Cao Cao (155-220 A.D.): “I would
rather betray the world than watch idly as the world betrays me.”
The time is roughly 1,800 years ago,
in the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Three warlords stand poised to
take on the world that they know and reunify a country.
Sun Quan (182-252 A.D.): “A saint
once said: ‘Think of death while living, notice danger while safe.’ This remains
good advice.”
Do you have what it takes to manage a
society, prepare for battle, then beat the other warlords through your
shrewdness, combat mentality and resource management?
Liu Bel (161-223 A.D.): “ ‘Sleeping
Dragon and Young Phoenix,’ with one you can conquer the world. I have two of
them. It is time to revive the Han Dynasty.”
Dragon Throne: Battle of Red Cliffs is
the successor to Fate of the Dragon, a real-time software game from Object
Software. Dragon Throne, which is published by Strategy First, takes snippets of
actual events of Chinese history, then challenges players to meet the same
obstacles and attempt to achieve the same goals as the historical figures
depicted in this game.
Players can take on the role of one of
three warlords (those quoted above), and not only control their individual
kingdoms but perhaps extend beyond their sphere of influence and control on a
grander scale.
The preview version of this game had
some stability problems, and some graphical flaws, but enough of the program was
in place to give a real sense of what this game will present.
A rich musical score backs strong
three-dimensional graphical elements. But if not for the strict adherence to a
certain time period, rather than bouncing all over the time scale, then this
game could well be Age of Empires or Civilization. Not that patterning after
either of those is a bad thing; it is just there is too much semblance to them.
The game is viewed from the clouds, and as you gaze upon the wonderfully
detailed environment, you realize you have seen many of the same elements – like
the eagles flying overhead –in this game that have appeared in others.
Some of the factors in this game, when
released at the end of the month, will be a multi-map system (a click and you
can direct troops around the huge game board), several management factors (such
as Domestic Policies, Diplomacy, Science, and Trade), a tech tree (you research
up to 100 technological advancements for your society), as well as enabling
warriors to choose from more than 40 skills.
A unique feature is the
profession-transference system. You create laborers, turn them into sergeants in
the military, but when not taking part in a military campaign, these sergeants
perform their laborer’s duties.
While there are three individual
campaigns available in the final version, the beta only had two training
missions (the tutorial is rather long), two skirmishes and the Liu Bel campaign.
As mentioned, this game follows a
pattern long established by other RTS programs. You must have laborers to do the
dirty work, and you can create them at the Ceremonial Arch. They collect the
resources that enable game players to build up the society. You can choose the
diplomatic path to a harmonious reunification, or you can cut to the chase,
create a vast army and march on the neighboring warlords.
Despite the fact that this preview did
not include a manual, the control elements are fairly standard to the genre. If
you have played an RTS before, you will be able to jump into this game.
The graphics also had minor
disruption; either that or the skies between the player viewpoint and the ground
were constantly harangued by swarms of white moths. Doubtless that will be
cleared up by the final release, and when done, this game will definitely treat
players to a richly detailed world. Subtitles were the only way to determine
what was required in a scenario due to the game narration solely in Chinese.
The musical score, as mentioned, is
superb. The other sounds are crisp but also standard to the genre.
By focusing on one rich period in
Chinese history, this game will bring a depth and clarity to the turbulent
times. Dragon Throne: Battle of Red Cliffs, while not offering a lot that is
new, will nonetheless be a strong RTS game, and one that newcomers to the genre,
and some veterans will enjoy.
