OpenCritic
Steam
The remake of a popular 2003 turn-based strategy by Koei Tecmo. Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake has us playing as the leader of a dynasty, warring against others to unite China under their rule.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a new version of a popular 2003 strategy game for the PlayStation 2. Just like the ROTTK series. It was released on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and the PC, directed by Kou Shibusawa.
Plot
The game is set in ancient China, where three dynasties - Wu, Wei and Shu - fight for political and military dominance. We play as one of the leaders desiring to unite the land under their rule. Our choices will determine whether we'll achieve this goal.
The game includes various scenarios, some fictional, some based on actual Chinese history. We'll learn about real events that influenced the nation's development or embark on a completely new path, creating an alternate timeline.
Mechanics
The remake includes not only the content from the base game and the Power Up Kit version, but also some entirely new features. The game is turn-based, each turn being an in-game month, during which we take actions to strengthen our military and economic position. We can expand our army, send our spies or grant gifts to other rulers.
The new release includes many different scenarios, each with a different beginning, economic situation and city locations. The game features over 700 characters with differing ranks, abilities and political views, from which we can choose our officers.
Technical aspects
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake features colorful visuals, combining 2D and 3D elements.
Videos and Screens
[1:22] Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake Launch Trailer
[3:16] Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake - Second Trailer - TGS 2024
DualShockers: 5 / 10 by Austin Conrad
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake very much feels like a 2000s game, which has been respectfully updated with improved presentation. Unfortunately, its gameplay has not withstood the test of time. Built upon an engaging turn-based gameplay loop, this game quickly becomes repetitive—even tedious—because it plays the same scenes over and over. Compared to the variety of events in modern grand strategy games, it's difficult to recommend this one. However, if you're a history enthusiast or a Dynasty Warriors fan curious about the strategy genre, this game may be for you.
Nindie Spotlight: 8 / 10 by Justin Nation
Consistently gorgeous and impressive on all fronts, but also unrepentantly deep so for newcomers there’ll be a learning curve
SteamDeckHQ: 3.5 / 5 by Noah Kupetsky
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a solid strategy game that feels like it may have needed some more modern enhancements. The team clearly wanted to stay faithful to the original, and I think that's awesome, but it ended up making the game feel a bit slow and repetitive. The mechanics do take a little bit of time to get into, but once you do, it gets a lot more enjoyable, and I had a blast trying to take over the map and use my own custom officers to try to take down Lu Bu and Yuan Shao. It runs pretty decently on the Steam Deck, with most of the text being very readable and having great controller . It does drain the battery more than I expected, but it's very playable, and I found this the best way to enjoy it, thanks to being able to suspend/resume the game whenever. It's a solid choice for strategy fans, and it will be awesome for those who loved the original, but it may be hard to digest for newer fans.
The main pros of the game
- Nostalgia and Aesthetic: Many players appreciate the nostalgic elements, including the updated graphics and the original music tracks. The game retains the charm of the original ROTK 8 while modernizing its presentation.
- Character and Relationship Focus: The new relationship system allows for deeper interactions between characters, making friendships and alliances more meaningful. Players can build relationships organically, which enhances the RPG elements.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduces the "Fates" system, allowing players to influence historical events and scenarios, leading to varied gameplay experiences. The turn-based combat system is preferred over the real-time mechanics of previous installments.
- Diverse Scenarios: A larger number of historical scenarios and events are included, providing players with various challenges and play styles.
- Customization: Players can create custom officers with more control over their skills and attributes, enhancing the RPG experience.
The main cons of the game
- AI Issues: The AI is frequently criticized for being overly ive and making poor strategic decisions, leading to a less engaging experience during battles and campaigns.
- Repetitive Gameplay: Many s noted that the gameplay can become monotonous over time, especially with the "Tales" system feeling repetitive and lacking variety.
- Simplification of Mechanics: Some fans of the original felt that the remake simplified many aspects of the gameplay, losing the depth and complexity that made the original ROTK 8 engaging.
- Lack of Multiplayer: The absence of multiplayer options, which were a highlight in previous games, disappointed many players who enjoyed the cooperative aspect of the original.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s
- Depth in Strategy: Players feel that the game lacks the strategic depth of earlier titles, particularly in of battle mechanics and the ability to manage multiple factions effectively.
- Historical Accuracy: Some reviews mentioned that the game does not maintain historical accuracy as well as previous installments, with events being overly reliant on player-triggered actions.
- Character Interaction: While the relationship system was praised, some felt that the interactions could be more varied and less formulaic, with a desire for more unique dialogue options and character development.
- Combat Mechanics: s expressed a desire for more balanced and complex combat mechanics, with specific mention of the dueling and debating systems feeling simplistic and lacking depth.
Summary
- Overall, while ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE has its strengths in nostalgia, character development, and improved graphics, it faces criticism for AI issues, repetitive gameplay, and a perceived loss of depth compared to its predecessor.
Summary generated on:
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake Summary
Game Series: Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 5
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Age restrictions: 12+
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (720p, 30 fps) Intel Core i5-4460, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon R7 370, 40 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit
Recommended: (1080p, 60 fps) Intel Core i7-7700K / AMD Ryzen 3 3100, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1660 / 8 GB Radeon Rx 590, 40 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit