Romance of the 3 Kingdoms returns to the PC

[fable]

Burlingame, CA - April 23, 2008 - KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, announced today that the Historical Simulation game, Romance of the Three Kingdoms®XI (RTK XI) is coming to Windows-based PCs for gamers throughout North America on July 29, 2008.

You can read it all, here. As this title is being released for PC in the US, I'm sure European distribution won't be far behind.

Damn good to hear this. The last Rot3K was #5. I can still remember when I finished a review of Balor of the Evil Eye, and was told by a Koei rep in Los Angeles that the company had abruptly informed him that it was closing down the US branch and stopping the manufacture of PC products. It was marketed as a strategy series back in the 1990s, but it's really a hybrid: more of an RPG than the HOMM series, with plenty of generals you control who not only have stats, but a good deal of dialog, and hidden attributes that affect their behavior.

[GawainBS]

I was always willing to try this game, but I was never able to lay my hands on it. I'm pretty curious about it.

[DesR85]

I remember hearing of this Romance of the 3 Kingdoms series a few years ago. Weren't they released on the PlayStation at that time or am I confusing it with another title?

[Oskatat]

i believe there are some sites offering free downloads of romance of the three kindoms. though you do need dosbox to play them

[fable]

You can still get Rot3K I-V on sites like Abandonia. They're freeware, meaning KOEI has no interest in prosecuting the distribution of the software, despite still owning the rights.

DesR85, KOEI has always been big in the PS2 market. Early in the 1990s, they decided to try and conquer the US and European PC-based market as well, but they ran into cultural problems: those incredibly tiny incremental step forward releases that make it in Japan didn't win them any favors, elsewhere. Which is too bad, because I think that, especially towards the end, when they began involving American developers, they really started producing interesting stuff, like Balor of the Evil Eye.

But I always enjoyed Nobunaga's Ambition and Rot3K, their premiere series, and their one shot, Bandit Kings of China. Lots to do, can seem slow-moving, but all sorts of sneaky, devious, underhanded stuff that made the games feel alive, and the generals in armies seem human. I'm given to understand that Rot3K XI is a lot more complex than the very early titles, but you might want to try the fifth release in the series, to get a feel for how the game plays. And BKoC is well worth it, too.

[Minerva]

fable,

I am sorry to disappoint you but Rot3K XI is largely considered a flop in Japan. It seems Koei tried too much fancy staff, such as graphic (which is good) and effect, while the management system would leave you frustrated. I haven't played it, though, because the reviews were so bad I didn't want to spend so much money on it.
Among Rot3K series, IX with PK is still considered the best (with PK, mind you), while V, VI, VII were generelly kind to new player. I played VII on PSP recently, and it was enjoyable, though I spend more time on IX with PK on PC.

As for Nobunaga series, there were big debate which is the best. The newest seems to be the most interesting to me, and I will buy one next time I go home.

Oh, and my ancester is always in Nobunaga series.

[fable]

Originally Posted by Minerva

fable,

I am sorry to disappoint you but Rot3K XI is largely considered a flop in Japan. It seems Koei tried too much fancy staff, such as graphic (which is good) and effect, while the management system would leave you frustrated. I haven't played it, though, because the reviews were so bad I didn't want to spend so much money on it.

I've read reviews of the PS2 version on US sites. They were uneasy about the level of detail and the slow pace, but then, the same reviewers dissed the title for being menu-driven. If you don't like the genre (which includes all the Paradox games such as EU3, as well as several other KOEI titles) to begin with, why review it? I'm personally going to give it a try.

Among Rot3K series, IX with PK is still considered the best (with PK, mind you), while V, VI, VII were generelly kind to new player. I played VII on PSP recently, and it was enjoyable, though I spend more time on IX with PK on PC.

Can you recommend a PS2 emulator?

As for Nobunaga series, there were big debate which is the best. The newest seems to be the most interesting to me, and I will buy one next time I go home.

Oh, and my ancester is always in Nobunaga series.

LOL! :Which one?

[Minerva]

Originally Posted by fable

I've read reviews of the PS2 version on US sites. They were uneasy about the level of detail and the slow pace, but then, the same reviewers dissed the title for being menu-driven. If you don't like the genre (which includes all the Paradox games such as EU3, as well as several other KOEI titles) to begin with, why review it? I'm personally going to give it a try.

One of the problems is the poor AI, though that is nothing new to Koei SLGs, I think. I also heard the battles are the best part of XI, while the city management is very annoying and frustrating.

Originally Posted by fable

Can you recommend a PS2 emulator?

Mmm, I cannot do that, because I played official PSP version.
Both RoTK and Nobunaga series had been imported to PSP, up to RoTK VII, as well as to Nintendo DS, I believe. I do not know if Koei are to release them outside of Japan.

The best RoTK was Namco's PSP version, though. That is my favourite PSP game of all along with Me and My Katamari. It is shame that will have no chance to be released outside of Japan.

Originally Posted by fable

LOL! :Which one?

Naito Masatoyo, one of Takeda Shingen's 24 generals.

[fable]

I think the early Rot3Ks had pretty decent AI, but can't speak to the later ones. The AI in the first of the series was excellent, but the options were also the most limited, as you might expect.

Naitō Masatoyo (1522-June 29, 1575) was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. As one of Takeda Shingen's most reliable generals, he fought in many of the Takeda clan's battles. Masatoyo was born the 2nd son of Takeda Nobutora's senior retainer Kudō Toratoyo. He was first called Kudō Sukenaga. The family's fortunes fell when Toratoyo lost favor with Nobutora, and was killed by him. Sukenaga and his brother escaped the Takeda clan, and according to the predominant theory, they wandered around the Kantō region. After Nobutora was exiled by his son Takeda Shingen, Shingen recalled the Kudō brothers, reinstating their lands and permitting the family's restoration. Shingen also formally excused Toratoyo of any wrongdoing and sent a letter of apology and money to the family. Furthermore, the Kudō were given command of 50 cavalry, and granted the rank of samurai-taishō. In 1566 he was given Minowa Castle in Kōzuke Province after it fell to the Takeda. At Mikatagahara he led a charge into the Tokugawa ranks and was at the forefront of the fighting at Nagashino (1575). He had opposed the attack at Nagashino and in the course of the battle was shot many times by arrows before being beheaded by Asahina Yasukatsu. He had been noted for his warm disposition and his equally impressive talents in warfare and administration. He had even been a mentor to the young Katsuyori, Takeda Shingen's fourth son. At Nagashino, after disagreeing with Katsuyori, he rushed into battle, dying an honorable death.

However, his fame was subsequently eclipsed by one of his descendants, who regularly appears on GameBanshee under the guise of Minerva.

From Wikipedia. Well, all except one bit. See if you can find it.