Apart from being a music lover - I've been listening to metal bands since I was a child, and attended hundreds of concerts and festivals throughout Europe!! - I also hold two degrees in history (ok, this isn't my field, so feel free to integrate ahah) so I want to give to you a very small overview about the five characters that give their name to the relative stories of this game :)

Of course they're all Japanese, it's all set in Japan! And remember that in Japanese, the surname always precedes the name! All the characters belong to the Sengoku period - the so-called "Age of the Warring States" (1467-1603) in which the nation was divided into small states ruled by landlords (daimyo) that came to an end thanks to the Tokugawa clan, led by Ieyasu, gaining power over all Japan with their shogunate.

Sanada Yukimura (1567-1615) was a samurai warrior, and shined during the 1614-1615 crucial siege of Osaka. As a general in the Toyotomi clan, Sanada greatly defended Osaka but eventually the whole alliance was destroyed by the hand of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ultimately managed to get control on almost the entire Japan. Sanada was killed in the final acts of the siege. In the popular culture, he appears in numerous movies, manga/anime series and videogame franchises (Sengoku, Samurai Warriors, Vasara).

Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was one of the powerful landlords in Japan, who distinguished himself by leading the Oda clan in a series of militar campaigns in order to unify Japan under his command. He rose to power after winning the battle of Okehazama (1560) against the Imagawa clan, and conducted numerous successful wars that, at the time of his death in 1582 (Honno-ji incident), managed to get two-thirds of Japan under his personal rule; defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the battle of Yamazaki though, all of his possessions were passed to the Toyotomi clan. In the popular culture, Oda is still a familiar and recurring character in every field, concerning videogames too (Sengoku, Warriors Orochi, Onimusha, Shogun - Total War, Atlantica Online, Nobunaga's Ambition and many others).

Kotaro Fuma (?-1603) was a ninja, leader of the Fuma clan, specialized in guerrilla warfare and espionage at the service of the Hojo clan of Odawara, which eventually fell to the Tokugawa shogunate; Kotaro himself was caught by Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces and beheaded in 1603. Anyways, his full name is considered to have been only a monicker for the fifth and most important leader of the Fuma clan and thanks to his mysterious nature he has been portrayed very differently in the popular culture, and he also appears in videogames too (Onimusha, World Heroes, Sengoku); the fictional four-bladed Fuma Shuriken found in many games and in the whole Final Fantasy series starting from the fourth episode is named after him and his clan.

Date Masamune (1567-1636) was the heir of a powerful line of landlords in Tohoku, and served under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who donated him the land of Iwatesawa and, later, the huge Sendai territory who made Date one of the wealthiest daimyo in Northern Japan. A brilliant tactician and fighter, his name is also linked to his patronage of trade and culture; he encouraged the development of regions like Tohoku and showed interest for foreign sciences, promoting tourism and also showing sympathy for Christian missionaries and merchants. In popular culture, Date has been made famous by the Star Wars trilogy in which Darth Vader's costume was taken from Date's own unique dressing styles; he appears in several videogames too (Kessen, Samurai Warriors, Sengoku, Throne of Darkness). The famous Masamune sword though isn't named after him, but refers to a more ancient swordsmith known simply as Masamune (1264-1343).

Takenaka Hanbei (1544-1579) was a samurai, who impressed Toyotomi Hideyoshi with his strategy skills in fighting against Oda Nobunaga during the siege of Inabayama in 1567. Takenaka served for all his life the Toyotomi clan (Hideyoshi himself elected him as his personal advisor during military campaigns) and spawned a line of other brilliant soldiers under his real surname, Takenaka - Hanbei being a honorific title, since he was born Takenaka Shigeharu. Takenaka appears in some videogames (Pokémon Conquest, Samurai Warriors, Sengoku) and is regarded as a master of war tactics in the popular culture being often compared to the ancient Chinese strategist Zhuge Liang (181-234) thanks to his numerous and successful actions in war and guerrilla.

1. Irritation
Written by Michael Weikath, "Irritation" is the first track on German power metal band Helloween's Master of the Rings (1994).

Main Volume
1. Stand In Line
Stand in Line is the first album (and also the name of its first track) released by the American heavy metal band Impellitteri (1988).

2. Embody the Invisible
"Embody the Invisible" is the masterpiece which opens Swedish melodic death metallers In Flames' fourth album, Colony.

3. Deepest Wound
"Deepest Wound" is the third track of the American melodic death metal band The Absence's Enemy Unbound (2010).

4. Run To the Hills
Quite famous, "Run To the Hills" is a single taken from English heavy metal band Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast (1982).

5. This Day You Regret
Published in 2005, "This Day You Regret" is a song taken from the last album of the Dutch melodic death metal band Callenish Circle, called [Pitch.Black.Effects].

6. Free Will Sacrifice
I'm sure many of you have heard about this before. "Free Will Sacrifice" is an awesome melodic death metal track taken from the Swedish band Amon Amarth's Twilight of the Thunder God (2008).

