Here's the cast of Sengoku Basara... otherwise Macekre'd as Devil Kings, though the third game is known as Samurai Heroes.All names are written in eastern order, with the family name first. Major spoilers ahead.
"Now give it all you've got and let me enjoy this!"
Young, cool but Hot Blooded leader of the Date clan from Oushuu Province. He's out mostly to conquer the land and get on a good fight while he's at it. He's also a guy who values style, therefore his army look very delinquentish and he likes spouting Engrish speeches.His Devil Kings counterpart's name was Azure Dragon.
Actor Allusion: In Sengoku Basara 3, Reuben Langdon Voices Dante/Date, and Jonny Young Bosch Voices Nero/Yukimura.
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Would explain the legions of girls who find his personality irresistible.
Berserk Button: The anime makes this the one time he loses his cool.
"You used someone as a shield, just so that you can finish him, along with your enemies, from behind? There are things that you should, and shouldn't do!"
In the games it would seem that harming Kojuro or his men in any way sets him off.
(At Kojuro's death) "You have no idea what you have just unleashed!"
Blood Knight: He frequently takes on one-on-one battles just for the hell of it, whether they're necessary or not, to prove his strength.
Brown Eyes: In the games. In the anime, he has Blue/Grey Eyes. Interestingly recent games show his eyes glow blue when he uses lightning powers.
The Charmer: He's charismatic enough that most characters can't help but be drawn to him. From the third game, Magoichi seems to bring out the smooth-talker in him too.
Curtains Match the Window: Except in his manga and anime incarnations: in the former he has blond/white hair, in the latter his eyes are bluey grey.
Deadpan Snarker: Sometimes, usually when he's threatening someone, but also jokingly too.
"We wouldn't want anyone else with a scary face like yours hanging around, now would we Kojuro?"
Defiant to the End: In the anime, when Nobunaga threatens to stab his eye out, Masamune tells him to go on and try it.
Determinator: In season 2's finale. Gets thrown through several walls, is nearly strangled to death, is shoved into a stone castle wall and punched so hard that the whole castle is destroyed and collapses on top of him. He still manages to defeat the Big Bad.
Dual Wielding: How about wielding six swords at once instead of just two swords, HA? Or six Alastors, heh?
Estrogen Brigade Bait: The fans go absolute crazy over him and Capcom damn well know it.
Eye Scream: Masamune's missing eye had to be gouged out in his youth. In the anime Nobunaga tries to gouge out his other eye during their Final Battle.
Foe Yay: His relationship with Yukimura is made of this.
The duel between them in the movie was referred to as a love scene among staff members.
Friendly Enemy: When they're not feeling compelled to try and kill each other, he and Yukimura seem to get along fine. Then again, they also genuinely enjoy fighting each other.
Get Back Here Boss: There will always be a stage where you have to get in a horse race with him (since the Date are expert horsemen and he lives in the mountains), making it to the goal before he does.
Hellish Pupils: For no apparent reason, aside from his association with dragons. They're normal in the anime, with a few exceptions.
They show up quite a bit in fanart, along with his having an eye of gold.
Hey It's That Voice: For the 3rd game, they got Reuben Langdon, AKA Dante, the guy Masamune is often compared with. Langdon, however, is not doing his anime voice.
Historical Hero Upgrade: The historical Masamune was certainly much more ruthless, but... hey, this is Basara.
It's time for a historical funfact! Some time ago, Date Masamune's remains were dug up and measured. He was approx 159cm tall. Not much, considering most of his fangirls are taller. But it was the average height during his time.
How The Mighty Have Fallen: Has to pick himself up and recover his former reputation after Mitsunari delivers him his first crushing defeat in SB3.
Ho Yay: His retainer Kojuro and Yukimura are the most popular choices, but Motochika and Ieyasu are also noticeable. He's shipped with everyone though.
"Guess I got a little too heated up. I gotta stay cool".
I Can Still Fight: Does this in the anime after his soldiers are kidnapped. Despite having been shot only hours earlier, he acts like everything's okay and decides to stage a rescue attempt. Kojuro knows he is in no condition to go anywhere and knocks him out (not without a duel first, however).
Does it again in the second season when he attempts to fight Hideyoshi in a rather ragged condition. It goes about as well as you could expect (well, a little better, considering Hideyoshi spared his life).
Indy Ploy: Although he does come up with strategies, Masamune seems to find it more fun to charge in first and make things up as he goes along.
Invincible Hero: He shows huge signs of this in the second season of the anime. Not so much in the games, where consequences of his defeat by Mitsunari Ishida shape his storyline for the third game (and his overall role in the plot is much less significant).
Large Ham: Becomes loud and boisterous whenever he's fired up. He especially likes making a big entrance.
Jack of All Stats: In the games. Average attack, average defence, average attack speed, average reach. Has a good mixture of Spam Attacks, powerful single strikes, dash attacks, a ranged attack, and a Super Mode that turns him into a temporary Glass Cannon.
Rule Of Cool: He probably rules his lands with this set of rules.
The Scream: Happens at least in manga when Mitsunari slaughters a good portion of his army and severely injures Kojuro. Complete with bloody backround. Rather cruel turnpoint for the previously cocky and invincible One-Eyed Dragon.
Secret Stab Wound: When he is shot in the stomach at Nagashino, he successfully hides the injury until several miles from the battlefield, only revealing himself by fainting and falling off his horse.
Not only that, it was implied that he spent half the journey unconscious. That's right, he was on his way back to Oshu while he wasn't even awake.
Date's Battle Butler, retainer and overall right-hand man. Loyal, devoted and extremely protective of his master, and serves as a calmer counterpoint to the Hot Blooded Masamune. He is arguably just as cool though.
Demoted to Extra: Becomes an NPC once again in SB3 after only becoming playable for an expansion and PSP game. Then he's playable once more in Utage.
Also in the manga, at least in the first volume. Partially justified as it was based on the first game (and he appeared in the second one).
Determinator: According to Ieyasu, he should have been dead long before deciding to take on the entire Tokugawa army. And he's still standing after that.
Face of a Thug: He's very intimidating, and looks it too, but shows kindness at times with a warm smile.
Good Old Fisticuffs: In Berserk Mode he can also attack with punches and kicks. His hand-to-hand combat skills are shown to be devastating in the anime.
Improbable Weapon User: About the only aversion in the whole series; Kojuro wields a traditional daisho, a Katana/Wakizashi pair, in the traditional samurai manner.
Invincible Hero: If Masamune can't fight a certain opponent, rest assured that he will pwn them for him. It's inevitable. Just ask Mitsuhide, Hisahide and Hanbe...
Number Two: He actually seems to be far more involved in day-to-day running of the province, and there's also the implication that he's stronger than Masamune.
Older Sidekick: Has a good ten years on his master, yet follows him devotedly and (mostly) without question.
Papa Wolf: Dare to hurt Masamune or his subordinates, and Kojuro will destroy you.
The Power of Friendship: His strength is renewed during the Utage story mode thanks to the souls of his dead troops bonding together to help.
Show the Forehead: Slicks his hair back to represent self-control. It becomes disheveled when he's angry.
The Southpaw: Is notably the only left-handed character in the game.
Sword Beam: "Narukami", one of his most powerful attacks, which can also be upgraded. Employs this in the anime to defeat Matsunaga and Mitsuhide.
Sword Drag: When in Berserk Mode he does this constantly, which displays his marked lack of composure. In the anime he uses it to intimidate Hanbe and some mooks.
Team Dad: He constantly worries about Masamune's antics and acts as his voice of reason.
Unstoppable Rage: After Hisahide steals Masamune's swords, kidnaps some Date troops and injures Masamune, he sends Fuuma out to intercept Kojuro, who's so pissed he enters "Berserk Mode" and proceeds to completely brutalize him.
And in season 2, after escaping Toyotomi, he hunts down Hanbe to make him pay for cutting Masamune's back.
Wiser Advisor: Far more level-headed and cautious than Masamune, who he tries to keep in check and teach about the ways of war. Also comes up with all the army's battle strategies.
Yakuza: His whole attitude is based on this concept. In the expansion his alternate design took this further, complete with tattoos.
"I, Shingen, will become a tiger ruling over heaven and earth!"
Head of the Takeda from Kai Province, a Hot Blooded old man whose fist sets things on fire. He is also known for his strategic genius too, being the rival of Uesugi "God of War" Kenshin. He has something like a father-son relationship with Yukimura. Wields a huge, mean axe on fire, and is too awesome for one horse so rides two instead.He is known in Devil Kings as Red Minotaur.
He tries to educate Yukimura to prepare him for the day he will take over his place as leader of the Takeda army. He's just a bit... eccentric about it.
Warrior Poet: After battle, Shingen tends to pay tribute to his fallen adversaries by reciting some poetry.
What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?: Rides two horses while standing on both saddles, axe being put down on their necks, and these horses can run on walls, and Shingen defies gravity by standing still.
It happens again later on in the season when Motonari pins him to a giant mirror. He's almost burned to death before breaking free. And again with the groaning in pain...
Battle Butler: Yukimura lives to serve Takeda Shingen and has the ambition of a shoe. Shingen tries to educate him otherwise, noting that he will one day grow old and have to learn to take his place.
In the anime Yukimura seems to finally learn the lesson, and while his dream of the future still includes Shingen, he exclaims "I'm not going to be a tiger cub forever! One day I'm going to be the Tiger of Kai!"
As Shingen amusedly notes, by the end Yukimura pretty much orders him to keep out of the last fight.
Bishounen: Over time he's developed much more delicate features than some of the manlier characters.
Break the Cutie: Sort of, in the second season of the anime. Starting with losing to Masamune, he's sent on an important mission where his compassion and sense of honor leads him to make some bad decisions resulting in losing soldiers he's responsible for, leading to Heroic BSOD. Lampshaded by none other than Masamune who notes that purity and innocence won't get him too far in this era.
Fortunately he seems to overcome it eventually and come out of it stronger and with newfound self-confidence.
Brown Eyes: Made to look red in some art. He also gives the best puppy-dog looks. Observe.◊
Chaste Hero: Doesn't know the first thing about sex, romance or relationships, and gets incredibly flustered whenever anyone mentions such things.
By the third game he seems to quite like the idea of getting married though.
Chewing the Scenery: About 80% of his lines are shouted with scenery-crunching fervency, and it's clear at the live shows that Hoshi is ready to lose his voice or pass out by the end of it.
Foe Yay: Yukimura's feelings towards Masamune are... complicated, to say the least.
The anime turns the UST with Masamune Up to Eleven, to the point where staff members referred to their battle in the movie as a love scene.
Friendly Enemy: Yukimura has great respect for Masamune, and they work very well together as a team. Their developing friendship and rivalry is one of the main focuses of the anime.
Heroic BSOD: Happens in the anime after Shingen is supposedly killed. Masamune and Kojuro are forced to knock some sense into him with a manly Rousing Speech. Also occurs in Samurai Heroes for the exact same reason. Ends in relatively the same way.
Also in the second season of the anime, after he loses an important retainer (as well as half of his army) due to some bad decisions he had made.
Ho Yay: With Masamune, Sasuke and sometimes even Shingen. Though like Masamune he's shipped with practically every other male character.
Idiot Hero: Yukimura's not really stupid - on the contrary, he's polite and well-educated - but he's 100% direct, doesn't think before he acts, and seldom seems to learn from his mistakes.
Incendiary Exponent: His feet have the ability to catch fire and kick your ass face.
Keigo: Yukimura is notable for his very archaic and humble speech patterns (unlike Masamune or Keiji). He addresses everyone with respectful honorifics (such as "-dono") and punctuates his sentences with "de gozaimasuru" and "de gozaru", both very old and self-effacing versions of "desu". The only one he doesn't talk like that with is Sasuke, who is effectively his retainer, and he's been known to drop the keigo when he's supremely pissed.
In the dub, replace "OYAKATA-SAMA" with "YOUR LORDSHIP!"
Leeroy Jenkins: Yukimura generally does not think that plans more complicated than "charge at the enemy head-on" are very honorable. His very first educative punch by Shingen in the anime is for this sort of thinking.
In one Drama CD he accompanies Sasuke on a mission, and is outraged at his plan of sneaking in and doing the job under cover. Sasuke has to remind him that he's a ninja and sneaky attacks are his class's forte. And even then Yukimura gleefully ignores the plan, charges in spears blazing, and has to be dragged away by Sasuke.
Made of Iron: He gets punched by Shingen, a man who can cause a tornado to burst forth from his axe, on a daily basis and gets away with minor injuries.
