Romance of the Three Kingdoms X ships

After appearances dating all the way back to the original Nintendo, the 10th incarnation of KOEI's historic simulation franchise, Romance of the Three Kingdoms X, is now arriving in stores. The game was developed in-house by Koei, the company also responsible for the Dynasty Warriors and Kessen franchises. A PC version is scheduled for release early next month.

ROTTKX begins after the Chinese empire falls prey to rebellion and continues through more than 100 years of civil war. Throughout the course of the game, players can take control of a whopping 650 characters, including some of ancient China's most extraordinary figures, like peasant-turned-emperor Liu Bei or strategist Zhuge Liang. Gamers can also create up to 110 new officers as they play.

Other key features in ROTTKX include 40 skills and new commands, like the ability to start a rogue army, fulfill civilian requests, vow an oath of brotherhood, dispatch spies, and debate with other officers in the game in order to fully master the politics of war. The game will also feature support for up to eight players in offline multiplayer.

ROTTKX is rated T for Teen and is currently available for $49.99. For more information on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.