Conquering, empire building add to ‘3 Kingdoms’ romance

Gamers who enjoy the micro-management of resources, villages, castles and grand-scale military campaigns will feel right at home with this latest version of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” a series of games based on ancient Chinese history that has been a hit since its debut.
Like its predecessors, this ninth installment allows players to play the game in “actual history mode” or “fictional history mode.”
Gamers can choose from hundreds of characters who were real historical figures in ancient China. Players can also develop their own character, grooming him (or her) into a powerful general by engaging in battles. As time goes on, the experience gained will make the character stronger.
In addition to battle action, the game also concerns making civic improvements and surviving the political intrigue that takes place among the numerous generals competing to conquer and unify China.

The verdict: Romance IX, like its predecessors, is a smorgasbord for those who love grand-scale real-time strategy games.
I would put the game into the category of great games such as the Civilization series.
Having said that, what makes this game unique is also a factor that may make the game a turn-off for some players, especially those who are looking for a fast-paced challenge.
This is a deep, time-consuming game that requires a serious time commitment. Since the game isn’t an action game, players shouldn’t expect great sound effects either. But the music is very nice, with 23 songs setting the mood of ancient China.
If a bit of time, a little imagination and an interest in Chinese history, you might eventually join the ranks of hard-core fans for whom “Romance IX” is another successful addition to the series.

“Romance of the Three Kingdoms IX”

Category: Real-time strategy
Players: 1-8
Difficulty: Medium
Platform: PC
Rating:***

by Brian Lee