At one point in the anime a Megaton Punch by Shingen apparently cures his broken arm.
Jack of All Stats: Edging towards Fragile Speedster/Glass Cannon. He has less attack and defence than Masamune and no ranged attacks, but his attack and movement speeds and his reach are higher and (in the third game) he has the ability to Combo near infinitely due to finishing all his ground attacks with a forward dash.
Martial Arts Headband: Flaps dramatically in the wind. Also plays an important part in the anime.
In a seiyuu event where they had to switch roles for a few scenes, the seiyuu who had to voice Yukimura said they now felt sorry for Hoshi.
Shipper on Deck: In the anime, he firmly supports Sasuke's "engagement" with Kasuga. This is strange considering his normal reaction to any mention of love, but then again Sasuke is the closest thing he has to a friend.
Skilled, but Naive: Pretty much defines him in terms of competence. The reason Yukimura's not considered one of the strongest opponents around is that while he has lots of potential, he simply hasn't had enough battle experience.
Sweet Tooth: Extra material gave him a fondness for dango, which the fandom then turned into his Trademark Favourite Food. The Maedas were able to bribe him with sweets too.
Unusual Eyebrows: The fiery sort, though they seem to be normal in his manga incarnations. Also, the fork is in a different place in the games (at the root of his eyebrows) and in the anime (at the end of his eyebrows).
Younger than They Look: Less extreme a case than Masamune, but it can still come as a surprise that he's only 17. (It explains his Idiot Hero tendencies, though. Somewhat.)
"You should be glad having a nice guy like me as your opponent."
One of the Sanada Ten Braves, he is a ninja in the service of Takeda and often assists Yukimura. Sasuke is a jovial and laid back ninja, which puts him at odds with Kasuga, with whom he shares a friendly rivalry (though she doesn't look at it that way). However when the time calls, he can be deadly serious.He is called Talon in Devil Kings.
Beleaguered Assistant: Being forced to look after a hyperactive teenager who refuses to listen to his advice seems to have affected Sasuke's ability to care.
Berserk Button: The one time so far he's issued an outright death-threat is if you defeat him during the Osaka Summer Siege, because he knows that Yukimura's up next.
Big Brother Mentor: He occasionally has moments like this with Yukimura.
Bridal Carry: Does it multiple times in the anime. Rescuing people basically becomes his trademark.
Character Tics: Has a peculiar habit of assuming a half sitting, half standing position where he balances on one leg and rests the other on his opposite knee. Just how he manages to hold this position for long periods of time is a mystery.
Fuuma Shuriken: Uses them for both short and long range combat.
Gentleman Snarker: A light-hearted example, though virtually everything he says is brimming with sarcasm. The only person exempt is Shingen, being his master and all.
He slaps Yukimura in Utage when he's being too indecisive and jeopardising the clan.
Highly Visible Ninja: Averted. He wears forest camouflage and is a master of stealth tactics, in contrast to the less careful Kasuga.
Hypercompetent Sidekick: Sasuke sure does a lot more than would generally be expected of a ninja to keep his master from running off and getting himself and/or everyone else killed.
I Have the High Ground: In the anime, notably, at one point he stands balanced on the very tip-top of a tall pine tree.
In the games he's seen a couple of times perched one-legged on one of Yukimura's spears.
Just Whistle: In the anime, Sasuke gives Kasuga a flute and tells her to blow on it should she need help. When the time does come to use it, rather than making him appear as she had hoped, it turns into a rocket-powered glider that carries her off. Turns out he was using Kasuga as a guinea-pig to test the latest ninja gear.
Me's a Crowd: Tends to employ shadow clones in fights. He also interacts with them.
Master of Disguise: He has disguised himself as various people, including Yukimura, during Shingen's special "training". Of course, Yukimura doesn't suspect a thing...
Now That's Using Your Teeth: In the anime, Kasuga throws a kunai at his face, which he catches in his mouth.
The Rival: It varies between Kasuga, Kotaro and, in recent games, Kojuro.
Sir Swears-a-Lot: One of the only people in the English dub of Samurai Heroes to swear.
Stepford Smiler: As much as he attempts to remain upbeat and comical, by Utage it's clear that Sasuke's finding it hard to cope with the pressure. Yoshitsugu in particular says he possesses much despair.
Super Senses: He's able to see things an incredibly long distance away clearly, as well as apparently having a heightened sense of hearing and smell.
The Tease: Predominately towards Kasuga, but virtually no one is safe from his snark.
What Measure Is a Non-Human?: In Utage he reveals that he sees dispensable people as nothing more than "monkeys".
Wild Hair: Especially◊ in the third game. He looks like some sort of rock star.
Maeda Clan
Maeda Toshiie
Voiced by: Tomohiro Tsuboi (Japanese), Andrew Jackson (Devil Kings), Chuck Huber (anime), Jackson Robinson (Samurai Heroes)
"It would be great if there was a world where everyone can eat in peace..."
A vassal of Oda Nobunaga, which is surprising considering what a nice guy he is. Uncle of Keiji and husband of Matsu. The butt of many jokes.Known as Lark in Devil Kings.
Adult Child: Reacts with childish wonder to new places and concepts.
Battle Couple: With his wife, Matsu. They're even referred to as the "Strongest Couple in the Land".
Big Brother Mentor: As Keiji's guardian, he's a mixture of this and Bumbling Dad. They care about each other a lot and though Toshiie seems content to let Keiji make his own decisions, he always keeps an eye on him.
Big Eater: He's always hungry and can't fight unless his stomach is full.
Booze Flamethrower: A few of his attacks involves him taking a drink from his jug before spitting out flame, including his Limit Break.
Butt Monkey: Keiji's pranks usually end with Toshiie being beaten up or otherwise suffering somehow.
Cloudcuckoolander: His first reaction after seeing a ninja is to decide that he wants to fly too.
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Even more so than his nephew. He may be a bit slow and simple-minded, but the man will protect his clan until the bitter end.
Demoted to Extra: Like several others, Sengoku Basara 3 made him into an NPC, but hey, he's back in Utage!
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Despite being Nobunaga's vassal, neither he nor Matsu (and especially Keiji) did a whole lot for him. Nonetheless they were relatively loyal (until he came back in 3 as an Omnicidal Maniac, where he's freaked out that his boss is Back from the Dead). They did however plan to avenge Nobunaga by going after Mitsuhide in Nouhime's storyline in the second game.
Shell-Shocked Veteran: The anime portrays him as this, due to the horrors he experienced while serving under Nobunaga. Strange considering the above trope.
"Even though I am a woman, do not dare take me lightly!"
Toshiie's wife, usually tasked with keeping track of their renegade nephew Keiji. Has been described as "the ideal housewife", though she can still kick butt if she wants to.Called Bramble in Devil Kings.
"In both love and fights, it feels good when hearts communicate."
An eccentric and happy-go-lucky man, who likes festivals, sake and chasing girls. He is the adopted nephew of Toshiie and Matsu. He also has a pet monkey named Yumekichi. An old friend of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, until he becomes Drunk on the Dark Side.
BFS: Not as bulky as most, but it's over six foot long (taller than he is) and he wields it one-handed.
And when things gets serious, he can connect the hilt and the empty scabbard, turning it into a Blade on a Stick.
Big Damn Heroes: Does this in fine style at Sekigahara Invasion. When Ieyasu and Mitsunari refuse his request to end the conflict, he takes them both out with a headbutt to make them listen!
Bishounen: Nicknamed "Pretty Boy" and "Lady Killer" by Masamune.
Boisterous Bruiser: He's loud, fun-loving, rebellious, friendly, thinks about nothing except fighting, parties and girls.. yep, that's Keiji!
Booze-Based Buff: One of his skills involves him drinking huge amounts of sake in between attacks, which restores health.
Butt Monkey: The second season of the anime sees his dreams of a peaceful Japan gets increasingly overshot by Hideyoshi's ambitions, climaxing in being forced to fight Toshiie when the Maeda ally with the Toyotomi and then run over by Hideyoshi when he tries to give him a Last-Second Chance.
Dance Battler: His moveset has elements of this, based on kabuki dance.
Determinator: In the OVA, after breaking free from his bonds with strength alone, he attacks Motonari with his arms still tied, is shot at repeatedly, fakes his own death, then turns up just in time to stop Motonari and Motochika killing each other.
Double Entendre: Likes making these, particularly around the more naive characters.
Empathy Pet: Yumekichi often copies his movements.
Forgotten Fallen Friend: In SB3 Keiji seems to have entirely forgotten Hideyoshi since his death, and is mostly plagued by boredom and a lack of something to do. It's subverted once you play Keiji's purple path, in which Keiji admits he's just been using that to run away from having to face Hideyoshi's death.
Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Long, beautiful and flowing. Heck, most of the girls have shorter hair than him, Oichi being his only rival.
Love at First Sight: The start of his relationship with Magoichi in SB3. At first she dismisses it as a lie, but it eventually proves to be true.
The Matchmaker: Seems to have made himself unofficial love guru to the masses, dishing out advice to anyone he thinks needs it.
Nice Guy: Keiji only wishes for everyone to get along. He's even friendly and relaxed towards Nobunaga (though it comes with the territory that his family serves him).
Real Men Wear Pink: Aside from clothing that is either pink or just really gaudy, he also wears flowers in his hair.
Self Restraint: In the OVA, he purposefully lets Mouri capture him in order to try and negotiate. It doesn't go quite as planned...
Shipper on Deck: In the anime he's convinced that Kenshin and Kasuga love each other and wholeheartedly supports the relationship, despite Kasuga's embarrassed protests.
Single Tear: In the third game he cries one for Hideyoshi after finally coming to terms with his death.
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: He's firmly on the idealistic end and seems to believe that everyone can be reasoned with. Even before Hideyoshi came into the picture, he had tried to talk Oda Nobunaga out of his plans, and later he risked his life trying to get Mouri and Motochika work together against Oda.
Stepford Smiler: Concerning his past. Eventually comes to realise this isn't the way to deal with it.
Head of the Uesugi clan from Echigo, Takeda Shingen's main rival. He is also a devout follower of the war-god Bishamonten. Has a very young and effeminate appearance, but don't let this fool you. He's ridiculously fast and one heck of a fighter.Known as Frost in the Devil Kings.
Ambiguous Gender: Borderline. In an anime voice commentary, sound director Iwanami Miwa says he asked producer Kobayashi Hiroyuki if Kenshin was male or female, and he didn't get a straight answer. So apparently everyone, including the staff, just assumes he's male...
It doesn't help at all that aside of his femaleseiyuu, in the games his lines are written entirely in hiragana, which gives him a decidedly feminine aura (traditionally women used mainly or only hiragana in writing).
Friendly Enemy: His respect for Shingen is legendary. The incident when Takeda's trade routes were blocked and Kenshin secretly provided them with salt is mentioned multiple times.
Historical Beauty Update: Seems like Capcom is taking hints about how historically Kenshin seems to have an ambiguous gender.
Iaijutsu Practitioner: His speed relies on quick draws and he always returns in to the sheath.
Odd Friendship: With Keiji. They're very close but all they seem to have in common is a love of alcohol.
Older than They Look: Though his age is never specified, he's a similar sort of age to Shingen, who actually qualifies as a Cool Old Guy. Who'd have thought it...
Physical God: Maybe. He's given a lot of divine qualities, but can die like any other human.
Stealth Mentor: In the anime particularly, he keeps an eye out for Masamune, such as giving him strength to fight by holding his army up at a bridge.
Super Speed: The main reason he's seen as a god. And unlike the ninja or Mitsunari he isn't using Flash Step... he's running so fast that time slows down around him.
A kunoichi in the service of Uesugi Kenshin, as well as his potential love interest. She also has fierce Belligerent Sexual Tension with Sarutobi Sasuke. Often regarded as the games sex symbol.Her name in Devil Kings is Venus. She did not exist in Real Life.
Highly Visible Ninja: Perhaps the most attention-grabbing ninja ever. Sasuke also notes that she gets too worked up emotionally and forgets to be on form.
Power Blonde: Say what you will about her looks, but she's anything but stupid and a very competent fighter.
Reluctant Warrior: She really just wants the fighting to end. Sasuke has mentioned that at heart she's too kind to be a ninja.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After Kenshin is almost killed trying to protect her, Kasuga sets out to kill Nobunaga, and is captured in the process. Sasuke gets her out of it.
Sexy Back: Her catsuit is slitted down the back as well.
Tsundere: She's all tsun tsun around Sasuke, but becomes very dere dere around Kenshin. In the third game she constantly berates Keiji for his laziness and laid-back attitude, but freaks out and starts crying if he dies.
