Releasing a "Power-Up Kit" based on the original has long been a tradition for Koei's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" series. "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV" is no exception; released in early 2020, it soon received its "Power-Up Kit" followed by two season passes, bringing the game's systems, scenarios, and events to a relatively complete state.
Unexpectedly, just recently, Koei announced the creation of brand-new expansion content for "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV," titled "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV Power-Up Kit Legacy Edition." It includes not only the "Power-Up Kit" and all season passes but also adds new gameplay features such as the Famous Sites system, Poetry system, and Military Intelligence system, further expanding the depth of playability in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV."
Moreover, the development of the "Legacy Edition" is being handled by the Koei Tecmo team from Tianjin, China, marking the first time Koei Tecmo Tianjin has independently undertaken a development task.
Taking advantage of the upcoming release, we interviewed Yue Chunhui, Producer of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV Power-Up Kit Legacy Edition" from the Koei Tecmo Tianjin team, and Yue Kai, the Game Director. They will share the development story behind the "Legacy Edition" and the differences between this version and previous ones.
Below is the full interview:
Q: The "Legacy Edition" is being developed by the team from Tianjin, China. Could you introduce the two producers and the current status and background of the entire team?
Yue Chunhui:The Koei Tecmo Tianjin team has consistently collaborated with Koei Tecmo Games, participating in the development of many titles. Team members from Tianjin, including Yue Chunhui and Yue Kai, have previously worked on projects across various fields, including online games, mobile games, and PC games.
Q: Why choose "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV," which already had a "Power-Up Kit," for further development?
Yue Chunhui:When the base game of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV" was released six years ago, there was no plan for a "Legacy Edition." While searching for a suitable theme for development, the Tianjin team felt that "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV" was the most fitting choice. Coinciding with the series' 40th anniversary, this project came to fruition.
Q: The addition of "Military Intelligence" may significantly enhance the success rate of certain actions that were previously low-probability in the original version. What kind of creative gameplay does the development team expect players to explore with this new system?
Yue Kai:Through the "Military Intelligence" system, many officers beyond just the few famous generals will have more opportunities to shine. Furthermore, not only players but also AI factions will utilize "Military Intelligence" in diplomacy and strategies, leading to more diverse gameplay possibilities through offensive and defensive maneuvers.
Q: The late Han and Three Kingdoms period saw an abundance of literary giants. Could the development team share what historical research was conducted when creating the "Poetry" system? Is there a particular poem you favor?
Yue Chunhui:Indeed, poetic literature has always been a spiritual bond ingrained in our blood. When creating content related to poetry, we selected well-known famous poems, striving to evoke shared literary memories through poetry events and performances.
If I had to choose my favorite poem, I would select Cao Cao's "Viewing the Ocean." Of course, Cao Zhi's "Ode to the Luo River Goddess" is also hard to part with.
Q: Will the "Legacy Edition" introduce innovations or balance adjustments to combat gameplay?
Yue Kai:Regarding combat features, we have continued the gameplay direction established in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV." We have also adjusted the AI, and we hope players will personally verify and experience the final results.
Q: After extensive modifications, will the game pace of the "Legacy Edition" change significantly compared to the "Power-Up Kit"? Will the difficulty of breaking through increase or decrease?
Yue Chunhui:While this title does add many new features and improves upon existing elements from the "Power-Up Kit," it does not drastically alter the foundational gameplay. Therefore, the game pace will not undergo any颠覆性 (disruptive) changes.
Additionally, this title introduces an Expert Mode for scenario settings. By finely adjusting various parameters, players can tailor the gameplay to their preferences, thereby actively regulating the game pace and difficulty level.
Q: Does the development team have any message for Chinese players who love the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" series?
Yue Chunhui:This title is independently developed by the Koei Tecmo Tianjin team, representing our first step towards players. We hope to grow together with players who love history, the Three Kingdoms, and gaming, creating more unforgettable works in the future.