Knowing when to best use these skills is a big part of what makes the RTS component work, even if it is a lot less complex than the other facets of the game.īetween managing relationships and fighting, the game also has a fairly complex town management component, where each aspect of a town's growth can be managed to a fine point. These skills can do things such as buff units, lower the morale of enemies, or even bring in reinforcements to replace dead soldiers. Additionally, each unit will have a commander with a unique skill that can turn the tide of any situation if used correctly. It's almost always a numbers game, with larger squads mostly defeating smaller ones with ease, but through smart play, the odds can be overturned. Combat effectiveness for each unit is determined by their morale, which is affected largely through the capturing of enemy bases. When enemy forces meet on the map, the game shifts to a standard RTS setup across fairly small maps until either side is obliterated. When it comes to raw combat, however, things aren't quite as complex. It's an almost crazy amount of complexity, but the amount of choice available definitely helps the game a great deal. Peace treaties can be set up, compromises can be reached, convincing both sides in a conflict to step down, and simply becoming friends with the leader of a rival nation can put an end to fights. Units can be married off into rival kingdoms, preventing conflict, players can get into debates, which, almost hilariously, has its own approach to turn-based RPG combat where an enemy's next move must be predicted and countered by selecting debate topics that will overturn theirs. Instead of simply fighting, why not coerce an enemy's officers to switch sides? Why not settle differences through talking, instead of fighting? It's crazy just how many options there are here for peaceful strategy.
#ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 13 SWITCH SERIES#
The general flow of the game sees players tasked with bringing China under their control, in a manner not terribly dissimilar from Koei Tecmo's other strategy series 'Nobunaga's Ambition', and while the game gives players the option of conquering through force, it also asks that they consider a less violent route. That's why it's nice that Hero Mode does its best to ease players into everything, giving context to each system in a way that feels a lot more meaningful than the majority of tutorials really do.īut where 'Romance' differentiates itself lies in its focus on interpersonal relationships above all else. For grand strategy fans, this won't be too difficult to approach, but to just about anyone else, there's a silly amount to micromanage here. There are an absolute ton of systems and ideas that really can't be ignored if players want to be at all successful, ranging from building relationships between characters to developing towns and overseeing wars. The Hero mode guides players through a series of character specific stories set during the Han Dynasty period, which each story teaching players about different mechanics at a (thankfully) gentle pace. Thankfully, Hero Mode tries a bit harder than tutorials usually do, and it definitely pays off. This is advice that should be heeded, as even with indulging in the game's tutorials, this is easily one of the most complex strategy games I've ever played, hands down. Right from the start, 'Romance XIII' warns players that they should check out the game's new Hero Mode to understand the game's systems. The thirteenth mainline entry in the series, perhaps in part due to Koei's recent push into wider Asian markets, makes strides to be at least somewhat accessible, without losing out on any of the franchise's complexities, and at least to some degree, it succeeds on that front. Previous entries have made no attempt to explain their myriad mechanics in the slightest, and generally want players to either be astute scholars of the manuals, or to just figure everything out for themselves. This is in no small part thanks to the games being nearly impenetrable to all but the biggest strategy diehards. 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' has been around as a game series for almost 30 years now, and despite Koei Tecmo's best efforts, it still feels like an unknown property just about everywhere outside of Japan.