[REVIEW] Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

[JaceX]

This is my Review of RoTK 13. I recommend you not buy this game at this time. If they improve it later on with dlcs or a puk, then maybe.

13 was touted as a roleplaying simulation strategy game. This was a marketing deception. 13 is a strategy/battle game. That is all. The 'slg factor' is just a diversion so that you aren't always just battling. The classic RoTK themed music and artwork remains on point. And the 3D map is pretty neat. However, below are the reasons why I do not suggest you invest in the 13th RoTK.

The quest/tavern system has been left out.

As a free officer you are limited to: 1) hosting feasts 2) searching for goods/people 3) meeting people 4) seizing a town 5) buy/sell items 6) move towns

As a vassal/retainer: 1) complete tasks for the city/force 2) host feasts 3) buy/sell items 4) searching for goods/people 5) meeting people 6) go to council - to ask for tasks

When in battle, even if going as a 3rd tier general under several others, you will still command the entire army. ~AI could have been made to control the overall army while you controlled one, would have made for more immersion when you are just a small piece in a greater force.. Oh well.

Although the relationship system is more complex, it is also much more difficult to build bonds. You can only improve relations via helping them with tasks, giving items, and random events. Just talking to them doesn't do that. As a free officer this means the only way you can improve relations is via feasts, since you can't interact with city operations.

The marriage system, whether by design or accident, allows for polygamous relationships 3x3. It also allows for family to be complete strangers to one another and be more willing to serve their lord than their husband/wife/son/daughter/etc. This is probably because this game is based off Nobunaga's ambition rather than Chinese lore. In Japan, loyalty to lord outweighed fealty to family. In China, it was the reverse.

On the battle side, they have almost copy pasted the RoTK12 model of semi-real them battle. I like the real time. But the AI has not been improved ever since the inception of Koei. It always does its own thing, sometime cognizant of your actions, and even sometimes getting stuck behind forts or walls. Your generals' battle skills are basically useless as you can only use them as your resource/tatical bar fills up. This means I osave up for that one general who has a godlike skill and ignore everyone else. I like the additions ofsiege tools and overall I actually like the real time touch and go battle scheme, but there are plenty of areas for improvement.

The duel/debates are still a rock/paper/scissors except my rock is smarter than your rock game. I don't mind it being that way.

On the overall campaign scale..
There is no diversity on the campaign map. Cities all look the same and offer few if any unique advantages.

Voice acting leaves something to be desired.

They have also taken out the random events/petitions/safety/bandits that made 10 and 11 so replayable (diverse experience each time)

***Overall: I wish they had taken more from RoTK 10 in terms of Events/quests/immersion. In 10 you could be one army amongst many. But 13 is definitely more like its antecedent 12. A rather simple battle focused game with some campaign strategy facilitating said battles and a thin veil of rpg simulation to offer ambience.

Overall Score: 3/10.

(For reference) RoTK 8: 10/10 (at that time)

RoTK 9: 9/10 (turn based multiplayer)

RoTK 10: 6/10 (poor ai and battle - though this was my favorite of the series due to the rpg factor)

RoTK 11: 9/10 (great replayability and multiplayer, yeah the ai wasn't the greatest, but alot of unique features introduced in 11, such as buildings and tech trees)

RoTK 12: 2/10 (I loved the semi real time battle. But this was a cellphone game, not a pc game)

Older RoTKs: ? (I don't remember anymore.)



Edit: monsterfurby presented a video that showcased an immersive battle where you can be one unit in a larger army. I have not had this experience yet.. But I will keep an eye out.

[Nox]

Your review 0/10

[moe]

yes, 8 is my fav as well, but go back and checkout 5. The music and battle system is my fav of the series.

[MianBaoFren]

i can only say that the biggest failure of the game is the lack of content and things to do. everything feels so automated.

as for the real time combat, i really liked the idea. previous versions which were turn based suffered from major focus fire from ranged units without much retaliation from the unit. but i hate the introduction of hero specific skills that can be triggered based on the resource bar. that introduction was what made 12 bad in that u dun stand a chance against lu bu even with superior tactics.

they should have changed the combat combining the ideas from 11 and 12 by allowing the defender to be able to build traps/towers or even ambushes. that alone will make combat more interesting and unpredictable. combat in 13 is just a human wave.

[monsterfurby]

As I posted elsewhere, the LP I watched doesn't seem to support your statement that the player controls the entire army. The LPer there could only control their own unit as an officer, with the AI controlling all others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7gdgso-X78

[JaceX]

I honestly haven't had that experience yet in my tests. I've only been given command of the entire army. In one case when I was a third tier in an army of first and second tiers (and our faction leader). And in another when I was a very low rank (I forget), and there was two tier 5 officers with higher war and leadership. I have not experienced the battle scenario your video showcases, but I am eager to encounter it.

[Tank of Tiananmen Square]

I think it might be due to the difficulty setting or something.

[NOT FUFUFAFA]

Originally posted by Nox:

Your review 0/10

Your post -9999/0

[red.rosetea]

my review poor because even do they realise the game on steam they should of included english text and the option to switch the language to english

[prusswan]

7 had a better rpg element, but the best is still TK5 with card system