Sangokushi Sousouden
Encyclopedia
Sangokushi Sousouden is the fifth release in the Eiketsuden tactical role-playing series developed by Koei, and the third to be set during the Three Kingdoms Era.
. The events are based upon those depicted in Luo Guanzhong
's historical dramatic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
. The novel, itself, is based upon the historical battles and events of the actual Three Kingdoms period of ancient China.
While Cao Cao is portrayed as a villain in the novel, he is actually the protagonist
of Sangokushi Sousouden. As such, the negative deeds attributed to Cao in the novel are either altered to depict him in a more positive light or simply removed entirely. Three prominent opposing characters in the novel, Liu Bei
, Zhuge Liang
and Sun Quan
, are Cao Cao's primary opponents in the game. The character portraits in this release are mostly enhanced, palette swapped re-creations of those used in the first Sangokushi Eiketsuden game. The sole exception is Cao Cao, who has a unique image design.
- and loosely following the events of the novel until eventually unifying China. The player commands multiple characters including Cao Cao and several of his most prominent generals during battle. These generals can be permanently killed during certain scenarios, although the player can opt to save them should he/she wish to do so. If the player does this, he/she will not receive the special weaponry and armour left behind by the character after death. Each character belongs to a certain unit class, such as cavalry
or infantry
, with varying strengths and weaknesses. Unlike previous installments of the series, it is not possible to change a unit class using special items, although upgrades for each class are available at levels 15 and 30. Characters are differentiated by their personal statistics
such as agility
, intelligence
, morale
, and strength
.
Each choice made by the player during gameplay affects a scale which tilts towards either "factual" or "fictional", depending on how the choices made affirm or contradict the events depicted in the novel. Although the "factual" line adheres more closely to the events, and the personality of Cao Cao in the novel than the "fictional" line, it is, nevertheless, highly inaccurate; also, unlike the game's two predecessor titles, there is no historical "bad" ending in Sangokushi Sousouden and Cao Cao survives the entire game through both story paths. The story will be altered following the Battle of Tong Pass
, and depending on the status of the scale, the game will follow the predetermined "factual" or "fictional" storylines, according to Cao Cao's personality.
The "factual" arc involves eliminating Liu Bei's Shu Han
and Sun Quan's Eastern Wu
, thus uniting China under Cao Cao's rule. The "fictional" arc involves Zhuge Liang
becoming possessed by a great evil who joins up with Zhou Yu to kill Liu Bei. One notable feature of this route is that Guan Yu
, sworn oath brother
of Liu Bei and enemy of Cao Cao, will permanently join Cao Cao's army to avenge Liu's death by killing Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang.
s for Sangokushi Sousouden, including a mod detailing the story of Song Dynasty
historical figure Yue Fei
.
Story
The game retells the exploits of the ancient Chinese warlord Cao CaoCao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
. The events are based upon those depicted in Luo Guanzhong
Luo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical dramatic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
. The novel, itself, is based upon the historical battles and events of the actual Three Kingdoms period of ancient China.
While Cao Cao is portrayed as a villain in the novel, he is actually the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of Sangokushi Sousouden. As such, the negative deeds attributed to Cao in the novel are either altered to depict him in a more positive light or simply removed entirely. Three prominent opposing characters in the novel, Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
and Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, are Cao Cao's primary opponents in the game. The character portraits in this release are mostly enhanced, palette swapped re-creations of those used in the first Sangokushi Eiketsuden game. The sole exception is Cao Cao, who has a unique image design.
Gameplay
The player controls Cao Cao's forces- beginning the game during the Yellow Turban RebellionYellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
- and loosely following the events of the novel until eventually unifying China. The player commands multiple characters including Cao Cao and several of his most prominent generals during battle. These generals can be permanently killed during certain scenarios, although the player can opt to save them should he/she wish to do so. If the player does this, he/she will not receive the special weaponry and armour left behind by the character after death. Each character belongs to a certain unit class, such as cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
or infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, with varying strengths and weaknesses. Unlike previous installments of the series, it is not possible to change a unit class using special items, although upgrades for each class are available at levels 15 and 30. Characters are differentiated by their personal statistics
Attribute (role-playing games)
An attribute is a piece of data that describes to what extent a fictional character in a role-playing game possesses a specific natural, in-born characteristic common to all characters in the game. That piece of data is usually an abstract number or, in some cases, a set of dice...
such as agility
Sport agility
Agility or nimbleness is the ability to change the body's position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, endurance and stamina....
, intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
, morale
Morale
Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a group, is an intangible term used to describe the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and others...
, and strength
Physical strength
Physical strength is the ability of a person or animal to exert force on physical objects using muscles. Increasing physical strength is the goal of strength training.-Overview:...
.
Each choice made by the player during gameplay affects a scale which tilts towards either "factual" or "fictional", depending on how the choices made affirm or contradict the events depicted in the novel. Although the "factual" line adheres more closely to the events, and the personality of Cao Cao in the novel than the "fictional" line, it is, nevertheless, highly inaccurate; also, unlike the game's two predecessor titles, there is no historical "bad" ending in Sangokushi Sousouden and Cao Cao survives the entire game through both story paths. The story will be altered following the Battle of Tong Pass
Battle of Tong Pass
Battle of Tong Pass may refer to:* Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass...
, and depending on the status of the scale, the game will follow the predetermined "factual" or "fictional" storylines, according to Cao Cao's personality.
The "factual" arc involves eliminating Liu Bei's Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
and Sun Quan's Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
, thus uniting China under Cao Cao's rule. The "fictional" arc involves Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
becoming possessed by a great evil who joins up with Zhou Yu to kill Liu Bei. One notable feature of this route is that Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
, sworn oath brother
Oath of the Peach Garden
The Oath of the Peach Garden was a fictional event in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this event, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took an oath of fraternity in a ceremony amid peach blossom trees, and became sworn brothers from then on. Their goal in taking the...
of Liu Bei and enemy of Cao Cao, will permanently join Cao Cao's army to avenge Liu's death by killing Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang.
Mods
Chinese Internet communities have produced various software modificationMod (computer gaming)
Mod or modification is a term generally applied to personal computer games , especially first-person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves, but mods are not standalone software and...
s for Sangokushi Sousouden, including a mod detailing the story of Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
historical figure Yue Fei
Yue Fei
Yue Fei , style name Pengju, was a military general of the Southern Song Dynasty. His ancestral home was in Xiaoti, Yonghe Village, Tangyin, Xiangzhou, Henan...
.
See also
- Three Kingdoms period
- Sangokushi seriesSangokushi, or Sangokushi in Japanese, is a series of turn-based tactical role-playing simulation grand strategy wargames produced by Koei. Originating from Japan in 1985, eleven installments of the game have been published in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and North America to date.-Overview:The games are...
- Kingdom of Wei
- Cao CaoCao CaoCao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
- Koei