December 9^th, 2003 (12:00am) - KOEI has unveiled details on SAMURAI WARRIORS for the PlayStation 2. Known as Sengoku Musou in Japan, the Japanese-themed Tactical Action game signals the culmination of KOEI’s 25th Anniversary and will ship to North American Retailers in March 2004.

"SAMURAI WARRIORS offers bold new interpretations not only of Feudal Japan, but also of the Tactical Action genre," said Amos Ip, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for KOEI Corporation. "Our development team has taken the techniques they have mastered with the Dynasty Warriors series, and combined them with new creative energies to realize an experience filled with refined story-telling, epic battles, and breath-taking visuals."

Omega Force, KOEI’s award-winning development team behind SAMURAI WARRIORS, is also responsible for creating the Dynasty Warriors series, which has already sold nearly 6 million units worldwide.

When the political power of the Ashikaga Shogunate collapsed in the succession dispute of 1467, the islands of Japan erupted in a series of major wars. This era in Japanese history became known as the Sengoku or "warring states" period. SAMURAI WARRIORS explores this dramatic era and combines it with the Tactical Action excitement KOEI has become known for.

SAMURAI WARRIORS stars the brave Sanada Yukimura, who leads an elite band of samurai and ninja. Sanada’s journey will take him to the hallowed Japanese battlefields of Okehazama and Kawanakajima and inside the embattled walls of Osaka Castle where he will come face-to-face with gun-toting troops, echelons of ninja, and deadly kunoichi (female ninja).

Players can choose the role of Sanada Yukimura or other legendary samurai and ninja. The game will herald the rise of the indispensable ninja, Hattori Hanzo, from the shadows of history, as well as the reemergence of KOEI’s powerful and mysterious Oda Nobunaga.

SAMURAI WARRIORS boasts several new developments. Among them, the new AMS (active mission system) triggers a distinct mission during each battle. To accept or decline the mission is up to the player. Missions evolve depending on player performance and the tide of battle. Success or failure can affect scenarios in later stages. With 500 variations, the chain of missions is unique with each play, adding depth while heightening the urgency and excitement of combat. Samurai Warriors’ AFS (auto-formation system) randomly generates castle levels and conquest routes offering a new experience with each play. SAMURAI WARRIORS also features: