Napoleon Senki - Gameplay

Gameplay

Before each a battle, a summary screen is revealed (stating the situation and the military strength of each of the forces). There is also a simple map of Europe with dots on it so the player always knows the exact location of all the possible battles. However, the map information is given out in Japanese. An interesting feature of the time was that the altitude of mountains were accurately depicted in the actual battlefields. The deeper the color was, the higher the altitude of the mountain was. For example, light brown represents small hills while dark brown either represents gigantic mountains or the large peaks of a mountain.

The object is to win each battle using late 18th and early 19th century warfare tactics so that Napoleon Bonaparte has a chance of conquering all of Europe. Infantry, artillery (cannonballs give them the ability to blow up walls), and cavalry must be properly used for victory and a successful re-enactment of France's unique and colorful past. Soldiers are divided into three categories: friendly soldiers, potential defects, and enemy soldiers. Friendly soldiers must be given commands of north, south, east, west or halt. When a player confront a group of potential defects, there is no battle and the soldiers in the unit of defects joins the platoon that discovered them. Enemy troops can be fought either automatically or manually (with commands of advance, retreat, sideways, or halt can be given to each individual soldier).

Each type of soldier has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, the cavalry are the fastest while the swordsmen are the most powerful and the riflemen have the longest range. There is a Japanese language write-up about the history of each unit type, the tactics are used in-game, and a quick military parade with Napoleon Bonaparte leading his troops into battle.