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The Dragon sheds his skin

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 28 / 32
Date: February 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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.

Hardcore!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 17 / 19
Date: April 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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!

Old school & new concepts

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: March 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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.

Not so great...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: June 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

...but I must confess that I can't put much stock into a reviewer who took this back to get "The Suffering". I mean, are there two more different games?
However, I do agree with some of his sentiment. I think that KOEI tinkered with this series, and their changes leave me a bit baffled. Think of this as RTK stripped down. No more can you play as any character appearing in the book "Three Kingdoms"; you are now confined to play as a ruler again, harking back to RTK4 (which, incidentally, I love).
The problem with this game is resource management. The computer takes every opportunity to attack you, no questions asked. There is little diplomacy from their side; they seem indifferent to the fact that you could just as easily win battles as lose them. Any decent player will see through the tactics in a matter of a game or two, and this is bad, in my opinion. RTK VII suffered from a similar malady (in that you could essentially make your army indestructible by waiting until they attack, allowing them to take four supply depots, and finally sweeping behind them and cut their lines, drastically reducing morale). While the pattern is not the same here, it is similarly easy to wipe out the computer with good use of tactics. One perk, though, is there are many bonuses to be had by destroying the computer with a certain flair.
Also, there are some interesting additions. Most notably is the inclusion of "mini-missions" of sorts. I found some of these to be quite challenging. Many are hidden, which means you must fulfill certain requirements to open them. Probably the best change to the ruler scenarios is the real-time in which the armies move. I always found it silly in the RTK series that armies moved across China in one month, no matter how far apart the provinces travelled were. In the new installment, armies take time to move, and the further they move, the longer it takes. This is the one change that injects some realism into the game.
All in all, a pretty enjoyable title, but I doubt it will satisfy the hardcore fans. This isn't as good as RTKVIII and it certainly isn't as good as RTKIV. Have fun!

Possibly the Most Addicting Game Ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: August 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Anyone who thinks this game is boring or something to that degree has obviously not read the book. Romance of the Three Kingdoms IX is easily the most involving, deep and fufilling Romance yet. You start out in the fashion every ROTK and DW does, duking it out in the midst of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. If by chance you have naught the knowledge of this history event, this is the jist of it. In the year 184, the followers of a religious group known as the Way of Peace, was led by their leader Zhang Jiao into battle against the Han Dynasty and He Jin as a revolt against their corrupt ways. You can be Zhang Jiao, you can be He Jin, or you can be both. In fact, you can even make your own, original troop with created officers. Regarless, you feel more like a semi-god than the commander, considering you order all officers at all times, including the commander of your forces.

If you choose Zhang Jiao for this first feud, you're in for a pleasent surprise, your troops greatly outnumber the Han's. If you choose He Jin however, you also have an advanatage but in a different category- officer. With such elite officers as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Sun Jian, and Cao Cao you may find that as the edge to push you past the superior numbers of the Turbans. Defeat your opponent, whoever they may be, and you win.

Still, throwing a mad-rush and your opponent just won't do if you want to unify China. Draft soldiers to encrease the power of your army, but try only to draft the needed amount or a bit more- it negatively affects you repute. Then, be sure to work up your farming and trade, as well as patrol the city as frequently as possible. If you have rather few cities, it may also be a good idea to purchase food whenever the oppurtunity present itself. Then, if you have excess officers, search around the city with them; there never should be an inactive officer, or, at least there should never be nothing for them to do. Whether you do it or not is your gain or loss. And all that I just said; merely a snapshot of the incredible and involving depth of this game.

Even if you haven't read the book, if you're just looking for an exceptional strategy game this is one of the best. People may have qualms about the graphics, which are far from up to date, but as you play you realize the graphics are easily good enough, and notice the finer points of the games appearence, such as the beautifully drawn officer portraits. For any strategy fan, definately buy this game; even if you haven't read the book or don't know a thing about Chinese history. Though there's something extra knowing you're reliving history, your way.

