Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a turn-based strategy game developed by Koei Tecmo Games. The game was based on a classic Chinese historical novel of the same title. The title launched in 1985, and in 2016 it was re-released on PC (Steam), as part of the "Kou Shibusawa Archives" program, celebrating 35 years in the video game industry of the Japanese dev - Kou Shibusawa.

Story

The gameplay of Romance of the Three Kingdoms takes place in China during the reign of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), in the so-called Three Kingdoms Period. The game features factions known from the history, headed by Shu Han, Cao Wei and the Eastern Kingdom of Wu. The player takes on the role of the leader of a selected state, whose task is to unite the other regions under its rule.

Mechanics

Gameplay in Romance of the Three Kingdoms takes place in a turn-based system, on a tactical map filled with numbered fields - each number represents the value of attributes describing cities or characters. In the case of the former, they may mean the number of accumulated resources, susceptibility to cataclysms (floods, earthquakes), wealth of its vault, as well as loyalty of subjects. Character statistics, in turn, include leadership skills, combat skills, as well as loyalty to the commander, diplomatic talents, and even magical powers. Bringing these values to the right level is a key aspect for achieving the task entrusted to us and achieving ultimate victory.

Technical aspects

In terms of visuals, Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not differ much from the original version released nearly thirty years earlier. In combination with the language barrier (the title was released only in Japanese), the game is designed exclusively for lovers of the genre and fans of retro.

Last updated on March 9, 2020