Overview
The Japanese can be the best in the game if used properly heres how!
The Weapons
Japanese have a limited selection of weapons at first glance. However the ones they do have are of the highest quality particualry the rifles which are the best out of RO2 and RS combined
Type 38 Arisaka
This Rifle is the ultimate Marksmans weapon, a maximum fire range of 2000m and barely any bullet drop this gun means it can be a good substitue for a sniper it even beats the Kar98 when it comes to marksmanship.
perks of the weapon
1. lowest muzzle flash of any rifle in the game.
2. fast firing and very open and easy to use sights.
3.barely any drop and far firing range.
4.quickest bolting of any bolt action rifle.
5. easy to use at close quarters due to open sights and already equipped bayonet.
6. pinpoint accurate the most precise rifle in the game.
7. extremely easy to lead targets with.
CONS:
1. its a bolt action which means if you are in a tight spot and miss you have to bolt the next shot.
2. 6.5mm round means less hitting power then any other rifle in the game and may kill an enemy slightly less then other rifles.
Type 99 Arisaka
This Rifle is as hard hitting as any american rifle having an improved 7.7mm round over the type 38 however the sights are harder to use and the drop and spread are more due to the round.
Perks of the weapon
1.a round as hard hitting as the 30-06 guarantees 1 hit kills if the shot makes contact almost every time.
2.Already attached bayonet.
3.Can use this excellent weapon as the squad leader whereas american SL and TL cannot spawn with rifles
4.can get a monopod at level 50 for less wobble
CONS:
1. its a bolt action which means if you are in a tight spot and miss you have to bolt the next shot.
2. slower bolting times then the 38 but slightly faster then the american springfield.
3. larger muzzle flash then the 38 due to larger round and shortened rifle leangth
4. max range of 1500m compared to the type 38s 2000 as well higher bullet drop due to heavier round
5. Sights aare sometimes harder to use because of less vission
Type 100 SMG
A basic SMG with low recoil and good precision slower firing rate then the Thompson SMG but makes up for that with its accuracy Level 50 sights are not the best and i reccomend not using them
Type 96 LMG
A LMG with low fire rate and small magazine size however it also used the same round as the type 38 (6.5mm) so it has low muzzle flash almost no bullet drop and extreme firing range, however it suffers the type 38s problem of having less hitting power due to the low power round as well. upon level 25-50 you get a 2x scope which basically makes this a semi automatic sniper. extremely effective weapon overall best MG for long range engagments in the game.
Type 99 LMG
Some of the same characteristics of the type 96 carry over here into the type 99. It also unlocks the 2x scope on level 25-50 making it more potent at long range however it uses the heavy type 99 rifle 7.7mm round meaning more bullet drop and less range but excellent hitting power.
Nambu Pistol
This is a very basic pistol and can be used by almost every class even the japanese rifleman which can be good for close quarters if you have to bolt your weapon and want to play it safe. HOWEVER this weapon has a slow bullet speed and is extremely weak sometimes taking 3-4 shots to kill an american even at a distance of 7m!!!!! perks though is higher accuracy and less bullet drop over the american 1911 pistol
Katana
This weapon is your best friend in melee. killing in one blow and being super fast in a tight situation you can cleave your way through american GIs and Marines like butter
Type 97 Snipers Rifle
The snipers varient of the type 38 Arisaka Rifle. Combine the best marksmans rifle in Ro2/RS with a 2x or 4x scope and you have yourself a extremely effective weapon. However the Scope is very confusing at first but once you learn how to use it it is literally adaptable to any enemy facing you. can get a monopod at level 50 for less wobble
this represents the 2x scope reticle you will see for both the type 97 and type 99 snipers.the 4x version is identical apart from a pointed 100 meter notch rather then flat. The notchs right and left are to help you lead a target if they are running and are dead on effective. the further out an enemy the further you must adjust for leading it goes all the way 500m.
Type 99 Snipers Rifle
The Sniper Varient of the Type 99 arisaka rifle. carrying over the perks and cons of the type 99 rifle this is a good sniper but has the problems of the type 99. I would suggest you altogether skip this sniper and use the type 97 sniper instead because that is by far the better Snipers rifle and the best in the game. can get a monopod at level 50 for less wobble
The Banzai Charge
The Banzai Charge
One of the perks of playing as one of the two Japanese factions is the ability to banzai charge individually less effective but as a group it will deal major suppression as well as let you take a hit to anywhere in the body except the head and not get a major wound (however if unlucky you can bleed out). individually say you need to cross a area that is being watched by lots of americans then banzai will improve your chances of making it to saftey. however screaming at the top of your lungs alerts almost all americans within earshot
The Team
YOU MUST NOT PLAY THE JAPANESE AS A 1 MAN TEAM FACTION!
it may be okay to be a 1 man team as the americans, germans or russians but as the japanese this can literally make you lose the game. Part of the way the japanese are means they need team work win. Team work makes this faction powerful and a coordianted japanese force is fearsome indeed often absolutely wiping the floor clean of americans
no matter what always listen to your SL and TL they are the ones trying to keep the force moving and your job is to listen and obey especially and the japanese
The Japanese Factions
Rising Storm introduces 4 factions into the game. The US Marine Corps, The US Army and the Imperial Japanese Army and Special Naval Landing Forces (japanese Marines)
The Special Naval Landing Force.
