Getting Started in Koei Strategy Games

[etch]

What are the differences between Nobunaga's Ambition and ROTK and is XIV a good one to start with in ROTK and gives a complete overall experience? And what is a good complete overall experience to start with for Nobunaga's Ambition?

[Roundpixel]

If you have already played rotk XI, then you know almost everything you need. If not, this game has a steep learning curve, and the manual and Youtube moves are not clear about some advanced features like districts (called "divisions" here). which rotk is best depends on whether you prefer role-playing an officer (like in XIII) or playing a conquest game (rotk XIV).

I prefer rotk XIV, but that is my own taste. Nobunaka's ambition is a different game, and comparisons are difficult.

[Caprontos]

Well NA and ROTK are different time periods but otherwise pretty similar in style. Also if you don't know PUK = power up kit, which is basically just the words they use for DLC (though is more like an expansion pack).

Every ROTK and NA game is a bit different because KOEI does a new thing each game (core gameplay is the same but how they go about it is different, for better or worse). So if you like one you can like all of them but there will always be pros and cons with how they chose to do things.

Then there is two types, one where you control the game as a faction and one where you control it through a single officer.

NA: Sphere of Influence is a good game to start with if you like faction play and prefer Japanese to Chinese history. The domestic mechanics in the game are very good but the battle mechanics I found pretty bad.

ROTK 13 is a good if you want officer play/prefer Chinese history (though only if you get it with the PUK). It has more to do outside building up and expanding compared to ROTK 14 but depending on who your playing you have more or less control over things. Domestics in this game is simpler then NA:SoI but the battle system is much better.


I think ROTK 14 has less going on then NA:SoI but is still a good game (does what I expect it to anyways). Like KOEI tends to do, the game will be improved with a PUK later (From what I read after the DLC is all released a PUK will be). But do try the demo before it's gone. An it's domestics are very set and forget. The battle mechanics are either very good or very bad depending on your tastes.


There is also a cheap (and often on sale) indie ROTK game called "Three Kingdoms: The Last Warlord" - which is imo pretty good (though unfinished) game.

[Gray Riders]

Definitely try the demo for this game first--it's design is very "love it or hate it".

I also get a decent amount of random crashes despite the game otherwise running smoothly, but it doesn't seem like everyone has that problem.