Okay, it’s not that simple, but you get the idea. Dynasty Tactics has many elements of Koei’s multiple Three Kingdom titles resurrected in one game. Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Sun Ce and many other familiar characters make their appearances here and quite a few of the cinemas look eerily similar to Kessen's. The game mechanics, however, are far different from the real-time strategy that Kessen employs. The strategy map portion of Dynasty Tactics looks frighteningly like most Romance of the Three Kingdoms games. Therein lies one of the greater weaknesses of the game that will be discussed later.

Initially, this title might be intimidating, especially for those unfamiliar with its predecessors. The combo system employed here is very difficult to master and vital to obtaining victory in even the early scenarios. Each character has specific strengths and abilities (called Tactics) that are usable when specific conditions are met. These include but are not limited to units (friendly or foe) being adjacent or morale being high enough. Generally speaking, you can use each of these once and if the battle continues long enough some will be recharged.

Tactics can be used to combat the enemy in a variety of ways. For example, you can demoralize them with “Awe” or you can “Raid” them, which will lower their troop count. Once the soldier count reaches zero a unit (General) is eliminated from the field of battle. Tactics can also be used to help your units by raising their morale or by other means, such as the command “Aid,” which allows your unit to attack when an enemy is adjacent to a friendly General. Certain tactics are specific to each character within your army. As each character advances in level and battlefield experience, more of these special traits are available to each. When specific conditions are met, multiple characters can set off chains of tactics called “combos” that are particularly devastating to your opponents, depending on your level.

To illustrate, attacking a unit with “Repel” will force it back one square on the field map. If the unit that you attacked is now adjacent to another unit with an available tactic that hasn’t been used, the action can trigger that tactic and magnify its intensity, because it’s part of a combo. Furthermore, this can continue if the unit is adjacent to a third or even fourth friendly with an available tactic. There have been some criticisms that this requires too much of your cerebrum, but the truth of the matter is that you don’t have to employ three- and four-level combos to win any scenarios. Sure it helps your odds of being victorious, but it’s hardly necessary to achieve victory.

Furthermore, every combo is clearly outlined in the manual and the conditions for each are also detailed. Considering there aren’t any time limitations on your turns, you can certainly refer to the instructions while calculating your moves. If that’s too much for you, then you’re either too lazy to do it or don’t care enough about learning the game - hardly a criticism I’d consider valid. If you refuse to learn the different moves that a Bishop can make in chess, does that make chess a bad game? I think not. Equally, Koei isn’t falsely advertising anything here. The packaging clearly states that it’s a tactical simulation, so if that’s not your bag then I’d suggest the obvious: avoid it.

The non-combative portion of the game involves envoys, forming and disbanding armies, troop movement, and certain pivotal decisions in the game. The strategy here is very limited compared to titles in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series and shouldn’t even be compared to them. In this phase, you can spy on enemies to get an idea of their strength and you can place spies within enemy confines to aid you should you attack that position. The envoys can also help recruit troops and forge alliances. Forming armies is useful when you need to remove weakened troops from your main fighting units and for tailoring specific armies to fight specific battles. In a few scenarios, you are given a choice to attack either here or there and the story will be adjusted depending on which you choose. Again, Dynasty Tactics is more about each individual confrontation more than it is about diplomatic strategy. Anyone expecting another Romance game should reconsider.

As engaging and time consuming as this can get, it’s very well designed for the most part. There are a few points that you have to take issue with, however. Once you’ve mastered the mechanics of the title there is little to stand in your way of achieving victory in every scenario. That said, if it were more difficult in its early stages, many would no doubt be discouraged and cast it aside. In essence, a difficulty setting would certainly be a welcome addition to the game and is noticeably absent.

Another point of contention is the inclusion of a few tactics that can alter the course of the entire battle when employed. Two in particular are “Taunt” and “Pit,” which can draw your opponents from across the entire battlefield to the midst of the bulk of your forces. This is particularly cheap because your forces can be drawn well beyond their normal movement limitations. It's also doubly troubling for its lack of realism and further for the fact that such units are nearly impossible to save because your troops don’t have the ability to move that far. The “Pit” is even worse because it’s animated as a huge hole that cavalry and infantry are mindlessly running into without reservation.

Visually, the game serves up par-for-the-course strategy game graphics. The cinemas are outstanding, as usual. Unfortunately, in-game animation can’t be turned off, so it can become a bit tedious to see the same visuals over and over each time a particular tactic is used. They are short enough, however, that they don’t push you over the edge. If you’re expecting mind blowing visuals, you’re in the wrong place, but strategy fans won’t be disappointed.

There are three main characters and scenarios that you can choose, with each having multiple endings. Considering the time investment that you have to make in each scenario, this game can keep you coming back for more for a considerably long time. Fans of Iron Storm, any of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Panzer General, Dragon Force, etc. won’t be disappointed with this or the mental investment that you’ll have to make to truly enjoy it.

· · · Haohmaru