In season 1 of the anime she does briefly show her dere side for Sasuke when she tells Sasuke that she thought he would appear when she blew the "whistle" he had given him. In season 2 as well, when he's trying to defend himself from Fuuma's assault.
Undying Loyalty: Well, her life exists only for Kenshin etc.
Unusually Uninteresting Sight: In the anime, no matter how often or how expressive her, um...reactions to Kenshin's praise are, no one seems to think anything of it.
Keiji actually lampshades it in an episode: "Are you really a shinobi? Don't the others in your village think you're weird?"
Naoe Kanetsugu
Voiced by: Atsushi Imaruoka (Japanese), Jim Johnson (anime), Tony Oliver (Samurai Heroes)
"I'm invincible, I cannot die!"
Though not a playable character, he's quite a prominent mook with a modest popularity. Basically, this guy has an overinflated ego, always exclaiming that he's "INVINCIBLE!!", only to go down like a chump. This trait is endearing enough that he's become like Sengoku Basara's official Joke Character.
Born Lucky: As a supporting character in Sengoku Basara 3, he boosts your character's luck as long as he isn't KOed. Very useful for farming rare materials, but keep him far away from Basara arts.
Would also explain how he survives getting turned into a firework.
Catch Phrase: "ORE WA MUTEKI!!!" ("I'M INVINCIBLE!!!")
Chew Toy: Apparently he even gets beaten up by kids, and according to Keji, a dog.
In the anime, he tries a full frontal assault against Honda Tadakatsu, boasting he's completely invincible, only for Tadakatsu to swat him away like a bug and send him flying into a mountain.
Imagine every single Evil Overlord trope that one can ever use. Good. Now turn it Up to Eleven. You've got the Sengoku Basara version of Oda Nobunaga. Uses a Sword AndSawed Off Shotgun combo in combat, along with his Badass Cape. His main goal throughout the game is pretty much to, you guessed it, Take Over the World (starting with Japan) and run everybody to the ground.He returns in the third game, having escaped from hell with a set of new powers and the desire to tear this world a new asshole. Well, that's just great.Was the titular Devil King of the Devil Kings game.
Back from the Dead: Makes a dramatic comeback, this time as a fully fledged demon who just wants to destroy the world once and for all.
Bonus Boss: Basically this in the third game, where his stage is only unlocked for other characters after Oichi beats him as a True Final Boss.
Card-Carrying Villain: Maybe you noticed, what with all the spikes, and thunderclouds, evil laughter and the Ominous German Chanting in the anime. Or him proudly proclaiming himself the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven with a swish of the cape.
Cast from Hit Points: His 'Scorched Earth' Super Mode in the third game drains health while active. However, it also prevents him from dying while active. It's also somewhat mitigated by the fact that his element lets him drain health from enemies.
Classic Villain: The sinister appearance, megalomaniacal personality and Norio Wakamoto on his vocal cords alone should tell something about him.
Dissonant Serenity: His behaviour in the third game. Nobunaga is always perfectly calm and never raises his voice apart from the occasional Evil Laughter while you're playing, never shows any sign of anger, and praises his enemies for standing up to him.
Dramatic Thunder: Taken to extremes in the anime, where he is followed everywhere he goes by dark clouds, thunder and lightning.
Eviler than Thou: In the anime, Nobunaga sees right through Mitsuhide's scheming and backstabs him, leaving him to die in battle against Masamune and Yukimura.
Evil Is Hammy: In the movie where he is completely enjoying his return.
Evil Laugh: If anything manages to amuse him, it usually means you're screwed. In the third game it's more an Evil Chuckle.
Evil Overlord: If he does manage to take over the country. In the anime he starts off like this.
Evil Sounds Deep: Of course, it's Wakamoto. His voice in Samurai Heroes is pretty intimidating as well.
Excuse Plot: His 'story' paths in Samurai Heroes have only one story-significant cutscene, which is after defeating Mitsuhide in the red path. His stories can basically all be summarized as "Oda Nobunaga beats up everybody", just in different orders.
Eye Beams: His Basara KO in Cross has him fire these at the opponent from his throne before dealing the final blow.
Graceful Loser: In the third game, upon being defeated by Oichi, he goes back to Hell with her with little complaint.
Guardian Entity: One of the things he picked up in the third game.
Hero Killer: The anime incarnation succeeds at paralyzing Masamune with his glare in his first appearance and kills a good deal of supporting characters from the games who didn't make it into main characterhood in the anime. Every time the heroes try to face him prior to the final battle it goes badly for them, and in the end it takes a coalition of all the major factions and a Heroic Sacrifice to defeat him.
Humanoid Abomination: Regarded as one by most of the cast in 3. He may or not have been one before.
I Have Your Wife: When he kidnaps Oichi in Heroes and the anime.
Inconsistent Dub: Nobunaga's historical title of "第六天魔王" (Dairokuten Maou): In the first game and anime, it's "Devil King" (of the Sixth Heaven). In Samurai Heroes, it's "Demon King" (of the Sixth Underworld). English has no equivalent term for "maou", which has been translated into a lot of different English words in manydifferent Japanese games, and both terms carry the meaning of the word.
Laughably Evil: It's kind of hard not to at least chuckle at how Obviously Evil Nobunaga is in this series. Even the Onimusha version isn't this over-the-top, and that one became the king of hell.
Marathon Boss: In the third game, he'll be able to revive himself at least once in his stage due to the sacrifices.
One bonus objective on his map is to fight him after letting him devour all the souls he can, meaning you have to kill him eight times. Good luck with that.
Orcus on His Throne: Spends most of the anime sitting around doing nothing but drink sake and look badass, pretty much waiting for the heroes to come and get him. However considering how powerful he proved to be...
Pet the Dog: Double Subverted during Ranmaru's ending in the 1st game, Nobunaga rewards the boy with a few pieces of candy. While today this may make Nobunaga look like a cheapskate, Fridge Brilliance/Values Dissonance would set in once one realizes Sengoku Japan didn't have a sugar refinery to make the candy, which is likely imported from Portugal. Long story short: the candy is most likely NOT cheap.
Purposefully Overpowered: As a playable character in the third game. The health, offence and defence of Tadakatsu combined with Yukimura's movement speed, attack speed and reach (both in front and to the sides), use of the shadow element, and a ludicrously overpowered Super Mode as one of his final arts. His boss incarnation has between one and seven One Ups depending on how many souls you let him eat, gets stronger every time he revives, and has all his playable moves powered up further.
Red Baron: "Devil King of the Sixth Heaven", apparently a self-bestowed title. Older characters also mock him as the "Fool of Owari".
Red Eyes, Take Warning: In the anime they're always like this, whereas in the games he has Grey Eyes most of the time but they turn red when be enters demon mode.
Secret Character: Sort of in the third game. He's revealed as playable right in the manual, but unlocking him takes a lot more time than any of the other unlockable characters and the method is rather esoteric.
That Man Is Dead: In the third game, Nobunaga never calls himself by name (only his title) upon his return and denies any knowledge of himself. Yet, somehow, he remembers Oichi (and in her battle against him, Mitsuhide).
"A man named Oda Nobunaga... I have never heard of that man."
Tin Tyrant: Wears a European full-plate worthy of Sauron, complete with...
You Have Failed Me: In the anime, after Mitsuhide changes his plans in order to screw around with Nagamasa and IeyasuFor the Evulz, Nobunaga showers his head with sake and exclaims that the next time it will be his own blood.
Your Soul Is Mine: In the third game, his map involves you running like a maniac all over it trying to stop Nobunaga from devouring all his minions' souls for One Ups. Luckily there are ballistae to launch yourself across the map as shortcuts.
You Can't Thwart Stage One: The first sacrifice will go off automatically when the base commander reaches half health.
0% Approval Rating: This is one man who does not care for Public Relations; everybody wants a piece of him and that's the way he likes it. Given that the closest he's got to a chief diplomat is Mitsuhide...
Slavishly devoted wife of Nobunaga, who in return... well... doesn't kill her? Uses Guns Akimbo in combat, as well as carrying a Gatling Gun, a rifle and what seems to be a rocket launcher which she summons from her kimono.Uses butterfly motifs a lot, and thus she is called Lady Butterfly in Devil Kings
Apologetic Attacker: Mocked as she says "Excuse Me!" in the anime as she open fire with her machinegun on Kenshin and Kasuga.
Babies Ever After: Though historically she could not conceive, her ending in SB2 (after Nobunaga's death) implies she is pregnant.
Hidden Buxom: Doesn't seem like it in the games but she is revealed to be a definite case of this in the anime when she once posed as a Kunoichi and is revealed to be about as well-endowed as Kasuga.
Loving A Shadow: For whatever reason she idolises Nobunaga, with she herself being rather kindhearted at times. But if one thing is certain, it's that he's never going to love her back.
Love Makes You Evil: Is prepared to kill anyone and anything and turn herself into a demon for her husband.
Love Martyr: For Nobunaga, who barely recognizes her existence at best. And she has no interest in making him good anyway.
More Dakka: Her Gatling Gun can be outfitted to have a second barrel.
Psycho Supporter: Somewhat acknowledged by other characters in the second game, where they find her genuine devotion to the Demon King rather disturbing.
She's Got Legs: Especially in the anime. Her outfit bares little else, making sure they are suitably emphasised.
Child Soldiers: His youth disturbs some characters, but he himself seems to have no problems with warfare and treats it like a game. Which just makes it even more disturbing.
Cute Shotaro Boy: Bratty though he may be, he still looks adorable.
Hero Worshipper: Towards Nobunaga, who in return acknowledges him as a useful aide and rewards him with a single piece of candy for doing a good job. See Nobunaga's "Pet the Dog" article above.
His intro for SB2 is basically him wandering around a battlefield until he comes up to Nobunaga, who gives him a Death Glare before scoffing and riding away on his horse. His reaction? "That dude's awesome!" His total loyalty as well as being a little brat makes it so that other characters quickly get over the fact of fighting a kid.
Human Shield: Mitsuhide attempts to use him as such against Kojuro. It doesn't work because the latter acknowledges Ranmaru as Nobunaga's General and therefore an enemy, though he merely knocks him out of the way and tells him to serve another lord after leaving Mitsuhide for dead. He lives past the ending, with some Toy Shipping with Itsuki.
Mouthy Kid: Which eventually leads Mitsuhide to threaten him with death if he doesn't shut up in 2.
Parental Substitute: He sees Nobunaga and Nouhime as these. Both of them do get visibly upset if Ranmaru is killed.
Rain of Arrows: His Basara attack consists of this. He also creates a very impressive one upon his anime introduction (so thick that it covers every inch of the surrounding area).
"This is it, this is it! This is true slaughter! Ahahaha!!"
Nobunaga is running through the evil competition by himself. At least there will be the heroic Akechi Mitsuhide to stop the Evil Overlord Nobunaga, like usual, right?Bzzt! Wrong!Mitsuhide here is anything but heroic. He's an Obviously EvilWhite-Haired Pretty Boy who is completely Ax Crazy. With an evil giggle which can evolve into any Evil Laugh, twomean scythes and a lust for seeing people suffer, Mitsuhide might as well be the man to surpass Nobunaga in terms of evilness. Known as Reaper in Devil Kings, but said game demoted him into an NPC. He's playable in most Basara games, though.Sengoku Basara 3 introduces the character of Tenkai, a monk who turns out to be Mitsuhide is disguise. How exactly this came to be is unknown, though it's clear that Tenkai has something up his sleeve... Too bad he got demoted to an NPC in the same time until Utage.
Combat Sadomasochist: Mitsuhide practically defines this trope! Why do you think he toys around so much? He even has an attack where he squirms around as enemies strike him before countering in one big release.
Cool Mask: Tenkai wears one (not that it makes much of a difference).
Cry For The Devil: Strange as it sounds, during Utageit's actually quite hard not to feel a little sorry for him when he tries to convince himself he's still human, feels lost and alone and even starts sobbing pitifully.
Death Seeker: Becomes this after he kills Nobunaga and sees no other reason to live if he must be without Nobunaga.
Demoted to Extra: In Devil Kings, he/Reaper got demoted to an NPC. Then, when he becomes Tenkai in SB3, he's an NPC once again. Then he becomes playable again in Utage.
Evil Tastes Good: Mitsuhide constantly uses taste-related metaphors, such as finding it "delicious" to trample on true love.
Evil Versus Evil: Up against Nobunaga, though he's more of a sadistic psychopath than plain old evil... which may make him a far worse evil than even his lord.