The SNLF Marines appear on only one map (if not counting custom maps and they should be on Otori Shima although they arent for some reason) Betio. These are the elite Marines of imperial Japan and historically killed 1 for 1 and a bit more on Betio island in tarawa as well as causing havok across many pacific islands and a famous final stand on Iwo Jima. Depending on the server you join they have 2 appearances, a unique dark green or kahki tan. The dark green uniforms were originally part of the game but removed by tripwire because of noobs complaining of team kills. however 4 months ago they were restored into the game and are since running once again on several servers. The green unforms were the most common SNLF uniform up untill late 1944 which the khaki uniforms are as shown below. The Khaki varients look similar to the army but have many noticable differences
the khaki uniforms are the base game SNLF as of the early 2014 update. if you wish to play with the proper historically correct green ones join a server that runs the uniform mutator or request your server admin to apply them to the server its quite easy. there are currently 7 servers running them i know of. If you wish to play with them in offline mode with bots there are 2 links
[link]
this is general use one
this MODDB version is for server admins to apply to the server
alternate MODDB version for client side offline play
[link]
The Imperial Army.
The Japanese army of World war 2 was famed for being determined beyoned measure,stout defenders and capable of great cruelty and courage. The Imperial troops were unequalled anywhere when it came to discipline, courage and skill. But often was let down by very poor planning and stupid motives on the part of the commanders and officers
Map Tips
There are a lot of excellent places for the Japanese to strike or defend in my 400 hours of gametime i have discovered the best ones to use
Kwajalien:
there are 3 excellent sniping postions on kwajalien the first is the tower. the tower allows you to hit enemies out in the spawn! (a distance of 200m) you will need to be confident you are a good shot at long ranges for this and make sure you know how to lead. near the stairs of the tower at the top is a good place to lay down also. this way you are covered by all the sandbags up top and you can face outwards and look over the right flank. picking off any americans that your own troops cant see thanks to your elevated postion.
the second Postion is a hill near the top left of the beach there are thick trees for camo and you can see the american advance quite clearly. The third and best postion is a sloped white rock you can climb up from the base at postion C to the left of the point. Here you are extremely difficult to hit and can easily slide back and forth between cover. here i guarantee if you are a good player 20 kills just as this spot. its literally awesome.
Honourable mention goes to the Large oil drums that show firing ranges out to 240m good elevated postion but large target once the americans get closer
Peleliu:
This map has 3 key sniping position, the first being the large hill far back of point B. B being the most important point in the map means americans will swarm all over giving you plenty of target practice. This spot is easily missed but absoloutely fantastic giving you a almost perfect view of point B (very large) and great protection due to the slopes of the hill
the second Point being the upstairs left area of the airfield control tower. here you have a fantastic view of the surround area but likewise you are a fantastic target for americans! only use this point if you are confident of your skills!
the third and final good pint is a small crater at the top of point E. here you can shoot through the cracks and remain almost unsesable its a good fallback postion for when americans get near.
Maggot Hill.
Generally this map is perfect for sniping almost everywhere. however there is a ridge that overlooks C point and beyond that is incredibly difficult to see for americans. coupled with the low muzzle flash of the type 38 and americans will be running in circles trying to find you!
Betio:
Ah this map is quite hard to snipe on or long range shoot due to the many obstacles. however the SNLF Marines have one advantage. The large radio tower with sandbags up top. You can shoot here out to 200m pretty easily and you can prone near the ladder to the top of the building and have guaranteed protection thanks to the sandbags. basically means you can snipe anything that moves right of the point with ease and not have as much risk (below ladder sandbag cover on building, secod image 200m view of betio from atop)
Iwo Jima:
This map can swing two way for long range shooting. A all the americans find you and kill you because they have equally amazing postions or B you never get noticed and have a field trip.
there are 4 main points to use. 1 at the start of the map bolt back up the hill at C point and lay down on the flat ground near the ruined bunkers. here you will have total view of the beaches and can shoot most americans with ease. 2 the smal rock to the left of the bunker in C lets you have total view left and right of the rock. no one will ever see and and wont expect it. this way you can shoot many foes either side with ease. 3 being the bunkers themselves especially in C. however soon you will want to stay because many americans will watch the bunkers the whole game just to get you. and finally 4 the final point. is suprisingly in the spawn! you run up and prone on a small hill. any americans rushing through C will be yours to hit and americans trying to cover fire for them will also be yours.
Saipan:
Saipan is a japanese paradise due to the fact that it is urban and americans HAVE to push through giving you plenty of places to hide. particularly good is being a squad leader up on the roof of B all yor men can spawn on you up there and completely halt americans pushing through B lying next the the side wall gives you a good view of the right flank and hit any hapless americans who think its okay to push through
i hope you enjoyed my guide!