E3 2002Dynasty Tactics Impressions

While Koei has recently branched out into the action (Dynasty Warriors) and rhythm (Gitaroo Man) genres, the real focus of the company has always been historical strategy. Focusing primarily on the battlefield heroics of great generals, Dynasty Tactics is narrower in scope than the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series but approaches battle in a similar manner to other console tactics titles.

Unlike Kessen, this title is completely turn-based. And unlike most games seen so far with the word "tactics" in the title, Dynasty Tactics focuses on groups of several thousand soldiers headed by one skilled general. The battlefield is divided into a square grid, and each group will move in order according to its level of morale. While the game isn't overly intimidating to approach, ignoring the tutorial mode could be your first deadly mistake as a budding strategist.

What sets this title apart from others are the actual tactics themselves. Each general has his own list of strategic commands, and being able to use them in the right situations at the right times is the absolute key to victory. Each tactic can only be used once per battle, although defeating an enemy unit with a tactical command instead of a normal attack will randomly replenish one spent technique. The effects include driving an enemy back, acting as a decoy to draw hostile forces into a trap, and trading places with an allied unit who will then attack the adjacent foe. Even in the demo the list of tactics was quite extensive, but holding the R2 button will display a text explanation accompanied by an animated visual aid.

While each technique can be quite powerful, five thousand troops can be decimated at once if generals combine their forces using the game's unique tactical combo system. The tactic at the top of a general's list is considered active. If the conditions for that maneuver are met when a different general initiates his tactic, the second action will be triggered. Certain generals also bear the title of strategist, which allows the "linking" of tactics. Linking a tactic will hold an enemy in check until a general executes his own tactic anywhere on the map. At that time, the linked effect will be triggered. The tutorial leads players to set up massive combos that are both impressive to watch and incredibly powerful, although in the actual game careless actions could set you up for the same treatment.

When beginning a new game, you'll choose a general and be treated to a cinematic opening that leads us to believe that each campaign will feature a running story. The cinematography in the cutscenes and on the battlefield is quite impressive, while the many onscreen characters aren't incredibly smooth but manage to impress with their numbers.

Fans of strategy games might find themselves surprised to find something truly different about the title. It's not yet clear if any broad-scale strategy or management will be present in the game, but the door is still open for the possibility. Koei has set a tentative release date of September 2002, so more information should be available in the coming months.