First Name Basis: He is notably the only person in the cast to refer to Nouhime by her real name, Kichou. This familiarity is linked to the fact that they were childhood friends in Real Life.
Foe Yay: He is fond of Nouhime and sometimes expresses sympathy for her situation. She just finds his advances creepy.
Let's not forget how he complimented Motonari's looks and figure... only to say he wanted to cut it up.
Historical Hero Downgrade: Sengoku Basara is one of the very few media where Mitsuhide is downright villainous and wicked. Keep in mind that Capcom did however portrayed him in a better light in Onimusha.
"You utterly annihilated opponents who had already admitted defeat, right down to the last survivor. You mercilessly cut down women and children running away in confusion. You burnt down everything, leaving not even an insect alive. The only thing remaining is the ashes dancing in the transient wind. I, Mitsuhide, can no longer contain how intoxicated I am with you!"
Licking The Blade: Has been known to do this, whether the blade has blood on it or not.
Limp And Livid: The way he's always moving, except rather than livid he is very calm, gliding about and swaying from side to side as if it comes perfectly naturally. Human spines shouldn't be able to move like that...
A Love to Dismember: In Utage he carries Nobunaga's head around with him and speaks to it as if it were the real Nobunaga.
Manipulative Bastard: As Tenkai, he effectively controls Kobayakawa Hideaki's every decision through schemes and flattery, bending him to his every will. Though it's not like Hideaki is particularly hard to fool anyway.
My God, What Have I Done?: Turned out he began to miss Nobunaga after killing him and breaks down when told he has lost his humanity.
The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: He gets rather upset if anyone gets to Nobunaga before he does. Also the reason why he resurrects Nobunaga again in the third game; so he can try and finally kill him for good.
Paper-Thin Disguise: As Tenkai, he now sports a mask and a change of clothing. That is about all that's different.
Peek-A-Bangs: His horse also adopts his hairstyle in the anime.
Sickly Green Glow: His Basara attack creates a greenish black aura reminiscent of this.
Sinister Minister: Keep in mind, Tenkai is meant to be a monk. Lampshaded by Hideaki's soldiers saying they've never seen one who looks like that.
Soft Water: When Tenkai is defeated he will escape by jumping off a cliff into the sea.
Nice Hat: His distinctive helmet has a horsetail crest on it.
Noble Bigot: Nagamasa genuinely wants to do good, but it doesn't occur to him that in trying to eradicate everyone he doesn't approve of he's contradicting himself.
Parasol Of Pain: One of his joke weapons is a old Japanese-style umbrella.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: In his campaign in Heroes, Oichi gets kidnapped by Nobunaga. After recovering from Heroic BSOD, he the proceeds to go the castle and hand everyone inside their asses.
Royal Rapier: Technically a longsword, but he uses it in the same way.
Hoo boy, where do we start? Oichi is the introverted younger sister of Nobunaga, who got sent off to marry Azai Nagamasa. Debuts in SB2 as an NPC, but gained such a massive following she is made a playable character in Heroes. She seems to think that everything bad in the world is her fault. And with a brother like Nobunaga, it always get worse. She also has dark powers which can possess her and turn her into a psychotic murderer, but she usually keeps those in check... unless she's pushed too far.And yet, the universe seems to want her to be pushed beyond that line. Her story revolves about her getting possessed by her powers after Nagamasa's Heroic Sacrifice to save her and Nobunaga making her commit lots of atrocities she didn't want to, culminating in killing Nobunaga and all his aides, and then getting killed by a falling ceiling... with a heart-wrenching Image Song at that. The anime follows a similar route too, where she gets tricked by Mitsuhide into warning Nagamasa of impending danger, only for Mitsuhide to turn back against his words... and kill Nagamasa in front of her. She makes a last-minute Heel Face Turn and kills Nouhime, before being murdered by Nobunaga.She appears in Sengoku Basara 3, once again proving her Popularity Power. However, not only does she now lead the remnants of Nobunaga's army (who have chosen her as his successor), she has discarded her naginata and utilizes only her demon hands. Her storyline was taken from the canon story (Nagamasa's death) up until the point before she snapped, where she purposely lost her memories to avoid facing the extremely harsh reality and is now obeying whoever gives her orders.
Ascended Extra: Joined her husband as one of the popular playables in the expansion.
Back from the Dead: Certain lines from her and Nobunaga suggest this is the case in the third game and the opening narrator/other characters are just guessing.
Brown Note: One of her prisoners apparently passed out from sheer terror after looking into her eyes.
Chickification: A minor case in the anime, where she's not even shown fighting.
Cosmic Plaything: The universe really seems to hate her and wants to prevent her from ever achieving any kind of happiness.
Throw the Dog a Bone: Except if she chooses to follow Ieyasu in SB3, who treats her kindly and promises to protect her, possibly the only happy ending she could hope for.
Cute and Psycho: Most of the time she's very demure and sweet, if a little depressing, but when she snaps you had better run fast.
Dark is Not Evil: Blame Nobunaga for drawing out her dark powers, which she seems to dislike and fear.
The powers themselves appear to be the only thing that consistently treats her nicely. In Samurai Heroes, at least, the hands are very gentle in the way they (for instance) put her on her feet, carry her instead of running, or catch her and set her down after a zipline or slingshot.
Demonic Possession: By the third game. Whether it's Nobunaga or something else remains unknown.
Distressed Damsel: TWICE. In Nagamasa's story and in the anime, both courtesy of her brother.
The Dog Bites Back: In her Western Army ending, after killing Ieyasu she flips out entirely and kills Yoshitsugu while he's busy indulging in maniacal laughter.
Extreme Doormat: Doesn't help her situation by just doing whatever she's told without complaint.
Sengoku Basara 3 makes this trope more apparent with her. In one path of her story, she's captured and essentially used as an attack dog by Yoshitsugu. It bites him in the ass in the end.
Fake Static: Sort of. During her dialogue in battle you often hear this as she speaks, a reference to ghost movies.
Flower Motifs: White lilies for her love with Nagamasa, and red lycoris for her demonic side.
Foe Yay: Disturbingly enough, she has this with her brother in the third game, especially how she strokes his face as they return to hell together.
Hime Cut: A variation with the bangs trimmed at different lengths around her face.
I Just Want to Have Friends: The thing that seems to trouble Oichi the most in the third game is being alone. When anybody tries to befriend her (Tsuruhime, Ieyasu) she instantly latches on to them and seems much happier. She's even quite content binding Nobunaga in hell, just because it means she doesn't have to be alone anymore.
Limp And Livid: In the third game. She moves like a puppet with a drunk puppeteer behind the strings, and half her movements involve her shadow hands picking her up and moving her around.
The Mole: In the anime, this was the whole reason she was married to Nagamasa in the first place. However, she falls in love with him for real, and cannot carry out her duties.
The Nicknamer: "Lord Happy" and "Lord Grumpy" for Ieyasu and Mitsunari, respectively. Also "White Bird" or Ranmaru for Tsuruhime.
Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant: Oh lord, Oichi... Thought she was scary enough in SB2? SB3 cranks it Up to Eleven. From the way she moves like a dead human puppet, dark hands cracking up skulls of unfortunate mooks, to playing with said hands while singing a haunting song, complete with distorted audio when she speaks making her feel like she was out of a Japanese horror film. Just see for yourself.
Half the time when you block with her she whispers in a quiet voice "kill me!" It's really creepy.
Her stages are just as bad, with the complete darkness and the shit-scary music.
Perfectly Arranged Marriage: So perfect that she grows more devoted to Nagamasa than to her elder brother, who arranged the marriage.
Popularity Power: How she managed to earn her story arc in Heroes — and that's saying something in a series loaded with testosterone, which also leads her to be the sole female character in Cross.
Red Baron: The Demon Queen of the Fifth Heaven in the third game.
Redemption Equals Death: In Heroes, she dies after killing her brother and his subordinates. SB3 retcons this into saying that she was the Sole Survivor.
The Remnant: In the third game, as the "successor" of Nobunaga she's followed by the Remnants of the Oda Army, who serve her with a cult-like fervor. This leads to Fridge Logic when she fights against her brother.
Say My Name: Particularly in the anime, though the games are guilty of this as well. If she's not apologising, she's saying "Nagamasa-sama" over and over.
Shaping Your Attacks: Her Darkness. Though is hard to tell who's controlling who.
She's Got Legs: Her thighs are given a lot of attention.
Squishy Wizard: In Samurai Heroes. Her attack and defence scores are quite subpar and she moves and attacks slowly, especially in regards to cooldown. However, all her moves have very good range and area-of-effect and involve grabbing, throwing or locking down the enemy's movement, and her shadow element gives her an effective Instant Death Radius against mooks.
Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl: She bears similarities to this, especially in the third game, including her long black hair, pale skin, haunting voice and hellish powers.
Trauma Induced Amnesia: It's revealed in SB3 that following Nagamasa's death and her fall into darkness, she forced herself to forget all the terrible things that had happened.
What Have I Done: Her story ending in Heroes, after she goes beserk and kills Nobunaga. She dies herself when the building collapses.
World's Most Beautiful Woman: Has inherited her real life counterpart's status as the most beautiful woman in Japan.
Yank the Dog's Chain: After having some sense beaten into her during her second stage, the dark powers around her recede completely, she stands straight under her own power and she starts calling out to people, disoriented but entirely lucid for the first time all game. It lasts about 30 seconds before Tenkai kills her to revive Nobunaga.
The third unifier, and probably the only sane one between the trio (because Nobunaga is like the personification of evil, Hideyoshi is... freakin' nuts). Unlike the fat turd that most fictions portray, Ieyasu here is somewhat of a Bratty Half-Pint, but despite that possesses quite a lot of wisdom and virtue and love for his people. While not much of a fighter, he makes it up with his humongously powerfulGundam retainer Honda Tadakatsu.However, Capcom decided to poke fun at his days of being the hostage of Imagawa, thus turning him into James Bondage extraordinaire, especially in Tadakatsu's story where everyone races to kidnap Ieyasu (and him getting kidnapped is a gimmick when playing as Tadakatsu in the fighting game). He's unplayable in both the first and second games, but the Expansion Pack made him playable and gave him a non-James Bondage role as Motochika's friend, but he has no story mode.It isn't until SB3 (and consequently the second season of the anime) that he finally becomes a full-blown grown man, gets past his James Bondage tendencies and is now punching people out on the guts with his fist. He successfully slays Hideyoshi, but then had to deal with Hideyoshi's fanatical follower Ishida Mitsunari, leading up to the decisive battle at Sekigahara.Known as Irdene in Devil Kings
Ascended Extra: Was an NPC in the first game and only became playable a couple of time before he grew into the main character of SB3.
Badass: You really wouldn't believe this if you're playing the previous game since he's the always-kidnapped boy. Well, he got his badass certificate.
Battle Aura: Weaponizes it with the "Tokugawa Might" technique.
Battle Discretion Shot: His battle with Hideyoshi in the SB3 intro takes place off-screen while we follow Mitsunari's point-of-view, who only arrives after Hideyoshi is dead. Exactly how the battle went down is unknown, although Ieyasu (obviously) won.
Blade on a Stick: His first weapon, discarded in favor of a new fighting style.
Bratty Half-Pint: In Sengoku Basara Matsuri it is said he's 15 years old!
And while for all intents and purposes he's an adult, in the anime Shingen still addresses him as Takechiyo, which is his childhood name.
Lampshaded in 3, where his previously reverent soldiers immediately explode into mother-hen mode when "Takechiyo-sama" is apparently kidnapped, and the suspect being the Hojo, they, being led by Tadakatsu, wrecked the whole clan... only to find Ieyasu just trying to hang around for Sakura-viewing.
Lampshaded by Masamune, who states that he had to grow up at some point.
Cracking Up: In his revamped design, he cracks his knuckles dramatically before executing his Basara attack.
Charged Attack: His attacks can be charged up to go from "Punching things really hard" to "Punching things absurdly hard with added range".
Combat Compliment: In the third game, he spends just about every single one of his levels singing his opponent's praises while beating their forces into dust.
Cry For The Devil: In the ending where he defeats Mitsunari, he sheds tears for the troubled man he considered a friend.
Defeat Means Friendship: As of 3, Ieyasu is out to unite Japan even if he has to punch every single Japanese person in the face to do it.
Honor Before Reason: "The Tokugawa never betrays a promise, even to the Demon King himself". It just takes the next episode in the anime to finally make him screw that.