7. Phoenix Rising
Ok, this one can be many things. Of course not the American soccer team from the city of Phoenix.. it actually refers to "Phoenix Rising", the fifth track in Set the World on Fire, an album by the speed/thrash metal band Annihilator from Canada.

8. Never Die
Here we are again, and this time I really am not that sure. I think that this is a reference to Swedish power/neoclassical metal guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen's "Never Die", first published in The Seventh Sign (1994).

A. Divine Creation of Void
That's the title of a not-so-famous song from a Swedish melodic death/thrash metal band called Non-Human Level, taken from their debut album with the same name (2005).

A Epilogue. The Beginning of Times
Don't even try not to listen to Finnish melodic death metal/rock titans Amorphis!! The Beginning of Times is the title of their tenth studio album (2011).

B. Shine in the Dark
"Shine in the Dark" is a nice track by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius, from their fifteenth album Eternal (2015).

B Epilogue. I'm Alive
Ok, this touches me. And can be ambiguous. It's the title of two awesome power metal songs from two awesome power metal bands, Blind Guardian (Imaginations from the Other Side, 1995) and Helloween (Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I, 1987).

Sequel. Ride the Sky
Ok, you must know this one.. it's an epic track sang by Kai Hansen and taken from the very first Helloween album, Walls of Jericho (1985)

Date Scenario. Pure
This one can have many different references. Probably it's linked to the Pure album by the English industrial metal band Godflesh (1992).

Main Volume
1. Contact
"Contact" is the opening track of the American thrash metal band Anthrax's We've Come for You All (2003).

2. What Silence Hides
What Silence Hides is the title of the first album by the Swiss melodic death metal act Dreamshade (2011).

3. Mirror of Madness
Mirror of Madness is the title of the second album released by the Finnish melodic death metal band Norther (2003).

4. Relentless Reckless Forever
This one instead is the seventh album by the more famous Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom (2011).

5. Blackout of Mind
I'm not sure here. "Blackout of Mind" is a track by the Italian melodic heavy metal band Beholder (Lethal Injection, 2004), but I don't think they were that famous.. but it's the only thing I can think of!

6. Crucify My Love
"Crucify My Love" is a single by the Japanese heavy/power metal band X Japan, taken from their last album Dahlia (1996).

7. Born on Judgment Day
Ok, guys, they're my favourite band. And this album isn't their most famous one. But it's great! "Born on Judgment Day" is taken from Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy (2005).

8. Silent Wars
"Silent Wars" is a nice song by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, taken from their 2003 full-length Anthems of Rebellion.

A. Dust To Dust
This entry can apply to many things. Probably, it refers to French power metal band Heavenly's third studio album, entitled Dust To Dust.

A Epilogue. Silent Rain
We go back again to that disc!! "Silent Rain" is another song on Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy (2005) album.

B. Maelstrom
So many things named Maelstrom.. maybe it refers to the "Maelstrom" in the Chasm album by the Australian death metal band Defamer (2009)? Or to the track with the same name released in 2010 by the Japanese melodic death metal band Evol in their 私だけのGrindcore album?

B Epilogue. The Sign
Not even close to Ace of Base, sorry. Can this also be Japanese, from the heavy metal band Anthem and their 2011 album entitled Heraldic Device?

Sequel. This Age of Silence
This Age of Silence is the debut album of the Welsh melodic death metal band Anterior (2007).

Date Scenario. Dread and the Fugitive Mind
This one refers to a not-that-famous thrash metal titans Megadeth song, released in 2001 inside The World Needs a Hero, their ninth album.

Main Volume
1. Silent Rain
As I said, "Silent Rain" is another song on Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy (2005) album. Put twice in two different chapters!

2. Imaginations From the Other Side
One of the most famous power metal albums ever, Imaginations From the Other Side was released by the Germans Blind Guardian in 1995 as their fifth studio album.

3. Unlimited Alchemist
"Unlimited Alchemist" is a 2011 track by the Japanese melodic death metal band Blood Stain Child, appearing in their last album Epsilon.

4. The Whisper of Men
"The Whisper of Men" is a song by Persefone, a progressive/melodic death metal band from Andorra (yeah, Andorra!), and it's contained in their 2004 debut album Truth Inside the Shades.

5. Reroute To Remain
Back to In Flames, one of the most controversial albums ever made, recorded in 2002, Reroute To Remain marked the band's shift from their peculiar melodic death/power metal style to new kinds of melodic death metal/rock/alternative rock styles.

6. Where the Rain Grows
And back again to Helloween; one of the most beautiful songs sung by Andi Deris, "Where the Rain Grows" appears in their 1994 album Master of the Rings.

7. Shot in the Dark
Let's not be tricked by Ozzy Osbourne's extremely famous song.. This one refers to the symphonic metal band Within Temptation from the Netherlands, and is featured in their 2011 album called The Unforgiving.

8. Street Lethal
Street Lethal is the first studio album by the American heavy metal band Racer X (1986).

A. Majesty
A true masterpiece, "Majesty" is the first song from the first album by Blind Guardian, Battalions of Fear (1988).

