Review of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake: Experience the Thrill of Overthrowing the Han

2024/10/23

The Remake of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 is an aesthetically pleasing and intricately designed strategy game that evokes memories of my younger years. My journey with games inspired by the Sanguo yanyi began in middle school, but RTK8 stands out as one of my top choices. The freedom to play as an officer, rather than enduring the extensive micromanagement that comes with ruling as a lord, is something I particularly appreciated.

Having previewed this title earlier in the month, my enthusiasm remains steadfast. I continue to be enamored with Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake, despite harboring some hopes for updates that could enhance this version from its predecessor.

Understanding Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

For those unfamiliar, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake reimagines the beloved turn-based strategy game from the PlayStation 2 era. Set during the late Han Dynasty in ancient China, it explores the historical events leading to China’s unification, allowing players to diverge from the narrative presented in both the novel and historical accounts.

The game features approximately 55 historical scenarios, including eight major settings with multiple starting points, providing players the opportunity to tailor the difficulty level to suit their preferences.

Choose from numerous scenarios and options (Image via Koei Tecmo)

After completing at least one historical campaign, players gain access to fictional scenarios, including the fan-favorite Gathering of Heroes, renamed The Heroes Assemble. This scenario combines extensive factions and leaders from the time period spanning 184 to 263 AD, challenging players to conquer them all. Although I wish this option were available from the start rather than requiring a prior scenario completion, it’s a minor issue in the grand scheme.

Players are not confined to the role of a lord. Instead, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake offers various character options, allowing you to choose historical figures or create your own. This customization aspect is, admittedly, my favorite feature.

Let's go overthrow the Haaaaaaaaaan! (Image via Koei Tecmo) — Let’s go overthrow the Haaaaaaaaaan! (Image via Koei Tecmo)

You can embed your created character within the historical fiction, forming relationships and rivalries with iconic figures, akin to the storytelling found in fanfiction. You have control over your stats and skills, allowing you to create a character as powerful or as vulnerable as you wish!

The main objective is to achieve Hegemony—absolute control over the realm. This is not a game meant for short playthroughs; completing a map could take countless hours depending on your strategy. Additionally, the actions of other factions can complicate your efforts significantly, often leading to chaotic situations.

Some may find turn cycles repetitive due to the nature of the gameplay, but I derive enjoyment from figuring out how to improve various aspects of governance, aiming for prosperity within my cities.

Challenges with Combat in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

Engaging in combat is simple, but truly conquering China demands effort (Image via Koei Tecmo)

I appreciate being able to dispatch multiple soldier groups each season to capture various cities and provinces simultaneously in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake. Nonetheless, this feature does not fully address one of the game’s significant challenges. When a kingdom gains momentum, it can seem nearly impossible to halt or decelerate their progress.

Previous installments of the franchise allowed for battles on a monthly basis, which, while not entirely eliminating the power creep of certain feudal lords, did assist in balancing the gameplay. For instance, in my last scenario, I observed Liu Biao expand his influence over the Southlands and a substantial section of the Middle Kingdom, accruing more cities than anyone, including the formidable Cao Cao of the north.

Once the map is reduced to only a handful of factions in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake, making any significant progress can feel insurmountable. This scenario often necessitates a strategy of aggressive gameplay or forming alliances to topple powerful kingdoms. Occasionally, players must create an Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition themselves. This is a noticeable flaw in the game’s design.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake: A User-Friendly Experience

Determine your legacy: What type of leader will you become? (Image via Koei Tecmo)

I highly recommend keeping the tutorial enabled during your initial playthroughs of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake. This isn’t merely a direct remake of the original RTK8 from the PS2/PC era; it represents a completely new experience. The tutorial helps players navigate the map, understanding each component effectively.

The game also incorporates a wide array of difficulty settings, allowing you to customize the experience to suit your desired challenge level. However, one of my favorite features lies within the Tales tab. As you progress, you can revisit this section to view historical events and advance the narrative, along with learning valuable insights from Master Water Mirror (Sima Hui). He offers guidance on gameplay mechanics and provides rewards that enhance your relationships with other characters, making gameplay versatile.

Your Playstyle in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

How did Liu Biao gain such dominance in the south?! (Image via Koei Tecmo)

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake, whether you create your own faction or reign as the lord of an expansive kingdom is entirely your choice. While I will refrain from detailing turn-by-turn mechanics, the choices available to you are vast. You can choose to support your community for rewards and reputation, or you can play the role of a villain, engaging in corruption and oppressing the populace.

You may participate in duels, debates, lead troops into battle, or even pursue marriage and contribute to your empire’s growth. The flexibility in gameplay is a remarkable aspect I cherish. My enthusiasm for this iteration of RTK has grown exponentially; with its multitude of features and systems, there’s simply too much to cover in depth.

Create alliances or rivalries as you navigate the game's intricate social dynamics (Image via Koei Tecmo) — Create alliances or rivalries as you navigate the game’s intricate social dynamics (Image via Koei Tecmo)

You can build friendships with formidable characters such as Lu Bu or Xiahou Dun, acquiring new skills through collaboration, participating in hunts, or joining forces in conflict against enemies. Alternatively, you need not join an existing faction; you can seize a city and establish your own if you’re dissatisfied with the current lords like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Yuan Shao.

The game enables players who prefer to micromanage to do so, while those like myself, seeking to instigate change on a more fundamental level, can thrive too. This engagement is thrilling, and before I knew it, I had invested countless hours into the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake.

Visual Appeal of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

A stunning game with possibly the best visuals in its franchise (Image via Koei Tecmo)

The visuals in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake are undeniably beautiful, spanning character portraits, battlefields, and towns. While I have no complaints about the art style, there is one aspect I would change regarding the overall presentation.

Although the Japanese voice acting is commendable, it still feels dissonant to engage in a game set in ancient China without a Chinese voice cast. I would welcome an opportunity to hear the cast from the 2010 RTK series bring the characters to life. While I appreciate the Japanese performances, incorporating Chinese voices would enhance the game’s immersive atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

The ultimate challenge could be a civilized debate (Image via Koei Tecmo)

Playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 is an incredibly enjoyable experience. Despite occasional frustrations in combat, especially when dominant kingdoms significantly control the map, my affection for the game endures. Although it isn’t without fault, this remake surpasses its predecessor in various ways. It offers a deeper immersive experience, enhanced visuals, and a more user-friendly approach.

A recurring issue in the RTK series has been the assumption that players inherently understand the gameplay mechanics. I possess this knowledge due to my lengthy history with the franchise dating back to the SNES, but I recognize that tutorials could be improved. Nevertheless, I find the experience tailored for new and returning players to be impressively well-crafted in this version.

While I hoped for more originality in the Fictional Scenarios, I’ve heard whispers of additional content possibly being introduced through DLC in the future. My critiques are minor in nature, and overall, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 is nothing short of a masterpiece, offering a thrilling journey back to the fall of the Han.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

Available On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

Reviewed On: PC (Code provided by Koei Tecmo)

Release Date: October 24, 2024

Developer: Cow Tecmo

Publisher: Koei Tecmo

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