History Characters / SamuraiWarriors1

* DropTheHammer: Abandons the Kemari Ball and uses it in 5.

* GutturalGrowler: In ''Spirit of Sanada'' during the Osaka Campaign, to emphasize his maturity and experience.

* SparedByAdaptation: In all his story modes he survives Okehazama. Averted in the first game during the New Officer story mode: even if he defeats the Oda thanks to the playable character's efforts, it's mentioned that he was still killed later in another ambush. Also averted in ''4''.

* {{Bishonen}}: Even after he gains a mustache-goatee combo in the latter part of ''Spirit of Sanada'', it still doesn't detract from his PrettyBoy look.

* {{Bishonen}}: Even among the rest of the cast, he stands out as this, which says alot.

* {{Bishonen}}: in ''5'', possibly due to the popular theory that the person he was based on was a woman rather than a man, explaining why he only adopted children and never married despite reportedly enjoying the company of women more than men.

%%* {{Bishonen}}: Starting in 4.

* {{Bishonen}}: To the point of looking extremely feminine. Even Oichi complained about the fact that he's "making us women look bad" by comparison. In the Japanese version of ''4'', Koshosho outright calls him a bishonen, too!

* DoesNotLikeShoes: She's barefoot in both of her alternate outfits.

%%* RatedMForManly

* EtTuBrute: Towards Mitsuhide, especially in the first game. Their enmity is more impersonal in the sequels, as their SenpaiKohai relationship was dropped.

* BladeOnAStick: His weapon is a "juumonji yari" (cross/cruciform spear) in all the games, a nod to his historical weapon of choice.

* BladeOnAStick: Keiji's weapon is a sasumata, with a heavy base at the bottom.

* BladeOnAStick: Wielded a spear when he was still an unique NPC, though his was charged with the Dark element instead of thunder.

* BladeOnAStick: As playable character, he wields the "Giant Spear" weapon type, which starts as a broad-tipped yari and gradually evolves into a massive halberd-like weapon with a wide blade. It is identified in game as "Tonbo-giri", [[GameplayAndStorySegregation regardless on the weapon's rank.]]

* BadassBaritone: In both the Japanese and English versions.

* BadassBaritone: Surprisingly for such an eccentric warlord, in the Tokugawa's story mode in ''4'', his voice switches in a couple of instances from his usual high pitch to an unnerving GutturalGrowler.

* BadassBaritone: His voice in all games.

* WhipItGood: Many attacks with the sansetsukon are whip-like. Tying into his monkey motif from above, the developers noted it to be akin to a monkey's tail being swung.

* PowerOfFriendship: With Mitsunari, Kanetsugu, and Keiji in ''2''. This is downplayed in ''3'' in favor of his relationship with his sister-in-law Ina. Interestingly, he also has a lesser explored friendship with Magoichi and Masamune, to the point that they, along with Kanetsugu, help the Sanada clan against the Tokugawa army at Ueda Castle. Later, they also try to stop Yukimura from wasting his life in Osaka to no avail, although they're still impressed with his conviction.

'''''1''''' | ''[[Characters/SamuraiWarriors2 2]]'' | ''[[Characters/SamuraiWarriors3 3]]'' | ''[[Characters/SamuraiWarriors4 4]]'' | ''[[Characters/SamuraiWarriors5 5]]'']]-]]]

* BumblingDad: Shows shades of this in ''4'' regarding his fatherhood to Gracia, who keeps stowing away [[GirlInABox in a box]] on his ship. He even admits he really doesn't know what to do with her RebelliousPrincess spirit.

* AntiVillain: Surprisingly, more so in the first game than in the second game, despite also being even more ObviouslyEvil in that one as well. In the second game, Nobunaga was just another power-hungry warlord; somewhat less ruthless, but also less justifiable. In the first game he had a philosophy that seemed to go beyond just desiring the entire country for himself, making him something of a WellIntentionedExtremist. The PSP version of the first game brought this out in particular; indeed, at the end of the story path wherein he succeeds in conquering the entire land, he actually ''vanishes'' because he believes the country doesn't need another king, instructing his retainers to divide power between themselves. This angle was entirely dropped in the second game, even if he was more humanised (particularly in the end of his own storyline after killing Mitsuhide).
** If you really look at it, this wasn't dropped so much as less emphasized. By the time of ''2'' he starts to see himself more as a necessary step in Japan's future but acknowledges the potential for failure if ''fate'' does in fact have other plans - he's never outright ''evil'' per se; only appearing so if you were against him. Also note that the second game of the series highlights more the conflicts surrounding and up to the Battle of Sekigahara as opposed to the point where he was at his prime - towards the end of the period of the Kanto Trio (Ujiyasu, Shingen, and Kenshin).
** He is even relegated to being the hero (sort of) in the events of the ''Warriors Orochi'' crossover for the ''Samurai'' faction. Being a massive rallying point for all the forces at various points in the games (including reciprocating a plea for assistance from the character who he is an expy of - Cao Cao). In the fourth game, Naotora and Liu Bei's faction are wary of Nobunaga's intentions after activating his Ouroboros bracelet until it's revealed that he's actually allied with Nuwa who already informed him and his allies of the events from the past games and the forces behind the reemerging of the WO world.

* {{Expy}}: Just put the letter "[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry N]]" in his name, and his Pistol/Sword weapon set makes more sense, especially when you consider his Basara portrayal (mentioned below) being voiced by Creator/ReubenLangdon as well...

* StupidSexyFlanders: Has her moment in ''4'', when she notices Naotora has [[BuxomIsBetter "good assets"]].

-->Voiced by: Creator/AkioOhtsuka (Japanese, ''1:XL'' to ''4 and Spin-offs''), Douglas Rye (English, ''1 XL''), Nigel Stern (English, ''2''), James Babson (English, ''3''), Philip Weber (English 2015 Anime), Gerhard Acktun (German, ''1''), Tobias Brecklinghaus (German 2015 Anime)