Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dragon sheds his skin, February 26, 2004
I've been fan of this series since it first came out on the NES and since then KOEI has produced a great cult classic that has gained popularity over the years. With their lastest edition, they have made vast changes over the last two in the series. I really like the new map structure which is really more different than any of the previous games in the series. It's more realistic and shows movement, plus the ability to add structures outside the existing cities. They went back to their old formula where you can only play Rulers. While I really enjoyed playing all officers in parts VII and VIII, I'm happy to see the old formula back in action. The years have also been expanded, now instead of going month to month, the months are even split into 3 periods. The battle in the game has become more tactical and there are many added features. Though there are different formations and such, I felt that they simplified the war sequences which makes it more practical. All in all, I felt that KOEI really put together a great strategy sequel that is more different than any of the previous games but at the same time maintained the integrity of the series very well. If your a fan of the series, the changes are really refreshing and I'd really recommend picking this up. If you were a casual gamer of previous versions, I'm sure that you would enjoy this installment much more than any of the previous also. But if you're new to the series, I'll just say, it's not for everyone. If you tend to only like action-oriented games and visual eye-candy, then this is definately not your game. If your interested in "turn-based" historical simulations that are heavily strategic, both on the battlefield and domesticly, then this would be something of interest.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hardcore!, April 6, 2004
First off, I was surprised this game came out already. It seems like only yesterday that I was getting into Romance of the three kingdoms VIII. I loved Romance VII and VIII for their ability to see the world through the eyes of a specific officer, which enabled you to have many different kinds of game experiences. This game however has chucked all that out the window. It's as if the series is trying to return to it's roots. You can only play as the ruler. Furthermore, if your forces are defeated the game is over. That's a drag. In the previous two games you could still continue to play even if you were defeated,as a ronin or a common officer. There's nothing more annoying than playing with a group of people and getting eliminated early on and then having to watch every one else not suck like you just did. I only mention this because this game is hard and it is easy for your kingdom to come down with a bad case of dead. The computer is far more aggressive in attacking than in previous installments and will attack immediately if they even sense a weakness in your lines. Not only that, but they will actively send reinforcements from other cities. (Defeating Cao Cao in the later scenarios is quite the task indeed.)The most annoying thing about the game however are the barbarian tribes. They add another degree of difficulty to the mix. I could do without them, that's for sure. On the positive side,thestats have been simplified greatly. Instead of having gold and food supplies for each individual city you have a lump sum of gold and food to distribute as you see fit. This is good because you don't have to worry about transporting gold and food constantly throughout the game. The combat is fun as well, if hard and it is satisfying when you actually win a battle. Defeating Gongsun Zan never felt so good! In summary this game is a great game despite its difficulty and hardcore nature but I still prefer 7 and 8. It's the most realistic strategy game out there. I think I'll subtract one half star for the difficulty, another half star for the barbarians. Can't stand 'em! Can't stand 'em!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old school & new concepts, March 10, 2004
RoTK IX breathes life back into the series. Instead of making an upgrade from RoTK VIII, KOEI took a lot of things from the older installments and introduces a new battle system and map.
Keeping role-playing to a bare minimum, RoTK IX is full of action and battle.
City management is made easy and direct, the results can be seen right away, and money and supplies are managed through one source, keeping the amount of time spent on city management to a minimum.
Most of the time will be spent fighting off your enemies, taking new territory and defending against barbarian tribes. With different formations, new tactics, and real-time combat the game is very fast paced and enjoyable.
The game difficulty has gone up considerably. The challenge campgains can be very hard, which is very refreshing for long time fans of the series. For novice players, the game might be too difficult, but for veteran players, this title is an absolute must-have.
It's hard to judge whether or not this is the best in the series, but to me it is certainly the best since RoTK IV, which I played into oblivion.
I would recommend this title for any strategy lover or Three Kingdoms fan. More gratifying and intense than Dynasty Warriors or Dynasty Tactics, this game is truly one of the best in its class.
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