Unexplained Recovery: In the anime. After we saw Nobunaga's soldiers stab him to death on-screen in season one, too. No, don't ask us how that happened.
In the Hood: He wears one with his new design similar to those worn by Boxers. When he puts it on with his taunt, he gets a bit of an attack buff.
Invulnerable Knuckles: Averted - he fights with his fists specifically so that he too feels pain, and his soldiers talk about giving them medical attention.
Stockholm Syndrome: Becomes best friends with Chousokabe Motochika, who happens to be one of his kidnappers. Then the third game suddenly subverts it when Ieyasu attacks Motochika's territory after killing Hideyoshi, ultimately straining their relationship. Then subverted again as it turns out it was Kanbe's doing, with Motonari behind it.
Use Your Head: His Super Art, "Hard Head". Absurd damage, knocks down even enemy commanders, and hits enemy on ground when fully charged. Commanders can be taken out in seconds with it.
Walking Shirtless Scene: That vest of his is pretty much all he wears above the waist. His alternate look removes the crop top too.
We Can Rule Together: As his plan is to "unite the country through the power of bonds", he tries a non-villainous take on this on a large number of characters to try to avoid fighting them, up to and including Mitsunari in some campaigns. Gets especially egregious in Yukimura's red campaign, where Ieyasu offers Yukimura a place by his side after Yukimura has already beat him up and scattered the Eastern army.
What the Hell, Hero?: Toshiie accused him of kidnapping Matsu so the Maeda is Neutral No Longer and join him. Ieyasu is flabbergasted because he never gave such orders. In fact Yoshiaki was the one who did it, to empower the Eastern Army and earn Ieyasu's favour.
Also, despite all his talk of "uniting the country with the power of bonds", he defeats his mentor Hideyoshi and ruins Mitsunari's life by taking away the bond Mitsunari has with his lords.
Wide-Eyed Idealist: Which leads him to make some pretty dumb mistakes at times.
Honda Tadakatsu
"...!"
One of Sengoku Basara's ridiculous yet fucking awesome presentations. Tadakatsu is a...uh...Gundam. Or just a Humongous Mechain the middle of ancient Japan. He doesn't talk and mostly lets his massive ass-kicking capabilities do the talking. He's also pretty loyal to Ieyasu. There are, however, times where even he gains some sort of will to fight a Worthy Opponent, showcased in front of the Shimazu clan. In those cases, Ieyasu usually lets him do as he pleases.Goes by the name Iron OX in Devil Kings
Cyborg: Possibly. It's very vague, but he does seem to have a face with skin.
Frozen Face: Said face is locked in a single expression that never changes. He is able to move his eyes, but that's it.
Heroic Sacrifice/Disney Death : In the anime, he fights Nobunaga to try and restore his master's honor, despite knowing it's a lost cause. However it turns out he's not quite dead.
Lightning Bruiser: Thanks to his Gundam-ish features, he's both quick and MEGA POWERFUL. He's a bit difficult to steer in combat though. His "Heavy Mode" makes him a full-on Mighty Glacier though.
The Silent Bob: Despite him only communicating in either mechanical whirs or total silence, other characters seem to understand him perfectly well and even make casual conversation with him.
Becomes ridiculous in one scene where Ieyasu tells him "don't look at me like that!", when Tadakatsu's face hasn't changed at all from the Perpetual Expression it's always been.
Silent Partner: Ieyasu tends to chatter away during the times when Tadakatsu would otherwise be expected to say something.
Spirited Competitor: About the only thing that can make him ignore Ieyasu's command is when he finds a Worthy Opponent to fight (such as Yukimura in the anime, and Yoshihiro in the games).
The Worf Effect: For all his hype and features as shown previously, he is hit hard with this in the anime, getting blown up first by Nouhime and then by Nobunaga. He gets better.
Adaptation Dye Job: Depending on the game, his hair is either brown or grey (and sometimes a mixture). This opens up countless questions about his age.
Curb-Stomp Battle: In the anime, all his fights against the heroes are very one-sided until Masamune cuts him down in the climax following a Heroic Second Wind.
Killed Off for Real: Major plot point of the third game, since it was necessary to set Sekigahara into motion. Knowing this series, it won't last.
Large and in Charge: Easily the biggest character in the game. The anime takes this to extremes with having him nearly 4 times the size of Masamune (though this is hilariously inconsistent).
Neck Lift: It's one of his moves. He pulls it out repeatedly in the anime, mostly against Masamune.
Noble Demon: Sort of. Hideyoshi may be ruthless to those who's against him. However, if they're supporting him, Hideyoshi treats them well. No wonder Hanbe and Mitsunari are slavishly loyal to him.
No Sell: In the anime, most characters' attacks simply have no effect on him.
Ominous Latin Chanting: Hideyoshi's anime leitmotif. It's actually a mix of English and German (contrasting with Nobunaga's German), but it's used in the exact same manner.
Parrot Exposition: Plays this to Hanbe in the anime during strategy talks.
Pet the Dog: His attitude towards Hanbe. In SB3, Ieyasu reveals that Hideyoshi thought of Hanbe as he died.
Punch The Sky: Does this for an introduction in the anime, causing the clouds above him to part and a ray of light to shine down while the rest of the battlefield are stuck under an overcast sky... What Do You Mean, It's Not Symbolic?
0% Approval Rating: Hideyoshi tries to avert it unlike Nobunaga by forming alliances and valuing his subordinates, but pretty much nobody (except Hanbe and Mitsunari) likes him.
Takenaka Hanbe
Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese), Chris Cason (anime)
Hideyoshi's right hand man. A cold, cruel genius who enjoys taking people out with his Whip Sword and looking fabulous. Suffers from tuberculosis.
Combat Pragmatist: As he puts it, he hasn't got the time to play nice.
Determinator: Considering Hanbe's a dying man yet still manages to run the show on very little sleep and kick serious ass on the battlefield, he does pretty well for himself.
Kick the Dog: Usually defeating people isn't enough - he'll manipulate then and make their lives a misery, just because he can.
Killed Off for Real: For the third game, along with Hideyoshi, although his death is only mentioned in passing. It probably won't last...
The Last Dance: Vows to bring Hideyoshi to the top of Japan before tuberculosis claims him. It's explained in 3 that he eventually did make him ruler, and died peacefully soon afterwards.
Mask Power: And it really serves no visible purpose other than to look cool.
Morality Pet: To Hideyoshi, who treats him with utmost respect and kindness.
Puss in Boots: Hanbe would probably be clever enough to outwit the more-brawn-than-brains Hideyoshi if he wanted to, but remains completely devoted to his dream. Together, they have both the brawn and the brains.
Playable character in Sengoku Basara 3. A fanatically loyal subordinate of Hideyoshi, he does not take Hideyoshi's defeat well and swears revenge on Ieyasu. The fastest character in the series so far, he uses a nodachi in the style of iaidou, similar to Kenshin.
Ax Crazy: In his less stable moments Mitsunari displays an almost complete disregard for human life, and may even burst into laughter when cutting down everything that moves.
Berserk Button: The primary one is Ieyasu (mentioning him is bad enough, let alone allying with him), with his other one being those who "disrespect" the memory of Hideyoshi (mere irreverence earns a death threat while straight-up insults will have him drop everything to butcher said culprit). Worst of all is betrayal, which is absolutely unforgivable in his eyes.
But for Me, It Was Tuesday: Masamune's entire red story in SB3 is a revenge-driven rampage against Mitsunari for defeating and humiliating him once. Mitsunari doesn't even remember who he is.
Turned on its head in Mitsunari's blue story, which is a revenge-driven rampage against Masamune for insulting Hideyoshi once. Masamune doesn't think that to be a very big deal.
Curb-Stomp Battle: In the backstory of Sengoku Basara 3, Mitsunari's encounter with Masamune during the Siege of Odawara was one of these. Mitsunari doesn't even remember having done it.
Cutlass Between The Teeth: He carries his sword and/or sheath in his mouth when using ziplines and his Basara Attack.
Attempts this against Nobunaga in the movie, successfully slicing his neck open.
Death Seeker: Of a kind. Says that he died along with Hideyoshi, and wishes to take revenge on Ieyasu ASAP so it can finally end.
One of his in-game lines is even "Go ahead, kill me, leave me to die in a pool of my own blood!"
Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Has practically none beyond "kill Lord Hideyoshi's enemies". In the red story, he suffers a Villainous Breakdown when he realizes he had nothing but his (now-fulfilled) vengeance. In the blue one, he decides to follow in Hideyoshi's footsteps and conquer the world, all to spite those who called him an unworthy successor to Hideyoshi.
Et Tu, Brute?: If there's one thing he can't stand, it's betrayal. And unfortunately he experiences a lot of it.
Even Evil Has Standards: If he finds out about Yoshitsugu and Motonari's role in the destruction of Shikoku, he's so disgusted that he ends his campaign on the spot and offers himself up for execution.
Fallen Angel: Word Of God describes him as such, and his alternate outfit has a pair of wings adorned on the back. It's never revealed if he was good or not before meeting Hideyoshi, or if he was always so messed up, so it's difficult to interpret.
Flash Step: He's so quick, he literally disappears from sight before attacking, re-appearing only after the damage is done.
He's even fast enough to force the camera to chase him, if you play him correctly.
Glass Cannon/Fragile Speedster: He's the fastest character in the series (capable of outrunning horses in his Super Mode) and has a lot of reach and attack speed, but his damage per hit is low (but he'll be doing a lot of them) and he can't take a hit.
Glowing Eyes of Doom/Red Eyes, Take Warning: His final skill "Reverence" turns him into a demonic being covered in darkness and with burning crimson eyes. Also, when Kanbe takes over Osaka Castle the camera zooms in on Mitsunari to show his eyes turning red.
Hair-Trigger Temper: To the point of near-psychosis. Sometimes you only have to be standing there and it pisses him off.
Ignored Epiphany: He's aware that Kanbe is quite undeterred by having a giant friggin' ball attached to him and is conspiring against him, yet he never thinks to keep an eye on Osaka Castle. Did he honestly expect him to NOT snatch it?
Knight Templar/Black and White Insanity: Unlike Yoshitsugu, Mitsunari genuinely believes himself to be in the right and that those around him (except Yoshitsugu) are vile sinners for having denied Hideyoshi. He also believes that since his revenge is justified it must be done honourably - see Even Evil Has Standards above.
Kubrick Stare: Well, his hair does get in the way. He can't really glare at you through it.
Laughing Mad: After finally killing Ieyasu. However he quickly realises that he has just destroyed his only reason for living and has a heart-rending mental breakdown.
He can also be heard laughing in the background during Magoichi's blue ending. This time without the associated breakdown.
Lean and Mean: He apparently barely eats anything, so it's no surprise he's so skinny. Probably able to attack quickly because he's lightweight too.
Leeroy Jenkins: His idea of tactics boils down to "charge in and kill as many as you can".
Limp And Livid: More or less his default state of existence; he often moves as if half-asleep while screaming his lungs out. His "Reverence" Super Art cranks this up even further.
Lunacy: Has a fair amount of symbolism involving the moon to contrast Ieyasu's sunniness, noticeably in the crescents that his slashes take the form of, and the prevalence of the moon in his castle stage. Plus the fact he's insane.
The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: Is revealed to feel this way about Ieyasu. Hisahide decides that the greatest despair he can inflict on Mitsunari is take away his revenge by killing Ieyasu.
Perpetual Frowner: He only smiles properly once, and that was in Yoshitsugu's imagination.
The Renfield: Heavily implied to have been this before the events leading into the third game.
Revenge Before Reason: Revenge is all that matters - his health, his clan, his duties, his allies, nothing else is worth thinking about until he's delivered retribution.
Averted in the movie. Where he does give up his desire to avenge his lord.
And "DAATEEE MAASAAAMUUUNEEEEEE!!!" in the movie...
Sleepyhead: Yoshitsugu sometimes warns him not to go fall asleep some-place. The second infiltration of Osaka Castle has him sleep through half of the stage before Yoshitsugu decides to wake him up by telling him an ally of Ieyasu's has arrived.
Super Mode: His "Reverence" super art, which takes away his ability to block, dodge and do anything but attack in return for knockback and increased attack speed and damage. With his special equipment, Mitsunari can stay in this mode permanently and also run while in it, which takes his Fragile Speedster nature even further and lets him outrun horses on foot.
Stepping Stones in the Sky: He takes this Up to Eleven in the manga, when he slashes a group of soldiers into the air then uses them as stepping stones to reach a second-floor balcony.
This Is Unforgivable: If he isn't screaming "IEYASU!" or "Ill Kill You!" at the top of his lungs, expect him to be screaming this.
