Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

If you don't mind a quite challenging learning curve, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a great option for those who want to enjoy this genre on consoles. There aren't too many additions, but the game is very solid and engaging.

If you’re looking for something that’s a bit more mild as far as mechanics, but not necessarily as battle focused as Dynasty Warriors from the same studio, I would actually recommend Samurai Warriors 4: Empires which takes aspects from both franchises. But if you do want a fully thought focused war simulation game that will make you question every move and have noticeable future consequences set in a historically accurate Asian period, RTK13 is the only valid choice currently available.

It’s not for everyone. The action can be overtly simplified at times especially compared to earlier entries in the series. The game also struggles at times with its pacing, controls, and framerate. Still, I applaud Koei Tecmo for doing an impressive job in delivering a competent strategy gaming experience on the console.

There isn't much competition, but this is still the best strategy game on the PS4.

Beneath an amazingly intimidating shell, lies an amazingly complex, deep and satisfying strategy game. Few gamers will pass the first, really hard impact, but those few will be engaged and excited, and, eventually, happy.

While strategically deep; pacing and control issues prevent this game from being fantastic.

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.

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 graphics engine is not enough to keep the game running perfectly.

While it's complexities edge a tad too close to convolution at times, 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII' was a great time once I wrapped my head around it all. The steps towards accessibility, while far from perfect, definitely make this the most user-friendly entry in the series, and the amount of options available to players is hugely appreciated.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is an old school strategic game hard to play on PlayStation 4 due to its complex interface. If you'll manage to survive the dull first impression, though, you'll find a deep and interesting game.

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 most certainly not for everyone.

Using full 3D models and a real-time system, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII’s combat boils down to a numbers game more than strategy.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII brings historical authenticity to life with real world locations, figures, and events.

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.

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.

The new mechanics that the developer tried to add to the mix end up making everything much less fun than they might have seemed conceptually. Adding this with the historical parts of the game makes it feel like a lot of the player’s agency has been taken away.

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.

I played on the PS4, which most definitely added to my frustration. The beginning is especially overwhelming as the menu options are so dull and dense. There's just too much text to read on my HDTV. (On a PC, I assume with the screen up close, it's not a big deal.) RTSs are often not suited for consoles, and this is sadly one such example.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII only looks good on paper, with its historical setting and many things to do. In practice, however, it is just the most boring strategic game to play, afflicted with an unstable frame-rate and audio bugs.