Koei

Yoichi Erikawa's vision shaped Koei's distinctive character. His passion for history, particularly Chinese literature and Japanese feudal history, infused the company's games with educational depth uncommon in gaming.

The early strategy games demonstrated ambitious simulation design. Romance of the Three Kingdoms modeled diplomacy, espionage, military tactics, and economic development. Characters possessed individual statistics affecting their performance. Weather, terrain, and seasons influenced outcomes. This depth attracted players seeking intellectual challenge beyond action reflexes.

Development cycles for historical titles involved extensive research. Koei employed historians and consulted primary sources to ensure authenticity. Character portrayals balanced historical records with gameplay needs. This commitment earned respect from history enthusiasts while maintaining entertainment value.

The musou evolution showed unexpected creativity. Taking Dynasty Warriors from one-on-one fighting to mass combat transformed the franchise's identity. The power fantasy — being unstoppable among thousands — appealed to players seeking different experiences than strategy simulations offered. Both formats coexisted under Koei's development.

Licensing partnerships demonstrated the musou formula's flexibility. Hyrule Warriors adapted Zelda characters to the format. Fire Emblem Warriors did similarly. Each collaboration required balancing Koei's combat systems with license-holder expectations regarding character portrayal.

The Tecmo merger brought complementary capabilities. Koei's large-scale strategic thinking combined with Team Ninja's combat polish. Nioh exemplified this synthesis — Sengoku-era Japan setting from Koei's historical expertise meeting action combat from Team Ninja's capabilities.