Dynasty Tactics

by KOEI

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006AVAY
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 10, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,894 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #18 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Strategy
  • #36 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Role-Playing

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The mind shall vanquish the sword. The makers of the Dynasty Warriors series present a new take on tactical simulation. Dynasty Tactics is the third variation on the Three Kingdoms theme. It features the cinematics of Kessen, the strategy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and the character designs of Dynasty Warriors, plus impressive 3-D graphics and devastating tactical combos to get dramatic lifelike battles.

Product Description

We offer an extensive selection of video games. Our new games are factory sealed. Our used games (MINT SEALED) are buffed & resealed (includes case, original artwork & game manual). We also offer PC games & accessories. You'll love our discounted shipping on multi-item purchases. We offer outstanding customer service & support. We have a no questions asked money back guarantee for 14 days after the purchase date.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Only people who use their heads need apply!, April 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dynasty Tactics (Video Game)

Enjoy Chess? You might like this game.
Enjoy planning and deciding on strategy? You might like this game.
Only want mindless slaughter that requires little to no thought? STAY - AWAY - FROM - THIS - GAME. This game is NOT Dynasty Warriors 3 or 4. This game is all about the tactics. Hence the name: Dynasty TACTICS.

You are a warlord in ancient China. You want to conquer China. Enemy warlords stand in your way. What do you do? CRUSH THEM UNDERFOOT LIKE THE DOGS THEY ARE, of course.

You organize armies made up of various generals who command troops. Each general's troops are like their hitpoints: once the troops are all gone, the general is defeated and limps off home, to organize more troops (recover HP) so that you can send them off to battle again.

You then send your armies made up of generals and their troops to various parts of China in order to complete objectives (that the game sets for you, unfortunately). When your armies meet enemy armies, BAM, a battle begins.

Battles consist of your generals (and their troops/hitpoints) facing off against enemy generals (w/ troops/hitpoints). The battlefield is a map divided up into a grid pattern. Depending on the types of units your generals command (which you can change only outside of battle) the units can only move so fast across certain kinds of terrain, certain units are better at attacking other types of units, (cavalry is strong against archers, but weak against pikemen, for example).

The meat of the battles is Tactics, though. No, not tactics, but Tactics. With a capital T. Tactics are special "moves" that each general knows. Rather than simply flat out attacking, Tactics allow you to attack, defend, move about the field, etc. much more powerfully and effectively. Its hard to explain, but....for example: Flank is a tactic that can only be used when your unit faces the side of an enemy unit, it damages the enemy unit, and forces the enemy unit forward one square. THEN, for example, you could have several units surrounding the square where the enemy arrives after being flanked, ready to execute even more tactics, like Pincer, Aid, Charge, Raid, etc. Tactics executed consecutively, which is to say one after another automatically, do more damage to the enemy.

The best way to beat the enemy and win the battle is to take out all their generals with chain-reaction tactics. Do something to one enemy unit that causes them to move where you want, right into an Ambush, a Fire Attack, a Volley attack, whatever, that causes them to move yet again into ANOTHER Ambush, maybe a Raid attack, a Charge attack, whatever. Simply Attacking is no good - it doesnt do enough damage, and leaves you open to enemy Tactics (the computer can do some mean combos).

In order to fully enjoy the game, hell, to even SURVIVE the battles to the end, you really, really, really, REALLY need to think. You need to plan. You need to strategize, conceptualize, prioritize, ponder, put on your thinking cap, deduce your enemy's plan, come up with your own, and TROUNCE the enemy, grind them under your heel with superior force, strategy, and tactics.

If you get stuck in this game, you can't just fight random battles until your characters get enough experience and levels to beat the Boss. This isn't your kiddy RPG. This game is TOUGH, and will eat you alive unless you use your head. But its FUN. I've spent many an hour grappling with the computer-controlled generals, struggling to win the battle. And, because its so difficult, when you DO win, its MUCH more satisfying than a lot of other games I could mention. <COUGH FFX COUGH>

Like the title says: Only people who use their heads need apply.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give this game some love!, October 8, 2002

By 

M. A Jenkins "southerndudeman" (Manhattan, KS) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dynasty Tactics (Video Game)

I have now run through KOEI's new "Dynasty Tactics" twice, and I can honestly say that this is the most solid offering the ALWAYS solid KOEI has ever delivered. As everyone (at least that is reading this review!) knows, KOEI is the maker of the fantastic RTK series, as well as the Dynasty Warriors games. Although the title of this closely resembles Dynasty Warriors, that is where the similarities end.
You have the option of playing the game as either Liu Bei, Cao Cao or Sun Ce, so from the beginning, you have three entirely separate gameplay options. Your goal in each case is to unify China through a series of Ogre Battle-like scenarios. The battles themselves are great fun, relying on so-called tactics to defeat your enemies. Although the ins and outs of this tactics system are difficult to explain here, in short, a player must use his brain to develop strategy in order to chain these tactics together for devastating combos.
This in itself would make for a great game, but the REAL surprise is after you beat one of the scenarios. Then you may view a history screen which shows all of the movies you unlocked during the game. The kicker, you say? You will have only unlocked about a sixth of all of the possible options! That's right; you have three scenarios to begin with, and each scenario has five or six different endings, which may be reached through fifteen or so different paths. KOEI, you have outdone yourself.
Again, this game is not for everyone: those expecting Dynasty Warriors, or ever RTK, will be disappointed. However, if you are a player who enjoyed Ogre Battle, Final Fantasy Tactics, or the like, you are in for a real treat here!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, but repetitive, October 31, 2003

By 

"doublecross" (Bangkok, Thailand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dynasty Tactics (Video Game)

Like the various iterations of the Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, this game is based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. Game mechanics-wise, however, this title bears little similarity to those other games. I can't think of a game that's remotely like this one. Ostensibly a tactical game (like Final Fantasy Tactics), your main goal in each battle is to position your troops in such a fashion as to unleash a successive number of special moves (tactics) on one or more opposing units.

The game requires a certain degree of patience to play effectively, and is probably not for more action-oriented gamers. For those who aren't bored by this type of game, there's a fair amount of replay potential thanks to the scenario system (somewhat similar to Onimusha 2). Each kingdom (Wu, Shu, and Wei) has 4 different scenario endings, which can vary greatly in terms of how much of China you end up with. However, battles can be repetitive, as they only really differ by terrain and the generals involved. Also, although not strictly necessary, trying to recruit as many generals as possible through the use of diplomats also tends to really slow down the game.

Overall, KOEI has developed a solid and relatively unique game which can use a little more variety during battles, and a little less trying to send diplomats all over China to recruit new generals. Hopefully some of these annoyances will be addressed in Dynasty Tactics 2.