A great party game, but below average overall.
Review 156
Released: 1996
Publisher: Koei
Developer: Koei/Inis
Game Genre: Historic Turn-Based Strategy
ESRB Rating: K-A for Kids to Adults
ESRB Descriptors: Animated Violence
Story: 30%
Gameplay: 40%
Graphics: 20%
Durability: 10%
Story (4/10)
This being the 4th installment of the ROTK series, the story is still the same, and based off of ancient history. This game covers the events leading up to the creation of the Three Kingdoms (hence the name), Wu, Wei and Shu, beginning with Dong Zhuo's rise to fame.
Gameplay (6/10)
Wow…where to start…
There is a HUGE amount of options in this game. To start, you select a scenario and up to 8 officers to control. Huge pro here, as this makes a great party game if your friends are smart and can play such an advanced strategy game.
After selecting your officer you select historical or fictional mode. In historical you start with the same amount of cities as the officer did in history, and fictional is self-explanatory. When your turn arrives, you have the option of doing basically whatever you want to do with your armies. The strategy of the game evolves way beyond simply sending armies out for war. You must balance your spending efficiently, between the armies and simpler things, such as farming and building dams. You can also spread gossip about other leaders, spy on foreign cities, and create alliances with other rulers.
The main disadvantage of this game, and a huge one at that, is its pace. The game is slow. The game is very slow. The game is very repetitive. The game is very repetitive. The game is very repetitive. Oh, sorry about that.
You do have the option of saving, if that makes you feel any better.
Graphics (6/10)
There are corny little 'cinematics' that occur in a big event, but they are so short that it makes no substantial change in gameplay.
Durability (6/10)
Overall Score (5.4/10)
Rounded Score (5.5/10)
Final Thoughts:
A good party game, and entertaining for a short while, but below average overall.