Running a kingdom in the making is tough, but it’s even tougher because you’re surrounded on all sides by a host of potential enemies, all vying for land, resources, and power. Few video games have managed to recreate that pressure as well as Koei Tecmo Romance of three kingdoms series, with Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake becoming the most balanced version of one of the best games in the franchise. Somehow they made the boredom of bureaucracy fun and addictive.
Like the rest of the series and the novel that inspired it, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake — which originally launched in Japan on PC in 2001 before coming to the West on PS2 a few years later — follows a heavily romanticized version of Chinese history. The period from about 220 to 280 AD was a time of great upheaval for the region, with multiple individuals vying for control. This conflict spawned figures such as Lu Bu, Dong Zhuo, and Cao Cao, all immortalized in novels, movies, and, most importantly for us, video games.
There are two things that developer Kou Shibusawa has always strived to do with the series – give players the ability to dive into the nitty-gritty of ruling a growing kingdom and follow the story behind the battles and history that have enthralled readers for centuries. Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake leans more towards the story side of things, letting you automate and delegate decisions to your AI minions, but there’s still a decent amount of detail to sink your teeth into.
Like the original game, this remake is more focused on narrative; you can create your own custom character and see how far you can go in the dangerous politics of 3rd century China, or you can play as one of the 1,000 officers already in the system and follow their story through the period. That’s an obscene number of options, but they’re stacked with different scenarios you can play through, each focusing on a specific faction at a specific time. If you’re looking for a game that you’ll play over and over again and never get the same experience twice, this is the best option you’ll find.
As you play, you can improve your stats, unlock new abilities, and build relationships with other characters. Some of these relationships are positive – spouses, siblings, and allies – while others are more negative, but all serve to move the story forward. One thing that’s important to remember is that you won’t get very far without making a few enemies along the way, but that’s a big part of what makes Romance of the Three Kingdoms so much fun – drama.
That drama is a key part of gameplay. Each cycle lasts three months, during which you can visit different parts of your growing kingdom, improve their stats and raise your armies. As you do, you’ll encounter other officers and recruit them to your cause or deepen your relationship with them. Developing these relationships will unlock new synergies, allowing them to help when you go to work in your cities or on the battlefield while trying to take over someone else’s territory. If you want to dominate China, you’ll need a little help from your friends.
After three months, you will either attend a parliament with your lord and receive your quests for the next season, or you will hold a parliament if you have risen to a high enough position. From this screen, you can use strategic points to send spies to other territories, form alliances, or wage wars against your neighbors. There’s always more to do than you have enough points for each season, which means you have to think carefully about what to do next. The gameplay cycle is surprisingly addictive; each season only lasts a few minutes, depending on your choices, so you can move through time relatively quickly. You can sink several hours into the game without even realizing it.
Wars are probably the easiest way to expand your borders, playing as a tactical RPG where you lead your armies against the enemy. It’s a fairly simple mechanic, especially in the early game, but using tactics (special moves you can unlock with experience points) makes you feel a little more involved than having more troops than your opponent.
If there’s a downside to Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake, it’s that it doesn’t let you dive into the details of running your kingdom as deeply as other entries in the series. The focus here is on the story you build with your character and the role-playing elements it unlocks. That’s not necessarily a negative in our book, but it might disappoint fans looking for a more tactical game. The duel system is also frustratingly random, but mostly avoidable if you don’t enjoy it.
Story elements are built into Stories that you can trigger as you progress through the plot. These stories can be based on a novel, such as when our character was convinced to kill his ruler because they both loved the same woman, or simply because your stats have risen high enough to allow you to attempt a new side quest.
The good news is that all stories are optional and you can generally start them whenever you want as long as you have all the prerequisites. If you are not ready for the responsibility of the promotion, you can simply ignore it until you are ready. However, the world is changing around you and alliances will form even if you do not act. The result is a game that plays a little differently every time. History is flexible here; nothing is set in stone.
This is indeed the greatest strength of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake. You could play it for a hundred hours and never feel like you’re repeating yourself. Be warned though; the game is not easy to win. The AI isn’t very smart, especially in combat, but it’s active, which means you can’t rest on your laurels for too long.
Conclusion
If you prefer the story elements of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, then 8 Remake is among the best the franchise has ever produced. This entry doesn’t offer the same level of kingdom management that fans may expect, but its focus on drama and your storytelling choices make it a little more accessible to new players. This is a very solid remake that works well on the Switch and seems to unlock the full potential of the original.