Troubled But Cute: A meta-example. As angry, violent, ruthless and stubborn as he is, at heart he's but a very confused and misguided man who has suffered a huge loss and is now desperately trying to find his reason for existing. Some also find his honesty and awkwardness Moe.
Unstoppable Rage: Just try and get between him and Ieyasu. Go on. I dare you.
Even Yoshitsugu, probably the one person on Earth whom Mitsunari wouldn't rather kill on sight, has a moment where he's audibly dreading the man's anger:
Yoshitsugu: Oh dear. Mitsunari, I'm afraid I have some dreadful news, so you may wish to calm down for a moment and... n-n-not that you need to calm down...
"Reverence" is pretty much the embodiment of this trope.
Unwitting Pawn: Doesn't realize that Yoshitsugu is manipulating him for his goal of screwing over the entire human race. In the movie his arrival at Sekigahara with the Toyotomi forces was planned by Tenkai and Yoshitsugu to cause the battle they needed to resurrect Oda.
Villainous Breakdown: It can probably be said that he spends the entirety of the game in one.
Villainous Demotivator: Is not what you would call 'a good motivator' by any stretch of the imagination. This is a nod to his Real Life counterpart, who by all accounts wasn't a 'people person' either and insulted several of his allies into abandoning him or turning sides during Sekigahara.
Villainous Friendship: A mutual one with Yoshitsugu. Yoshitsugu mentions at one point that when Hideyoshi's other retainers mocked him for being The Grotesque, Mitsunari beat them to a pulp.
Will Not Tell a Lie: Makes it a point of pride not to lie or use deceptions of any kind. He despises people who lie as well, but is completely unaware that Yoshitsugu is a compulsive liar.
Otani Yoshitsugu
Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese), Michael G. Sorich (English)
"May misery rain down upon us all!"
Another new character in SB3. Mitsunari's friend and ally, who suffers from leprosy. Because of this, he has to be transported round on a special platform. Due to said disease, he holds a grudge against all other humans because they ridiculed him for it. So far, only Mitsunari is okay with him. He can apparently float.
Armour Piercing Question: In Yoshitsugu's final blue path map, Motonari asks Yoshitsugu what his objective is. Yoshitsugu answers that it's to bring misery to all humans. Motonari asks if this includes him. Yoshitsugu replies that it is. Motonari then asks if this includes Yoshitsugu himself. Yoshitsugu replies that it is. Motonari then asks if this includes Mitsunari. Yoshitsugu gets stunned into silence and is unable to answer. He spends the entire map mulling this over, unable to find an answer.
Baddie Flattery: He only uses it to get his own way, particularly when it comes to bending Mitsunari or Tsuruhime to his will. However some of his comments to Motonari seem genuine.
Bandage Mummy: Wrapped head-to-toe in bandages due to his illness.
Berserk Button: Yoshitsugu is a cackling villain who resents Ieyasu and the world at large, maintains an Affably Evil front, and wants to inject misery and suffering into everything, himself included...but not Mitsunari. Never Mitsunari. And if anyone does threaten, betray, or harm Mitsunari in any way (as in Motonari's blue path), expect Yoshitsugu to well-and-truly lose it.
Creepy Monotone: In the Japanese dub. Tachiki's delivery is extremely hollow and raspy and places inflections oddly or leaves them out altogether, making Yoshitsugu sound almost completely devoid of emotion except when somebody's pushed his Berserk Button.
The Dragon: To Mitsunari, who he takes over from when the former cannot lead his troops.
Even Evil Has Standards: For all his vices — and he has quite a few — Yoshitsugu is disgusted by Nobunaga because he has given up humanity and can no longer understand the nature of human suffering.
Averted in the movie. He was working with Tenkai to resurrect the Demon King and only opposed him since Mitsunari joined the fight.
Evil Laugh: While smashing mook heads open. Especially disturbing since his illness obviously makes it difficult to laugh, resulting in a hoarse, spasmodic cackle.
Faux Affably Evil: In the English dub. Sorich's delivery is far more emotional than his Japanese counterpart and makes Yoshitsugu sound courteous and charming, or at least like he's constantly faking being courteous and charming, underlining his manipulative and treacherous nature.
Foe Yay: Displays an unhealthy interest in Oichi and her dark powers, and finds her positively charming. Kanbe points out he has horrible taste in women, to which he agrees.
He sometimes appears to be making advances at Motonari, though this may just be deliberately trying to annoy him.
Functional Magic: Or whatever it is that he uses. Mitsunari mentions something about Buddhism, and since here Buddhism is magic, it makes sense.
Gallows Humour: Whenever the army gets into a bad situation he tends to quip about it rather than panic.
The Grotesque: Looks pretty scary, and is quite tragic in a sense. It also makes him immune to attacks with grabbing properties since no one wants to touch him with a 10-foot pole.
Historical Villain Upgrade: He had leprosy in real life, and was famously good friends with Mitsunari. The 'evil sorcerer planning eternal misery on humanity' part, not so much.
Morality Pet: Mitsunari. Subverted in that he still does nothing but sow misery, even deceiving Mitsunari at several points along the way.
His blue route has him question Ieyasu on "bonds he wishes to protect" and he ends up by sacrificing himself to save Mitsunari.
Motonari's blue route has him decide to abandon his goal of screwing over the entire human race to instead inflict all the human suffering he had planned upon the only person he thinks deserves it: Motonari. Since Motonari had betrayed Mitsunari.
Mitsunari being in danger in the movie while facing the reborn Demon King is what makes Yoshitsugu abandon his goal and fight against the very Demon King he helped resurrect.
Only Known by Their Nickname: In the Japanese version, he is called "Gyobu" by those that know him, which is a reference to his historical court title.
Pet the Dog: No matter how much he hates the world, or how much he ridicules the boy's straight-forward nature, he still shows a kind of strange affection for Mitsunari.
Poisonous Friend: He's the one who encourages Mitsunari to be so vicious and destructive, taking advantage of his fragile mental state.
Power Floats: Applies to both his palanquin and his beads.
Power Glows: His beads (and whatever they touch) glow yellow when he enchants them.
Squishy Wizard: All his offensive special attacks are ranged and have enormous range and juggling potential. On the flip side, his movement speed, turning speed, hit points, defence and attack are amongst the lowest in the game and his special attacks all require breathing space due to charge times.
Taking the Bullet: In his second ending he gets impaled on Tadakatsu's drill after pushing Mitsunari out of the way of the attack. Ouch.
Tractor Beam: One of his air attacks has him deploy one of these from beneath his palanquin to suck up mooks and squash them.
Villainous Breakdown: If Hideaki accomplishes his betrayal in Sekigahara, he, Mitsunari and Motonari if he's there go through a collective one.
Villainous Friendship: With Mitsunari, who is probably the only person Yoshitsugu cares about at all in most routes. He also refers to Motonari as "my friend", though if it is anything more than mere courtesies Motonari does not reciprocate.
Wheel o' Feet: Can do this with his beads, turning his palanquin into a two-wheel dragster. It even outruns horses.
"Damn it! Why can't I, just once, not be the one losing?!"
New character for Sengoku Basara 3. A convict who used to serve Hideyoshi, but was chased to the south and imprisoned by Mitsunari after he tried to seize power himself. Fights with his hands manacled plus a huge chainball attached to it.
Action Bomb: One of Kanbe's hilariously schadenfreude-laden Super Arts has him doing something like this, first by dropping a Cartoon Bomb on his head from out of nowhere, him doing a Double Take at the bomb, which proceeds to blow him up and launch him through the air, on fire, while screaming his catch phrase, capped by him exploding when he lands... before getting up covered in sootbut unharmed.
The Chew Toy: So much so that the universe is probably out there to make sure all his plans fail and he never gets free from his cuffs.
Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: The Toyotomi we can understand. But the guys who befriended and trusted him, and promised to help unify Japan?
Comedic Sociopathy: His is the only moveset which has moves which embarrass and humiliate the user, including his normal attack (where he spins his flail until the button is released or he gets dizzy), his Super Art Depression where he hits his manacles against the ball and gets depressed when it fails to shatter them, his Super Art Rolling Attack (where one bad moment of steering will splat him hilariously against a wall) and the above-mentioned Bad Bomb Super Art.
Cursed with Awesome: He at least makes good use of his punishment, even managing to smash a huge hole in the side of a ship with it.
Deadpan Snarker: Having such rotten luck would probably make anyone bitter. That and regularly dealing with Yoshitsugu.
Determinator: He will find a way to get his freedom. Eventually.
The Dog Bites Back: Eventually he lashes out against Motonari and Yoshitsugu, particularly the latter since he holds the key to Kanbe's cuffs.
Lovable Traitor: You gotta admire a guy who's still so bent on world domination despite his horrible luck.
Mighty Glacier: Makes up for his lack of speed with a wide range.
Perma Stubble: It's not as if he can shave with his hands like that...
Plucky Comic Relief: He seems to have mostly accepted that everyone is out to ruin his life, takes his defeat in relatively good grace and just keeps coming back for more.
Sleeves Are for Wimps: And with arms like that, who needs convincing? Helps that it looks like he ripped them off himself.
Smug Snake: Possibly parodied, as his achievements even refer to him as the "Inadequate Tactician".
The Starscream: What got him locked up in the first place. He's still pretty ambitious after being locked up, but first he'll have to do something about these damned cuffs...
Also, if ignored by Mitsunari, Kanbe will use it as an opportunity to take over his headquarters at Osaka Castle.
Throw the Dog a Bone: Yoshihiro's blue and green paths sees Kanbe joining in a Power Trio with Yoshihiro and Muneshige and becoming joint ruler of a united Kyushu.
With My Hands Tied: Although he doesn't actually choose to fight this way.
Yank the Dog's Chain: In the end of his story mode, after defeating Yoshitsugu and both Ieyasu and Mitsunari, he finally recovers the key to his shackles... which gets promptly stolen by a hawk.
Brick Joke: It's possible to have Kanbe insult Mogami Yoshiaki's pet hawk earlier. Then the aforementioned theft happens.
New NPC introduced in SB3. He is Hideyoshi's young and cowardly nephew, who famously betrayed Mitsunari at Sekigahara. Afraid of war, he seeks advice from the monk Tenkai and his guardian Motonari, unaware that he is little more than an intrument to their plans. Likes gourmet food and preparing hotpot.
Butt Monkey: Everyone treats him horribly. Aside from Ieyasu (who still has Tadakatsu shoot artillery cannons at him, to ensure that he betrays Mitsunari).
Lethal Joke Character: Despite his moveset consisting of more falling over that hitting anyone, he's a great crowd-clearer.
Mistaken for Badass: Thanks to Tenkai, most of the characters he meets during his story think he's some legendarily strong warrior and want to fight him.
Odd Friendship: With Tenkai, who Hideaki seems to genuinely consider a friend and care for.
Only Known by Their Nickname: Like Yoshitsugu, he's known by his court title "Kingo" to almost everyone in the Japanese version.
Introduced in the first game but only playable in the second, Motochika is the white-hairedpirate king of Shikoku. He rules his land along with his subordinates who affectionately call him "Aniki" (big brother). He dispenses violence with an anchor.Known as Arslan in Devil Kings, who somehow develops a Scottish/Irish accent (don't worry, Motochika doesn't speak that way).
Cool Boat: The game version is pretty cool. Fugaku takes the cake.
Defiant to the End: In the anime. Despite getting pummeled badly by Hideyoshi, Motochika still stood up and destroys his own fortress before he finally goes down. He got better.
Driven to Suicide: In Motonari's blue route after finding out that Motonari was responsible for Shikoku and that Ieyasu was innocent he willingly takes a hit from Motonari to end his own life.
Idiot Ball: He makes a lot of stupid decisions in 3, some of which seem completely out of character. He also refuses to listen to reason until punched on the head.
Improbable Weapon User: Possibly one of the only examples here where it is actually called attention to in-series.
Kleptomaniac Hero: Most of his story modes revolve around him roaming Japan and stealing anything that catches his eye.
Lethal Chef: His cooking in the mini series looks suspiciously like the inside of a black hole...
Lovable Rogue: Despite his Pirate status and kleptomania, he's a really good guy.
My God, What Have I Done?: He does this in the paths where he finds out that Ieyasu did not attack his men, to the point where he'll even get on his knees and beg for forgiveness.
Death Glare: Able to transform his mooks into a gibbering wreck with one glance. He even manages to out-stare Mitsunari at one point.
