though, it's being developed by Omega Force - the Japanese studio that supposedly never sleeps. The reveal's happening in seven day's time, on the...
News Samurai Warriors 4-II Is Getting a Luxurious Limited Edition on PS4
4-II-itous
If you're looking to bolster your collection of rare video game bits and pieces, you could do worse than snag the limited edition of Samurai Warriors 4-II, which NIS America will be selling exclusively via its online store. The premium package will cost $64.99, and comes with a few nice extras. You get a nice looking collector's box, an...
News See If All This Nobunaga's Ambition Gameplay Gets Your Tactical Juices Flowing
One battle at a time
Koei Tecmo's made a big push today to promote upcoming strategy title Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence by releasing not one, not two, but four gameplay videos of the release in action. Each clip shows off various tactics that you can employ as you look to conquer Japan and wage war with its famous historical warriors...
News So, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Is Flaunting a Second Season Pass
Ouch
You could have made an argument that Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's downloadable content had gone too far months ago, but now it's really becoming difficult to defend its business model. Announced today on its official Twitter account, Koei Tecmo's releasing a second season pass for the brawler that'll be available on the 22nd July, and it'll...
News Samurai Warriors 4-II Conquers a Release Date on PS4, PS3, and Vita
Lightning strikes twice
Before you start, yes, we're well aware that there seems to be a new Warriors game hitting the market every other month, but given the recent quality of Koei's hack and slash franchises, we're not too worried - at least, not yet. The next instalment to be heading West is Samurai Warriors 4-II. Not quite a sequel to the...
News Samurai Warriors 4: Empires Mixes Slashing with Strategy in Its First Trailer
Plus, build your own castle
The latest in Koei's Samurai Warriors series is carving its way into Japanese stores this September, and this time, it's bringing a bit of strategy along with it. Samurai Warriors 4: Empires takes the fourth game's large cast of characters and pits them against each other as their warlords try to conquer feudal Japan,...
News Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's New Deception Costumes Come Off as You Battle
Ripped to bits
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's got a new costume set based on the Deception franchise, and, much like the outfits of those that you destroy with brutal traps and contraptions in the latter series, these fresh costumes also rip, break, and fall apart as you take damage. This isn't the first time that the latest Dead or Alive release...
News Here's a Quick Look at Custom Characters in Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3
Slash it your way
Upcoming handheld hack and slasher Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 lets you create your own character, or indeed, characters, and then throw them onto the field of battle to rage way against legendary Japanese generals. Of course, character creation is nothing new to Warriors titles, but like the Empires spin-off series, the...
News Nobunaga's Ambition's First English Trailer Will Get You in the Conquering Mood
Forceful unification
It's been a heck of a long time since an English trailer's been released for a Nobunaga's Ambition game, but with Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence marching onto PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 later this year, publisher KoeI Tecmo's given the West its first official look at the strategy title. Featuring some rousing...
News Of Course There's Going to Be a Samurai Warriors 4: Empires on PS4, PS3, and Vita
What did you expect?
Well, looks like Koei Tecmo is taking Samurai Warriors 4 to all of the usual stops. Much like just about every other mainline Warriors title, the sengoku period slasher will be getting its own Empires spin-off. It'll be marching into Japanese stores on the 3rd September, which likely means a spring 2016 Western release, if it...
News Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 Skewers a Digital Only Western Release Date on PS Vita
Like lambs to the slaughter
Spin-off hack and slasher Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 has nabbed a release date on Vita, and the good news is that you don't have too long to wait. The portable samurai slaughter simulator will launch on the 24th June in Europe, and we would assume that a North American date will also hover around a similar time frame...
News Samurai Warriors 4-II's First English Trailer Introduces a New Hero to the Chaos
The crimson crusader
According to history, Naomasa Li was apparently a bit of a badass. One of Ieyasu Tokugawa's most renowned retainers, he led a unit known as the 'Red Devils' - a nickname brought about by their crimson armour. Although it's thought that his death was mostly due to a wound that he received during one of Japan's most decisive...
News Samurai Warriors 4-2 Invades Western PS4s and Vitas This October
Cherry blossom falls again
If you haven't had your fill of feudal Japanese warriors carving each other to pieces courtesy of the rather brilliant Samurai Warriors 4, then you'll be pleased to know that Samurai Warriors 4-2, a sort of add-on title, is heading West later this year. The hack and slasher will launch on the 2nd October on both...
News Conquer Japan in Nobunaga's Ambition on PS4 and PS3 Later This Year
The Demon King cometh
Fans have been desperate for localisations of Nobunaga's Ambition titles for years now, and those prayers have finally been answered. The series, which sees you strategically conquer feudal Japan, has been a mainstay in its homeland for decades, first appearing back in 1983. Here in the West, we'll be getting Nobunaga's...
News Ar nosurge Plus Is Getting a Limited Physical Edition After All, But Only In North America
Be reasonable
Yesterday, Koei Tecmo announced that it was bringing Ar nosurge Plus West, but it would only be available digitally. That's unfortunately still the case in Europe, but North America will actually be treated to a limited physical release courtesy of NIS America. It's quite a neat little package, too, although it doesn't include...
News Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 Could Be Invading Western Vitas
Ronin overseas
Koei Tecmo's localisation spree continues, this time with word that Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 will be marching onto Western Vitas. The title's been rated by the Australian Classification Board, so although we're waiting on official confirmation, it does indeed look like it's happening. Releasing on the Nintendo 3DS and the Vita...
News Koei Tecmo Continues the Vita Love with JRPG Ar nosurge Plus
Digital only, though
Koei Tecmo's been good to Sony's often forgotten handheld. The publisher's brought a steady slew of titles to the Vita over the last few years, and it's going to be continuing the trend with Ar nosurge Plus - a portable, enhanced remake of last year's PlayStation 3 game. We quite liked Ar nosurge on PS3 - read our review...
News Toukiden: Kiwami's Animated Trailer Is Well Worth a Look if You're a Wannabe Slayer
Setting the scene
Many often complain about CG trailers that don't show gameplay - ourselves included - but we can forgive promotional material that really manages to convey a certain atmosphere, or sets a scene especially well. Want monster hunting on PlayStation? Look no further than Toukiden: Kiwami Enter Toukiden: Kiwami's animated trailer,...
News You Can Pick Up Two Free Mitama in Toukiden: Kiwami Today on PS4 and Vita
Eternal freedom
Just a quick heads up: you can now download two new mitama for Toukiden: Kiwami free of charge on PlayStation 4 and Vita. The two spirits up for grabs are Ichimonji Mari, and the rather comical Oda Nobunyaga - a recurring Koei character who's essentially a feline version of feudal Japanese warlord, Nobunaga Oda. Ichimonji Mari is an...