The story unfolds in a parallel world, with the theme "What if warlords were modern-day high school students?" and most of the characters are students and teachers attending the private "BASARA Academy." This time, we'll be introducing 10 strong characters from Sengoku BASARA, the original source material.
Shimazu Yoshihiro
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
A character who has appeared in every game in the series, having appeared as a PC since the "Sengoku BASARA" series. A fierce warrior with a love of alcohol and a carefree personality. He speaks with a distinctive, strong accent, incorporating a Kyushu accent. While he was intent on unifying the country up until Sengoku BASARA 2, he has spent his life seeking out powerful warriors. On the other hand, he also possesses a cunning side, specializing in ambush tactics.
Strength
He fights using a sword larger than his own height. His standard attacks have a narrow first-hit range, and if he misses, not only will subsequent attacks fail, but he will also be severely paralyzed. Furthermore, his unique special move, "Shigenryu: Dangan," added in Sengoku BASARA 2, takes a very long time to launch, but if it lands, it boasts terrifying power, capable of almost one-hit kills enemy generals and Karakuri alike.
Tachibana Muneshige
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
A vassal of Otomo Sorin. A hero comparable to Shimazu Yoshihiro and Honda Tadakatsu, he was nicknamed "Muneshige of the West." He's a warrior of exceptional valor and character, but he's often at the mercy of his lord, Sourin, who is devoted to the Zabi religion. When a battle or flight drags on, he begins to mutter to himself, saying things like, "I'm such an idiot!" His character contrasts sharply with his rugged appearance. Fans have nicknamed him "Twitter Tachibana."
Strength
He slashes with the two Raikiri swords he inherited from his father. He also has a unique skill: he can envelop his entire body in lightning. He can also perform charge attacks. His high attack power means he can be driven into a corner with great force if he lets his guard down. His strength is reflected in his stamina, attack, and defense parameters, which are at the same high levels as Hondamu and Shimazu. His strength is so frightening that he rivals Honda Tadakatsu, and he's even ordered to flee.
Sarutobi Sasuke
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
One of the Ten Braves of Sanada, he serves as Sanada Yukimura's supervisor and assistant. Although she calls Yukimura "husband," she calls him "general" when he serves as acting commander-in-chief of the Takeda army in "Sengoku BASARA 3" and as the new commander-in-chief of the Takeda army in "Sengoku BASARA the Movie." She's from the same hometown as Uesugi Kenshin's trusted ninja, Kasuga, and often flirts with her.
Strength
Her weapon is a large shuriken. In addition to slashing directly, she can also throw it like a yo-yo using a wire. Like a ninja, she's also skilled at manipulating shadow clones. Her carefree demeanor and easy-going nature make her seem like a simple flirt, but she's actually very thoughtful and deeply musing beneath her facade. She sometimes harshly admonishes Yukimura, but she can also be ruthless in order to complete her mission. Before "Feast 3," there were many auxiliary unique skills such as attracting enemies or hiding their presence, but since then, the majority of unique skills and special techniques have been specialized for attacking in both power and number of moves.
Katakura Kojuro
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
A military commander trusted completely by Date Masamune. He has a scar on his cheek, slicked-back hair, and carries a Japanese sword. He is the only left-handed character in the series, and his sword and stance are reversed. His favorite food is burdock. He's a master swordsman, even training Masamune in swordsmanship, but surprisingly, his hobby is gardening, and the vegetables he grows are said to be delicious.
Strength
He wields a Japanese sword. In other words, he's a character worth mastering, and once he masters it, he becomes a master swordsman, capable of fighting a thousand men. While he harbors a strong loyalty to Masamune, his talent as a military strategist leads the Date clan to victory over countless hardships. Takenaka Hanbei, the greatest military strategist of the Sengoku period, even suggested that Kojuro could build a powerful nation like Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
A general of the Tokugawa army, beloved by the samurai of Mikawa. He is one of the few people with common sense and a straight man in Sengoku BASARA. During his childhood, he was generally treated like a child by everyone, and most characters he knew referred to him by his childhood name, "Takechiyo." As he reached adulthood (adolescence), he matured both physically and mentally, becoming the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Army.
Strength
Up until "Eiyuu Gaiden," he wielded a spear bearing the chrysanthemum crest. It appears to be highly flexible, and when thrust into the ground, the recoil of the spear can launch opponents into the air, or even launch himself into the air. From "3" onward, as mentioned above, he abandoned his weapon and specialized in close combat using both fists. His headbutt with "Heart-Resistant Stone" is particularly powerful and has a deadly wide range. It is so powerful that it has even been described as "ruling the world with the power of headbutts."