Did Not See That Coming: He is defeated in the anime's second season by the worst strategist of the Sengoku era, namely Yukimura, who is Too Dumb to Fool and attacks Mori's mobile base on foot because it never occurred to him that he couldn't do such an obviously suicidally stupid thing. Mori's thoughts on the matter are to the tune of "This Cannot Be!".
He rejoins the fold in Sorin's storyline in Utage.
Even Evil Has Standards: While he barely tolerates Yoshitsugu, even a self-righteous prick like him made it very clear that he has absolutely no respect for him and his utter lack of honesty and integrity.
Eviler than Thou: In 3 both of Motonari's story paths make Yoshitsugu learn the hard way that he has a lot to learn before he can out-scheme Motonari. Not like Motonari ever gives him the chance though.
Evil Laugh: More like an evil chuckle, but still no less disturbing.
Improbable Weapon User: Before he got his ringblade in the second game, he wielded a paper command baton that could set you on fire.
Insufferable Genius: Never gets tired of telling everyone how there is no way they could ever comprehend his genius plans, or reminding them that his intelligence is superior.
Intelligence Equals Isolation: About the only person he can talk on an equal level is Yoshitsugu, and Mouri despises him. Apart from that, he only has rivals, pawns and enemies. Motochika delivers a "The Reason You Suck" Speech to him on the subject in the third game, claiming that if Motochika were to die his friends and companions would carry on his memories and name after death. Mouri, on the other hand, is going to die alone and unloved and be forgotten within a generation, especially given that Motochika is about to kill him for masterminding the Shikoku massacre.
It's All About Me: Motonari is this in spades. He thinks only he matters in his clan, the rest of his soldiers mean nothing at all. And he feels the same about all the others clans.
Voiced by: Kenichi Ogata (Japanese), Paul Dobson (Devil Kings), R Bruce Elliott (anime), Anthony Landor (Samurai Heroes)
"It has been a long time since I've had this much fun!"
Leader of Satsuma in Kyushu. A Cool Old Guy who likes nothing more than kicking back and getting drunk off his ass. He has a rivalry with Honda Tadakatsu. He is called as Zaan in Devil Kings.
In 3, one of his attacks as a playable character is a Kiai loud enough to send mooks flying, break their spirits, or even kill them at point-blank range.
Made of Iron: In 3, he gets around his stage by swimming through hot springs. Keep in mind that the water is well above the boiling point in the depths of those things.
Master Swordsman: His style is known as "Jigenryuu" and consist in a series of high slashes aimed at the neck.
Old Master: One of the most accomplished swordsmen about, so much that every other character seems to want lessons.
One-Hit Kill: Equipping all his special items in 3 allows him to kill enemies like this. Doing so however effectively turns him into a One Hit Point Wonder.
His third super art is one as well, having a long wind-up time but is an instant kill against anyone if it hits (except Nobunaga on hard).
Start My Own: Two of his storylines in the third game involves allying with Kanbe and Muneshige to turn Kyushu into an independent nation, climaxing in beating the crap out of both the western and eastern army at Sekigahara.
Tsuruhime
Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu (Japanese), Kat Steel (English)
"There are no limits to what I can do!"
New character for Sengoku Basara 3, a sweet, naive young archer girl and Miko with no knowledge of the outside world. Obviously Ranmaru's Spiritual Successor. Uses a pink bow, and is implied to have hidden psychic powers.
Anachronism Stew: Come on, this girl was supposed to be dead BEFORE Nobunaga rose to power!
The Archer: To the point where Oichi mistakes her for Ranmaru in her stage.
Genki Girl: She literally doesn't know the meaning of the word 'sadness'.
Get Back Here Boss: Mixed with Time Limit Boss, when first encountered in her stage she'll jump to different boats after a certain period of time. Eventually she'll just jump to the far end of the map regardless of whether or not she's defeated.
Horrible Judge of Character: She initially thinks Yoshitsugu is the nicest guy around, and that Motochika is the villain. Indeed, it takes Motonari to clue her in that Yoshitsugu has never spoken an honest word in his life.
Onee-sama: Sees Magoichi as this, even referring to her this way.
Oracular Urchin: She can foretell the future by performing a special ritual. This makes her very sought after by other armies.
Panty Shot: Due to her not-so-Magic Skirt, she gets a lot of these. The camera seems to go out of its way to capture them.
Plucky Girl: She jumps into battle without much complaint.
Rescue Romance: Picks up a crush on Kotaro after he takes out some Mooks going after her... and Motonari...and Mitsunari too.
Running Gag: Tsuruhime runs to embrace Fuuma, only for him to disappear and her to fall flat on her face. Also being rescued by him then forgetting to ask his name before he leaves.
"Silly Me" Gesture: In her standard stage ending, complete with bubbles and "tehe!"
Smitten Teenage Girl: Kotaro is way out of her league, and she doesn't even know his name, but she doesn't show any signs of giving up yet.
Technical Pacifist: Mooks aside, Tsuruhime never kills any named characters in her story. Only Kotaro showing up to strike the finishing blow saves her from getting killed by someone who exploits this. Several times.
Nation of Xavism
Pontiff Xavi
Voiced by: Kozo Shioya (Japanese), Lee Tockar (Devil Kings)
A foreign missionary who makes it his goal to convert all of Japan to his Religion of LOVE! Is a big believer in love through superior firepower and boasts some impressive technology.His name in Devil Kings is Q-ball.
BFG: Wields two handheld cannons that he can also use as tonfas. His Limit Break also drops a Flak Cannon from the sky which is capable of obliterating bosses.
Blue Eyes: To emphasise the fact that he's foreign. Several other characters point this out as unusual.
Defeat Means Conversion: In his campaigns in SB2 he goes up against Motonari and Yoshihiro. When fighting Xavi they show up as converts (as "Sunday" and "Chesto").
Funny Foreigner: Is usually played as a rather comedic person fond of dancing with a certain fascination of Japan. In Devil Kings he even has a curious Italian accent.
Parody Religion: Xavism is a rather overt parody of Catholicism.
Path of Inspiration: He seems to promote violence, dishonesty, and frequently swindles his enemies and allies alike out of their money. Nonetheless he seems quite genuine about spreading love and such.
Introduced in the third game, he is a powerful daimyo of northern Kyushu and a Xavi devotee, who plans to unify the land under Xavi's religion of LOVE.
Anachronism Stew: Muneshige and Sorin appear to have switched birth dates in-game, given that Sorin in Real Life was thirty years older than Muneshige.
Anticlimax Boss: Before the expansion, whilst Muneshige is hard to beat even while weakened, the Xavi tank can be destroyed in seconds*
otherwise, it's pretty much inoffensive if you stay directly in front of it, provided it isn't signing while you do that
and Sorin himself dies after one hit.
Ascended Extra: Becomes playable at Utage, where he goes from a massive tank to a more miniature version (the regular version being reserved for his Limit Break).
Bad Boss: Seems to be focused entirely on Muneshige.
Cross-Dressing Voices: While his Japanese voice is a high pitched male, there has been a lot of confusion about his English voice (who is female). It does not help that his voice actor (real name Jessica D. Stone) is often credited in any anime and games she appears in (including this one) with the masculine names Jay D. Stone or J.D. Stone.
She's a Man in Japan: A line by Muneshige in the dub implies that Sorin is a girl, though it's most likely a translation error.
Defeat Means Conversion: Sorin will, if left to his own devices, convert all of Kyushu to Xavism and enlist Yoshihiro and Kanbe. It's also a major part of his fighting style, in which he can convert mooks in the middle of the fight to augment his moves.
Motor Mouth: He's a passionate public speaker and if he's not ranting then he's singing. At least he's better at it than Xavi.
Psycho Supporter: He's basically your stereotypical religious fanatic.
The Remnant: Arguably. Xavi is nowhere to be seen after Sorin takes charge, though apparently he just went on holiday.
Sissy Villain: Comes with being a Xavist. His voice doesn't help either (particularly the English voice).
Super Mode: His Mini Mecha mode. With it, Sorin upgrades himself from frantic spinning and ear-bursting prayer to flamethrowers and lasers. He also becomes insanely fast when using his flamethrowers as boosters.
Awesome, but Impractical: Despite other characters commenting on how powerful and intimidating his Raikiri are, he comments that he wishes they were more practical to wield.
Bruiser with a Soft Center: He's a lovely, caring, peaceful and noble man under that hulking bearded exterior. Shame being a fearsome samurai and all, he can't show that side of himself often.
Butt Monkey: No matter who he works for, he will be treated like complete shit.
He also has to deal with his abusive lord's antics, all to be reunited with his wife and serve his clan based on the virtue of loyalty. Poor, big ol' Muneshige...
Yank the Dog's Chain: Unfortunately for him, this just makes Sorin pissed enough to kick him out. And send a few torpedoes his way.
Does This Remind You of Anything?: It's probably no coincidence that the map featuring the game's treatment of Christianity also features a character you essentially force to commit Fumi-e.
Dragon-in-Chief: In a manner of speaking. In any of the story paths where the Otomo clan is significant, it's because someone wants to talk to Muneshige, and not Sorin. Muneshige is completely loyal to Sorin, however.
Possibly a Take That to rival series Samurai Warriors, where Ginchiyo is characterized as being abrasive, stubborn, and an impressive tsundere towards her Muneshige.
Honor Before Reason: Will not take the shortcuts in his stage once the player activates them due to them having a portrait of Sorin on them, which would mean stepping upon the face of his lord. If the player makes it to Sorin before him, he'll be stuck on the other side unable to help.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: A move of his has him impale an enemy with one of his chainsaws and then electrocuting them with it.
Implacable Man: He's the second hardest character to stun, after Tadakatsu, and his direct attacks are almost impossible to block.
Just to rub it in, dueling Muneshige involves him blocking your blows, and doing nothing else unless you lose. Despite this he's the second-hardest character to duel, and Tadakatsu is actually hitting you back.
Inner Monologue: Usually involves the Raikiri and/or his wife. And constant despair over his current situation.
Mighty Glacier: As a boss, he's just slow enough that you can outrun him if not willing to face his saw. The game encourages it. As a playable character, he's upgraded to standard Mighty Glacier speed.
Mundane Utility: Apparently his wife uses his Raikiri to prune her bonsai trees.
My Master, Right Or Wrong: Clearly isn't very happy with Sorin's fascination with Xavism, or the way he treats him, but remains unfailingly loyal to him regardless. Either that or he's just given up.
According to his ending, it seems that after being forced to Walk The Earth he decided he misses his lord after all.
No Name Given: Although Ginchiyo's name is common knowledge among fans, in-game Muneshige always refers to her as "the wife".
Red Baron: "Thunder King". Well-deserved, especially given half his moveset involves calling lightning to electrocute people.
Reluctant Warrior: He talks quite a bit about wanting to give up being a samurai and live peacefully.
Shock and Awe: And did we mention his Raikiri are lightning chainsaws?
Sparkling Stream of Tears: Also Tears of Joy, when he is finally reunited with Sorin in Kyoto after being sent away. Turns out Sorin wasn't quite as pleased to see him.
Throw the Dog a Bone: Like Kanbe, joining up with Yoshihiro, like he does in Yoshihiro's blue and green paths, is more or less the best thing that can happen to him.
Undying Loyalty: Despite all the crap he puts up with, he's loyal to a fault to his lord and will only leave his side if given permission.
Unfortunate Names: His Xavism baptism name (forced on him by Sorin, even though he's not a Xavist) is "Gallop". Mune... Errr... "Gallop" decides to wear it with as much pride he can muster since his lord gave it to him.
The Unseen: His wife is often mentioned, but never makes an appearance. Funnily enough Muneshige is the only one who seems to notice her absence.
Historically accurate, shockingly enough. Ginchiyo and Muneshige were separated (along with their clan) during the late Sengoku era for political reasons.
Yank the Dog's Chain: His ending, where it seems that Sorin has forgiven him and wants to take him back. Turns out he's just looking for revenge. Nonetheless, he seems to be content at things going back to normal.
Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Isn't exactly bursting with joy when Sorin compliments him by saying he's acting more like a Xavist.
A cute young girl leading a peasant rebellion with a Hammer gifted to her from the gods.She is known as Puff in Devil Kings and speaks with a strong southern accent for some reason.
Cute Bruiser: Although she herself isn't that strong, her hammer sure packs a punch.
Defeat Means Friendship: After she defeats him, Masamune convinces her not to give up on her dreams, and shows her that not all samurai are evil. In Battle Heroes, he goes to rescue her from the Toyotomi and will take revenge for the village.
