KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, this week announced that SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES has reached gold status. The Tactical Action game set in Feudal Japan will be available for both the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Consumers can purchase the game at many North American retailers beginning February 28, 2007.

SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES combines the most exciting aspects of Action, Fighting and Strategy games. At the start of the game Feudal Japan is divided into warring states and it is up to the player to resurrect a nation using equal amounts of strategy and strength! The game’s ultimate goal is to unite Japan’s 25 regions into a single nation under one ruler. Prior to each battle, the player will meet with their war council to discuss military and political affairs; then it’s time for combat.

SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES is the first in KOEI’s successful line of “Empires” games to be set in Japan. Accordingly, the game’s deck of 90 policy cards, used to issue military commands and impose political policies, is boosted by 50 new cards inspired by Japanese history, while all-new formation cards are based on historically-authentic samurai attack formations.

Special events in the game chronicle major turning points in Japan’s history including “The Honnôji Incident” where the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga, met his demise, and “The Battle of Kawanakajima,” considered the largest and most prolonged encounter of the Warring States era.

Key product features include vicious multi-Musou attacks with up to four officers, 5 “Unification” scenarios plus 6 “Regional” scenarios, over 400 playable characters to choose from, a create your own warrior mode, as well as 2-player co-op play.

Developed by KOEI’s award-winning internal team, Omega Force, SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES is rated “T” (Teen – Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Violence) by the ESRB. SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES for Xbox 360 is compatible with 720p/1080i/1080p HDTV, and features in game Dolby Digital audio.