Mitsunari Ishida
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
Due to his ruthlessness towards his enemies, he is also known as "Kyoou Sansei" (Evil King Mitsunari). However, he calls Otani Yoshitsugu "Gyobu," a reference to his rank, and although he doesn't show it in his behavior, he trusts him. He has a very short temper and a narrow perspective that only focuses on his goals. He is also a bit of a tsundere. He is disliked by others for being too pure and straightforward, and is also a person who is too honest and ends up losing out. Perhaps traumatized by Ieyasu's defection, he reacts sensitively to betrayal.
Strength
He fights using a long sword with two tsuba (guards). He does not wear it on his shoulders, but instead carries it in his left hand or in his mouth, sheathed. He excels in high-speed combat based on Iaijutsu, and after an attack, he can reapproach his opponent at near-teleportation speeds using a movement technique called Setsuna, allowing him to pursue with a speed that is close to teleportation. This allows him to boast one of the highest attack counts in the game, and he is extremely effective at earning hits. His unique special move, "Terror," is a unique technique with special abilities. It puts him in a walking state surrounded by a black aura.
Attacking in this state increases his movement speed.
Takeda Shingen
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
Head of the Takeda clan and lord of Kai Province, nicknamed the "Tiger of Kai." He aims to ascend to Kyoto to rule the country. He fights strategically, not relying solely on brute force. He places great trust in his cavalry and rejects modern weapons like matchlock guns. His subordinates call him "Master" and trust him greatly, and he himself trusts them deeply.
Strength
He fights with a fierce style, using a large axe called a gunbai axe. He and Uesugi Kenshin were destined rivals, and he even rescued Kenshin from peril. He often astounds players with his superhuman abilities, such as riding two horses side by side in a pose of 'Nio', instantly building a dojo with a single swing of his axe, and calmly emerging from boiling magma. As the series progresses, his abilities have been enhanced, including the granting of super armor to some of his unique skills.
Uesugi Kenshin
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
The design highlights Uesugi Kenshin's purity and charisma. Also, influenced by the theory that Kenshin was a woman, his physique is slender, like a woman's, while his face is androgynous, deliberately obscuring his gender. He has a female kunoichi under his command named Kasuga, whom Kenshin calls "Beautiful Sword" and trusts. She is also deeply fascinated by Kenshin, and when they are alone together, the space transforms into a pink space filled with blooming roses.
Strength
A speed-type fighter using Iaijutsu, Kasuga's attack power is moderate, but her quick strikes make her most effective in close-range exchanges. She also possesses impressive abilities, such as the ability to restrain enemies with her unique "Freeze" ability, and her natural speed allows her to quickly take control of the battlefield. She has remained a powerful character throughout the series, and in "Banquet 3," a new feature called "Divine Realm" was added, slowing the movement of those around her. Her incredible attack speed has finally elevated her to the top of the game.
Tadakatsu Honda
Source: Gakuen Basara ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
... With each series, his unique skills are further refined, until he truly earns the title of strongest in the Sengoku period.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private Basara Academy
In contrast to the historical image of him as a "small, sharp-witted man," "monkey," or "bald rat," his towering physique and imposing presence exude a sense of conquest. His appearance is more gorilla than monkey, and his outlandish ideas seem to have made a strong impression on many users.
Strength
He's a quintessential power fighter, dominating the battlefield with nothing but the powerful attacks unleashed by his massive, red-clad body. In addition to striking with his fists, his fighting style includes grabbing enemies with one arm and slamming or throwing them. He also frequently performs aggressive actions, such as grabbing enemy soldiers and swinging them around like blunt objects.
Oda Nobunaga
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
A character who has appeared in every game in the Sengoku BASARA series since the very first game, he is the series' greatest villain. Nobunaga's ruthlessness, his relentless dedication to crushing his enemies, is emphasized in this character, designed with the image of a demon king in mind. He is the commander-in-chief of the Oda army and calls himself the "Sixth Heavenly Demon King." He possesses an arrogant personality and unparalleled cruelty, relentlessly tormenting those who oppose him. This includes even his own sister, Oichi, and his brother-in-law, Azai Nagamasa.
Strength
He fights by combining close-range attacks with the sword in his right hand and long-range attacks with the shotgun in his left. In addition, he possesses unique skills such as a wide-area attack using his cloak and an attack that summons countless swords from the ground. He also possesses the souls of defeated enemies, increasing his attack power and dealing damage to enemies that approach him while active, truly a demon king-like skill.
Summary
With its cast of handsome Sengoku warlords and captivating battle scenes, the series gained overwhelming support from women, sparking a boom in "history buffs." It even sparked an even bigger boom with its 2009 TV anime adaptation. In addition to the visual appeal of the characters, be sure to pay attention to their strength when you check out the anime and games.
