Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII

"Better graphics mean better gameplay?"

Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII is a good game. It has many of the RPG features that VII introduced and gives you a more 'personal' experience with the new buddy system. However minor set backs prevent this game from being a true classic...

1) Council sessions... Not a good thing at all. You must wait three months before any war action may be taken, including draft. This perhaps the most annoying feature of the game.

2) What happen to the Tournament of Champions? Or the Poetry Contest? Anyone who has played the game for hours (and I mean HOURS) knows that gameplay can be quite repetative. The tournaments added a break for gamers and gave them an objective apon objectives. This was another sad set back.

3) Graphics have improved... for the most part. LOTS of color has been added, esp. to the battle sceens. However battles have become crowded and eye crampers as teams cram in as many officers as your PS2 can display. Giving your officer limited options esp. if AI is on. Don't hope to be a front line hero, because those come by the dozens.

4) AI is just pathetic. The computer is decent at setting up defensive tactics (which I still have this feeling in the back of my throat that it's a random process) but awful at anticipating terrain compatibalities (Cavalry on water, arhcers swordfighting cavalry) and offensive tactics. It's like fighting the same battle a hundred times over.

5) Music I believe has been an issue for the ROTK series. KOEI has attempted to add variety with this one, which is nice and an improve of the repative cling cling your hear in its predacessors. When you enter a battle, depending apon the region your in, the music speeds up and adds a dramatic effect. However, even with variety, it's hard to add a music soundtrack that will satisify the players...listeners...viewers...pedestrains...w/e. ROTK8 attempted... but in my opinion has still not pulled players in with dynamic sound.

6) But perhaps one of the biggest upsets thus far is just the mere fact that it's not online compatable. Yes I'm asking readers to stretch their imaginations a bit, but just think. How cool would it be to create a character and have him live a life of Romance and War under the command of 'Smart AI' (Yes I dare say SMART AI). You could expand your kingdoms to the corners of Rome, or to the villages of the Anglo Saxons. Fighting off barbarian raiders as maintain your own boarders while campaigning for the REST OF THE WORLD!!! sorry I got carried away.

7) Yes... Romance has set backs, and I could continue to list several more but I love the series to much to slander its name any longer. It's a highly addictive game, and full of potentail, but I feel KOEI let us all down with this huge heartbreaker. If you want a ROTK experience, just buy VII for a cheaper price. You'll thank me in the long run.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 01/13/04