Exposed to the Elements: Her outfit is hardly appropriate considering she's running around in sub-zero temperatures. There is no way she's not cold! However, it's all part of her appeal.
Gaia's Vengeance: Her hammer is apparently gifted to her from the gods, and a good amount of her techniques are snow-based.
Glacier Waif: Has one of the slowest attack speed of all the characters.
Good Old Fisticuffs: One of her attack options has her ditch the hammer and whale on the opponents with her fists. Similar to Masamune's Claws in that while she gets a new combo, she's unable to block.
Harmful to Minors: Saw her village burnt to the ground and people slaughtered, then got sucked into the horrors of war.
An influential, yet idiotic man, and a coward to boot, who lives in a flamboyant fantasy world. Essentially, everybody wants to kill him.Known as Muri in Devil Kings.
Dirty Coward: Will substitute mooks for himself, while he runs away.
Too Dumb to Live: Did he really think it would be a good idea to take on Masamune AND Yukimura?
Upper Class Twit: Constantly talks about how he's from a good family and Blue Blood and all that, while being one of the weakest characters and a bumbling idiot at that.
Voiced by: Tadashi Miyazawa (Japanese), Louis Chirillo (Devil Kings), Jerry Russell (anime), William Knight (Samurai Heroes)
"I can hear it! I can hear the laughter of defeat approaching!"
The old master of Odawara Castle and habitual employer of Fuuma Kotaro. Is constantly overshadowed by the others Bad Ass characters around him. Becomes a playable character in Utage.Known as Orwik in Devil Kings.
Butt Monkey: He even lampshades this in his boss opening in 3, where he states that he just wants to win once.
"What's the problem? Why am I angry? I'll tell you why! Why can't I be the one who wins?!"
Didn't Think This Through: One of his main flaws. When accused of kidnapping Ieyasu in SB3 and having Tadakatsu and the Tokugawa army knocking his door down, Ujimasa's response is to send Kotaro out to explain (for those of you who haven't read that far yet: Kotaro is mute). It works altogether less-than-stellar.
Giving Up The Ghost: When he sneezes, his spirit momentarily leaves his body, then goes back in.
Necromancer: He can summon the ghosts of his ancestors to fight. Not that they help him in the anime...
His 'Past Glory' Super art in Utage has him being possessed by one of his ancestor's spirit, greatly improving his moveset.
Nice Hat: Can wear a moxibustion hat to speed up his movements.
Rambling Old Man Monologue: Loves reminiscing about the days of yore to whoever happens to be there at the time.
Shout Out: If he performs said move while on his 'Past Glory' mode. He ends up surfing on his spear ala Tao Pai Pai.
Super Mode: His Past Glory mode, which, like Masamune's Six Claws stance, give him a more powerful moveset in exchange of being unable to block.
Throwing Your Spear Always Works: One of his new moves in Utage has him throw his spear. He forgets to let go and ends up flying after it.
Took a Level in Badass: Gameplay-wise in Utage, where he can actually cause pretty bad damage.
Twelve Blades on a Stick: His weapon is literally a bunch of swords stuck at the end of a pole. Needless to say, he wields it with difficulty.
Fuuma Kotaro
"..."
A mysterious legendary Ninja. He usually, but not always, works for the Hojo clan. Known specifically for being very good at his job, if a little ruthless (he doesn't seem to care who he kills as long as he completes his mission). He never speaks and his face is never shown, so it's hard to tell what he's thinking. He's back in Sengoku Basara 3, siding with the Eastern Army since the Hojo allied with them. He even went as far as saving Tsuruhime, but it's still not clear what his purpose is.
Enigmatic Minion: Who he's working for varies from time to time, but particularly under Hisahide.
Facial Markings: Red markings on his cheeks and chin, which appear to be paint as they change with his outfits.
Fashionable Asymmetry: Like the other ninja his outfit is perfectly symmetrical, except the inexplicable absence of his left sleeve.
Feather Motif: Black feathers surround him wherever he goes. It's never explained why, however he is sometimes depicted with black wings and rumored to be a demon.
Fuuma Shuriken: It's only natural he should wield one considering that they're named after him. Used a pair as an NPC, and a single much bigger one later on.
Hidden Eyes: Hidden beneath his helmet (though he does have eye slits).
Hidden Heart of Gold: Somewhat implied in his devotion to protecting Tsuruhime, and the fact that he comes to Ujimasa's rescue despite the old man's pleas to retreat. Although, he could just be thinking about his money...
It's Probably Nothing: Because of his speed most people just assume it's the wind passing through.
Nonverbal Miscommunication: As he literally only either stares blankly or kicks ass, it's no wonder Ieyasu thought he was initially an enemy.
Punched Across the Room: Happens to him in the anime, when Takeda Shingen megaton punches him in the face. He probably would've flown a lot further if there hadn't been a wall in the way...
Known as the "Villain of the Sengoku Era" and rightly so. A very shrewd man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, he's responsible for most of the bad karma hanging around in Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes. Seems to like kidnapping people and tying them to pillars. Utage will mark the first time he's been playable.
Alas, Poor Yorick: At one point in the anime he plays around with Nobunaga's skull while monologuing. Apparently planned to make it into a sake cup.
Ascended Extra: Hisahide is a fan favorite despite not being playable in his appearance. His inclusion in Utage as a playable character is met with MUCH praise.
Beard of Evil: Like Nobunaga, he has some evil facial hair.
But for Me, It Was Tuesday: In the anime, claims to have no memory of the incident that proved Hideyoshi's Start of Darkness. Then again, he could've just been screwing with Keiji.
The Collector of the Strange: Collects various different antiques and famous artifacts, but also collects people.
Taken to an extreme in Utage, where he's now collecting metaphysical objects like bonds and names, like his taking Mitsuhide's name and robbing Mitsunari of his bond with Ieyasu by killing him in his story mode.
Companion Cube: His beloved teapot, named 'Hiragumo'. He even talks to it and carries pieces of it around with him after it shatters.
Crazy Prepared: Blows himself up when Kojuro ultimately bests him in the first season of the anime... only to turn up at the ruins of Azuchi, completely fine, in the second season, with no more than a Hand Wave as to how he survived.
Dramatic Pause: He speaks very sloooowly and often leaves overly long gaps in between words or even syllables.
Evilly Affable: He's polite, sophisticated and genteel. Shame he's such an ass...
For the Evulz: He doesn't have a whole lot to gain by ruining everybody else's life or stealing their things, as he believes nothing lasts forever. he's just doing it because it's fun and because he can.
Guyliner: The latest renders of him seem to sport this quite thickly.
Hannibal Lecture: Gives one to Yukimura in the anime (while playing with Nobunaga's skull for added effect). It doesn't quite stick, but nevertheless it helps break Yukimura's confidence.
As a playable character he's spewing them out left, right and centre.
Historical Villain Upgrade: While the historical Hisahide was a villainous trickster, he certainly wasn't as much of a dick as he is here.
I Have Your Mooks: He kidnaps several Date soldiers in order to get his hands on Masamune's swords. Also, he was bored.
Neck Lift: One of his moves in Utage consists of lifting the struggling character by the neck one-handed before immolating them.
Nietzsche Wannabe: Constantly waxes about how fleeting and transient the world is and at the end of the day everything and everyone is just a disposable object that will eventually vanish into obscurity.
Nonchalant Dodge: He moves extremely quickly but makes it seem like little effort.
Ominous Walk: The only character who can walk as well as run. Looks like he's just taking a leisurely stroll through the battlefield.
Stuff Blowing Up: Happens a lot when he's around, probably as a reference to the historical Hisahide's death (he's said to have blown himself up, becoming Japan's first ever bomb victim).
After defeating Nobunaga he blows him up at the end of his story.
In Utage, his death animation has him blowing himself up.
Wicked Cultured: He's erudite with gentlemanly manners, very knowledgeable about these priceless artefacts he collects and genuinely appreciates them aesthetically. Also seems to be a Buddhist.
Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese), Sean Michael Teague (anime)
A young swordsman who can be randomly encountered throughout Sengoku Basara 2. He is eager to prove that he is the best in the world, and as such ambushes anyone he comes across and makes them fight him. Thinks everyone else is an idiot.
Walking the Earth: Travels far and wide in his search for strong opponents.
Wild Card: He's technically a ronin and doesn't answer to anyone, doing things his own way.
Wooden Katanas Are Even Better: As with his historical counterpart, he wields a pair of these. His best weapons however are a pair of plain-looking katanas though.
Worf Effect: In one scene of the anime he's fighting soldiers along with Yoshihiro... and is send flying by a bunch of mooks as soon as he's distracted.
Worthy Opponent: The reason he goes round challenging everyone is so he can find one of these. He appears to have discovered them in the form of Naoe Kanetsugu.
Fat Bastard: According to him it's all muscle though.
Historical Jerkass Upgrade: Well, Kennyo was supposed to be the leader of the anti-Nobunaga monks but here he's just a fat jerk who has only money in mind.
Ho Yay: He sure has a lot of fun admiring the other male characters' muscular physiques.
Humongous Mecha: Keeps two huge, moving golden Nio statues in his fortress.
"Let the bell toll for the proud Saika Faction! Soon, you will know the superior strength we possess!"
A new playable character in SB3. The third leader of the Saika Ikki, a group of gun-toting mercenaries and... apparently female. Seems to be the Spiritual Successor to Nouhime. A strong and independent woman with great pride and honour, she has relationships with many other characters in the series.
Gun Fu: One of her skills involves spin-kicking her opponent upwards then shooting them full of holes while they're still airborne. And that's just one of them.
Hired Guns: Has worked for both the Oda and the Toyotomi in the past. Neither ended well (Toyotomi's reasons are unknown but Nobunaga personally killed the previous Magoichi).
Hot Amazon: At least for Keiji, who falls in love with her immediately after she delivers a flying kick to his face. Masamune also admits that her strength and attitude are major turn-ons.
Japanese Pronouns: Interesting example, she always uses the plural pronoun 'warera', since the Saika see themselves as one individually and collectively.
Lady of War: Her moves are dynamic but at the same time extremely graceful.
Male Gaze: The shots of her in the game opening are pure, unabashed fanservice.
And when Keiji meets her, the camera zooms straight in on the first three places that catch his eye: boobs, belly, and butt. It happens again at the end of his story when he's "checking for injuries".
Ship Tease: With Keiji, who is madly in love with her but, depending on which path you choose, still has far to go. Surprisingly quite a bit with Motochika too.
Showgirl Skirt: Makes her outfit look more feminine and elegant. And swishes dramatically in the wind.
The Stoic: Normally appears serious and unflappable, and speaks with an almost robotic tone. She doesn't even blink when Mitsunari puts his sword to her throat.
Not So Stoic: Shows obvious terror when Nobunaga comes back and has a hard time calming herself down.
Sugar and Ice Personality: Has a much softer side underneath her cold exterior, which she only keeps up due to her position.
Throwaway Guns: Her pistols are this. They can even cause damage if they hit enemies when she throws them.
Mogami Yoshiaki
Voiced by: Tetsu Shiratori (Japanese), Christopher Smith (English)
"There are none in this world that compare to me, the renowned, the feared, lord Yoshiaki!"
Yet another NPC introduced SB3. He is the daimyo of Ushuu and Masamune's uncle, though they dislike each other. An extremely pompous man who seems to think he's number one, fabulous and likes to get his men to look fabulous and well-cultured. Has a funky moustache and wields a rapier. Likes tea.
Not So Harmless: He was the one who kidnapped Matsu and blamed it on Ieyasu.
Obfuscating Stupidity: Essentially his fighting style, especially in Utage, where he has such moves as Look Behind You, playing dead, and pretending to stumble before attacking.
Overly-Long Name: Has a habit of giving his pets and weapons these in the Japanese version.
Sissy Villain: When it comes down to it he's really not that brave.
Small Name, Big Ego: He's almost impossibly arrogant, despite how he always fails pitifully, going on and on about how wonderful and amazing he is and how everyone loves him (when they clearly don't).
Hypocritical Humor/Irony: Says that he doesn't like his weapon of choice or the cold, when both of those are part of his moveset. Also tells his soldiers that the mist blinds them because they aren't trusting their instincts, then admits he can't see either.
Voiced by: Takuo Kawamura (Japanese) David Lodge (English)
"Alright; let's see just how good you are."
Anachronism Stew: Despite being a new arrival to the cast and looking very young, historically he was already dead by old age by the time Nobunaga rose to power.
Deadpan Snarker: He's entirely cynical and thinks all samurai are jerks, there is no such thing as justice and that it's better to be living in a dream.
