Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13 Reviews
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a good RTS, but there’s plenty to learn that may put off those looking for a shorter and snappier experience.
Perhaps Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII's most lasting achievement will be once again proving that strategy games can work on consoles. And though it doesn't quite make the case for console strategy ever really being as good as PC-based efforts, the game is worth trying for anyone who can let their historical curiosity overcome their need for visual and interface flair.
Strategy aficionados will look on approvingly as fans of the series rejoice. It’s certainly not a game for everyone, yet those who find themselves hooked by Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII will struggle to break free of its hold. The fact that it plays so well on console as well as on PC shows that Koei is capable of more than mindless button bashers.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a very complete strategy videogame that features an absolute control over the elements such as the battles or the alliances. However, its graphic engine is not enough to keep the game running perfectly.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The bottom line: Do you only have a PS4 instead of a PC? Do you still miss old-timey mechanics in RTSs? And hey, who doesn't love the tale of the Three Kingdoms, right? Sometimes things should be left in the nostalgia of our minds than in our hands, but what do I know, I love No Age.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII undoubtedly has a cult, niche following, as games don’t usually receive that many sequels without such a following. However, this is one niche that is as obscure for newcomers as it is deep, and it’s certainly an instance where real-time strategy simply does not fit on the console with a controller. If you’re a fan of this series, save yourself from grief and pick it up on PC.
A clone of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence with controls optimized for the PC and not the PS4. ROTK13 lacks any of the basic macro and combat strategy fundamentals of previous titles, making this a sequel in name only. If you liked Sphere of Influence then you’ll enjoy this title too. But for those who waited for an ROTK game, keep waiting.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a decent game that simply tries too much. Mixing role playing and strategy aspects, though never the best at either, there's a lot to do. The other major issue is simply how ugly it looks outside of the drawn art.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is most certainly not for everyone. I was thinking it wasn’t going to be for me either, but after making a conscience decision to actually learn how to play the game, I found myself having a rather enjoyable time. Granted, there are a fair share of issues with the controls and frame rate, but all in all, I think strategy fans can get a lot of enjoyment out of this newest entry in the long running franchise, but keep in mind, you’re going to need a lot of patience to play this one.
I went from watching these same historical figures in Dynasty Warriors fight hordes of enemies with huge sweeping attacks, to watching them have polite debates and be sneaky little politicians.
It would be unfair to dismiss Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII as yet another niche instalment in Koei's ageing series of war sims. There is real depth to city management and a refined complexity to the relationship system, bolstered by a welcome sense of fun. Some minor technical issues mar the battle scenes, but this is such a solid package overall that it's hard to grumble. There isn't much competition, but this is still the best strategy game on the PS4.
Koei does an unrivalled job representing the complex history and characters of the period, but the lack of variety in the experience combined with a steep price tag makes it hard to endorse without reservation.Sean Martin
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is the umpteenth demonstration of the unfortunate union between gamepad and strategic games. The developers have thought of a great product, with many potentialities on paper. The title is destroyed by the bad mapping of controls and a not so impressive technical realization.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Romance of the Three Kingdoms seems to want to welcome newcomers with its Hero Mode, but will easily turn them away with its convoluted interface and lackluster set of tutorials.
It’s not for everyone, and the action can be overtly simplified at times, but Koei Tecmo crafted an incredibly addictive experience.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is not a very accessible game, but if you manage to get into it, you’ll enjoy it a great deal.
Chinese Warring States period for the 13th time offers new experiences. Politics, economy and military operations makes this complex strategic game, where you can unite China on your own terms.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV still carries the hard tradition of strategic games on console. The game gives a great deal both on personalization and historical context, and tries to recover a more traditional conception, giving a better result on commanding in a strategic gameplay with a gamepad, instead of a mouse. However, even if the satisfaction of conquering and well-administrating land it's undeniable, this search for tradition pushes the game further towards only a specialized niche of public.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV is the most sophisticated one in the whole series. It not only follows the "easy to start, hard to master" formula but also identifies a lot of innovative gameplay.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
For anyone who is interested in playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, it is hard to recommend.