Japanese and Chinese History Through Video Games

There are times that I actually think, someone should make a computer game about Filipino History. Imagine Lapu-Lapu going against Magellan and battalions of Spanish Conquistadors. Andres Bonifacio doing a musou attack that wipes out a whole battalion.

That is what the video game developer/publisher Koei and Capcom did. They made video games that incorporate historical characters and battles during the warring states period.

It was called the Sengoku period in Japan and Sangoku period in China. The Sangoku period is famous in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms titles. I have been playing these games ever since I got my PS2. This makes me think of a scenario in Japan where a Father finds his son playing Sengoku Basara, "What are you doing son?" says the father, and the son replies "Doing my homework", "Don't study too hard" the father said.

The Sengoku Basara version of history is kinda modified to fit modern tastes, let's just say its slightly accurate based on the history records, but they added some stuff to spruce it up.

Thanks to these games, I actually know more on Japanese history than Philippine history. Date Masamune Rules!

Featured Character:

Tsuruhime (Princess Crane)
In Sengoku Basara 3, she's so deeply infatuated with Kotaro Fuuma who is a ninja that saved her life. It goes to a point where like she's like Nodame stalking Chiaki. Her musou attack looks like she's figure skating while unleashing a horde of arrows. I am now a big fan of Tsuruhime. She's got a tragic story though.

The legend of Tsuruhime is that she successfully fought off the Ouchi Clan when they tried to occupy Omishima in the 16th century. However, upon hearing that her fiancé had not survived the battle, she sacrificed herself by throwing herself into the sea. Omishima Island has a festival dedicated to her, the festival celebrates her bravery and is a memorial to her fighting spirit. The Tsuruhime Matsuri is celebrated every July.