Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny

The joy of RTK III is about watching numbers grow (for example, at harvest time) and shrink (when you knock off enemy soldiers). If you have a mind for it, it's great fun. However, first-time Koei gamers should probably go for easier to digest SNES fare such as Gemfire or even Genghis Khan II. If you're already Koei crazy, you can't help yourself --- you'll love Romance.

The Mongols did it, but that was a long time ago. Now it's your turn to conquer all of China in Romance of the Three Kingdoms III, KOEI's latest simulation of diplomacy, economics, and war.

Also, another plus for this game is the interesting battle system which more or less repeats itself in most of KOEI's games. It’s hard to describe, but it’s rather simple to understand. The good thing is that while the game is realistic, it isn’t all that complicated, which is where I think its greatness lies. I can think of only one downside, and that is the AI, which can be a little dumb ... but is more or less OK. So, how good is the game? It's excellent! A real classic, very well-balanced and very replayable. I give it 4 out of 5.

Guide your monarch-in-the-making to success by cultivating crops and training soldiers, thereby increasing your wealth and strength. And don't forget about defection, exile, rebellion, and loyalty - all factors in your reign.

Another in-depth strategy game in the vein of Genghis Khan and the like. The Eight-player option is very nice and the graphics are a nice complement. History fans will definitely want to check out some of these scenarios.