Genghis Khan II

"Unleash Mongol Hordes!"

I believe this one of KOEI’s finest games! This overlooked gem is a fine example of historical simulation. This game has everything a history buff could ever ask for. I have three reasons why I believe this game warrants a purchase.

Story
The story is as good as it can be. This game is historically accurate; the people at KOEI must have hit the books on this one. A reason why I believe this is because the many civilizations across the medieval world are nicely represented with great detail. All the rulers of the time are here to try to achieve world domination. It is up to you to help them succeed, or to make them fade into history.

Graphics and Sound
If you plan on buying this game for graphics, run away now. For those of you still here, the graphics and sound are bearable. Some things that are good about the graphics are the neat little portraits of people when they speak. I also enjoy how the units look while in combat.

The sound can wear old after awhile, perhaps around the 18th hour strait. The music changes, however, depending on what part of the world you are attempting to conquer. Either it be jamming out to the energetic tunes of the Islam nations, or meditating to the calm beats of Japan, there is something for everybody.

Gameplay

The gameplay makes the game truly shine. Every element is well inspired and truly enjoyable. There are many tasks to do, and so many ways to execute them. It is possible for a master diplomat to win the game without fighting a single battle. Let us not forget Sun Tzu’s famous quote from the book “The Art of War”: One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful. Subduing the other’s military without battle is the most skillful.

There are several things one must keep track of if they wish to head up a successful empire. One of these is your family. If you wish to expand your empire, you need somebody to give it to. You will need a lot of children. Only princes may become generals or king. Daughters may marry generals under your command who are not family. Such strategic marriages will assure you that your new son in law will not start a rebellion.

The battle system is really fun. There are several historically accurate and diverse tools to drive your engine of war. And for all you sadistic warmongers, there is just something gratifying about trampling a light infantry with a war elephant that seems so unwholesome. From the samurai of Japan to the longbowmen of England, as well as the elephants in between, there is a favorite unit for everyone.

Those who don’t enjoy war; don’t feel left out. There are still many options open to you. You can play the world markets and become very rich. The two main currencies are gold and bread. Each country has a special product that they can make, like India’s spices or England’s textiles. These will be either really cheap or really expensive, depending on supply and demand.

In conclusion, I believe that if you enjoy history, this should be in your Sega Genesis right now. In fact, I am wasting precious gaming time to tell you about it. Enjoy world domination!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/03/03, Updated 03/03/03