A Epilogue. Heroes of Our Time
"Heroes of Our Time" is the opening track of American power metal band Dragonforce's fourth album, Ultra Beatdown (2008).

B. Black Sheeps
"Black Sheep" (singular!) is one of the most famous songs of the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica, first appearing on their sophomore album Silence (2001).

B Epilogue. My Spirit Will Go On
Again back on Dragonforce, "My Spirit Will Go On" is a song found in their 2004 album Sonic Firestorm.

Sequel. Too Young To Die, Too Drunk To Live
This long-titled track comes from an old heavy metal band from the States, Alcatrazz, and namely from their very first album, No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll (1983).

Date Scenario. Brave New World
Super famous, Brave New World is an album by Iron Maiden, released in 2000, which contains also an awesome track with the same title.

Main Volume
1. Black Star
No, it's not Avril Lavigne. One of Yngwie Malmsteen's most famous songs, entirely instrumental, "Black Star" comes from his debut album Rising Force (1984).

2. My Secret Window
"My Secret Window" is a song by the Danish melodic death/power metal band Mercenary, taken from their 2006 album The Hours That Remain.

3. Stargazers
"Stargazers", one of the most beautiful songs sang by Tarja Turunen, comes from the Finnish power metal band Nightwish and it's included in their 1998 Oceanborn full-length.

4. Silver Wing
"Silverwing" (written without spaces) is a song by Arch Enemy, taken from their third album Burning Bridges released in 1999.

5. Land of the Free
Land of the Free, one of the most famous power metal albums ever, has been recorded by the German band Gamma Ray in 1995.

6. Punish My Heaven
"Punish My Heaven" is a song by the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity, first released in The Gallery (1995).

7. This Calling
This is a single extracted by The Fall of Ideals (2006), the third album released by the American metalcore band All That Remains.

8. Blood of Faith Stains My Hands
Long title here, and long band name too. Released by the melodic death metal band Eternal Tears of Sorrow from Finland, this track is taken from their 2000 album Chaotic Beauty.

A. Eagle Fly Free
Probably Helloween's most famous song ever, taken from their 1998 masterpiece Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II. I think there has never been a single date in which they haven't played this one!

A Epilogue. Beyond of the Ground
"Beyond of the Ground" is a song from the Japanese power metal band Galneryus, recorded for their debut album The Flag of Punishment (2003).

B. Buried Dreams
From the English grindcore/melodic death metal giants Carcass, "Buried Dreams" dates back to their Heartwork masterpiece (1993).

B Epilogue. Reckoning Day Reckoning Night...
"Reckoning Day, Reckoning Night... " (with the three dots!) is the only instrumental song included in Sonata Arctica's Reckoning Night, released in 2004.

Sequel. Whisper In the Red Sky
This one is again by Galneryus, namely from their second full-length Advance to the Fall (2005).

Date Scenario. Sweet Trap
Probably little-known, "Sweet Trap" is a track taken from the Japanese power metal band Mary's Blood's sophomore album, Bloody Palace (2015).

Main Volume
1. Beast of Man
"Beast of Man" is another song by Arch Enemy, taken from their Stigmata album (1998).

2. Trashed, Lost & Strungout
Both a single and an EP released by Children of Bodom (2004).

3. Rock Shock
Challenging! "Rock Shock" is the title of a song released a bunch of times by the Japanese heavy metal act Loudness. It firstly appears on their 1981 debut album, The Birthday Eve~誕生前夜.

4. King of the Kill
King of the Kill is the title of Annihilator's 1994 full-length.

5. Cruelty and the Beast
Cruelty and the Beast is the title of the third album by the English symphonic black metal band Cradle of Filth (1998).

6. Among Those Who Wept
"Among Those Who Wept" is a quite obscure track recorded in 1998 by the symphonic melodic death metal band Lothlorien from Sweden for their only album, The Primal Event.

7. Stand Ablaze
"Stand Ablaze" is an awesome track by the very first In Flames, namely taken from their 1995 Subterranean EP.

8. Annihilator
Apart from the name of the band, "Annihilator" is also a song recorded by the band itself and taken from the King of the Kill album mentioned before.

A. Reign In Blood
Extremely famous, Reign In Blood refers to the third studio album released by the American thrash metal band Slayer in 1986.

A Epilogue. You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget
Taken from Trilogy, "You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget" has been released in 1986 by Yngwie Malmsteen.

B. In Hell of Heaven
"In Hell of Heaven" is the last track taken from the debut album of the Japanese symphonic black/death metal band Serenity In Murder, The First Frisson of the World (2011).

B Epilogue. Never, Neverland
Never, Neverland is the title of Annihilator's second full-length, released in 1990.

Sequel. Leave Everything Behind
"Leave Everything Behind" is a song recorded by the Swedish metalcore band Amaranthe for their debut album, Amaranthe (2011).

Date Scenario. Beautiful Tragedy
Beautiful Tragedy is the title of the debut album of the American alternative metal band In This Moment, released in 2007.