The Imperial Emperor only has this to say...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: January 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor dampened, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue... In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

I have only played RTK 7,8, and 9. Out of the three, I enjoy playing this game the most. Why? you may ask, here's why:
1. You can load created characters from RTK 8 and have stats of 100!!! (You can then change the name if desired.)
2. You can have up to 100 created characters in one city to begin with.
3. AI is more difficult
4. Easy to understand tuturial and manual.
That's my top three reasons for this game. I have read many articles relating to this game and have found out so much information about this game, so I have decided to write a story about it. I havent read the book yet. Whenever I have enough time to read over 12000 pages, I'll do it.
I do have a questions that I'm hoping someone will answer.
1. How do you use the "Heal tactic"?
2. Which of the foriegn tribes are the easiest to beat and how?
3. Is it possible to employ Cao Cao?
Basically that's about all the information I can provide. This is my first review, so I hope it helps someone. I do recommend this game to any statedgy lover and all RTK fans (both beginners and vets)
If there is anyone interested in reading what I have writng so far, I will be more than happy to send a copy.
My e-mail address is tashunkawitco@hotmail.com (serious inquirers only)

Lovin It

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I loved this game. The create an officer adds the ability to make the game as easy or hard as you want if you start your own country. Everyone who likes Turn Bases strategy games should buy this.

Koei's dramatic return to it's roots...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms series has always been a staple in my video game collection. Ever since when the first Romance captured the essence of novel for the first time to today Koei has been pumping out a new version about every 2 years. RTK 9 is arguably the greatest version of the game released and here's why.

Since RTK 1-6 Koei has always stuck with the option of playing as the ruler in the game while adding better graphics, battle tactics and maps and various forms of military strategy with the game. When they released RTK 7 Koei decided to allow players the option of play as any character in the game, while an amusing experiment it doesn't work for a variety of reasons. If you choose to play as anyone other than the ruler, you'll find the game never progresses. The AI is not competent enough to use you when going to war or to go to war to begin with. They continued to try this route with RTK 8 and while it made some improvements to battle design and graphics it still suffered for a very slow and uninvolving game.

When RTK 9 was released we were presented with a true return to Koei's routes of ruler playing alone however adding more real time strategy to the battles. Before, with the exception of RTK 6, most battles were turn based. Here you have battles that take a few turns to even get started, your units need time to reach their destination. This gives defenders an opportunity to build up before fielding units and therefore gives the game it's true essence, replayability. No game is the same. Depending on the course of battles and who rises to power (especially mulitplayer) this is a game that can be revisited over and over! Players are also challenged by several foreign tribes in their attempt to conquer the country, a feature not included since RTK 6. Battle tactics and unit formations also enrich the experience with such intriguing designs like tower and elephant units. Tactics like Onslaught, Flying and Arrowstorm can help turn the tide of battle quickly, but it relies heavily on your ability to use your officers effectively. The battles are highly detailed and complex. Again it's all about replayability.

Koei has basically designed the ultimate strategy battle game for the series. Fans of games like Civilization and Starcraft will appreciate the interface and city development. If your looking for a more roleplaying game I suggest either RTK 8 (possibly RTK 10). Overall though neither game has the replayability factor and if your looking for the most bang for the buck in the series, this game is it.

I'm not sure what they are doing...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 9
Date: December 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I will begin by saying I own every game in this series and have beat them all except this one, if you create your own leader and appoint him officers with 99 for every ability you will still get slammed over and over again by the barbarians they attack far to offen and make it impossible to build up your army, you start with roughly 7,ooo men, they start with 3oo,ooo, fair huh? Did i mention that if you defeat their units in the field you CAN'T capture there officers so thety simply suddenly appear back at there castle reload and come right back out, they should have given an option to play without them cause it seroiusly takes away from winning a battle gaining no prisoners, or winning a duel and having the officer suddenly start marching 20,ooo more men at you the next turn, the other regular cities are beatable but as far as i can tell the barbarian require cheating or unlimited man power or a miracle. i can tell in 30 or so hours is that the barbarians only attack YOU never the other cities. I tried creating my city far from them and rather than attack the several cities occupied next to them they march half way across CHINA!!! to attack me and i never even had any dialog or dealing to draw there anger, someone explain that to me... well good luck cause your gonna need it.

Great!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: May 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I was never a fan of deep strategy games, but this game had me playing it every day. The gameplay is a lot of fun and the graphics are very good. Having a huge army couldn't be more fun. There are a lot of nice strategies and plots. The only thing that bothers me is that it takes long to get your units somewhere. But that's realistic. Everything else is great. I suggest trying this game.

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