Based on the beloved novel of the same name, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII has been developed in celebration of the franchise’s 30th anniversary. The game uses the tale of a collapsing dynasty and the emergence of power-hungry factions to set a complex chessboard on which players can follow and influence the fateful events leading to the unification of 2nd century China.

Fans of strategy games will find Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII to be a challenging and rewarding blend of deep strategy and historically accurate warfare, regardless of their familiarity with the rich story of the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Cities can be built and developed; alliances can be fostered or broken; armies can be mustered and deployed. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII prides itself on offering a wide selection of options for conflict resolution, the most impressive of which are the armies. A wide variety of army units can be recruited and trained, including foot soldiers, cavalry, artillery, and navy, while special care has been taken to incorporate diplomacy and personal relationships, giving the player an extra incentive to build a stable and loyal network of friends and allies.

Players can experience all kinds of warfare in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, ranging from Debates and Duels to the Open Field, Narrow Pass, and Naval battle types, with gameplay differing depending on the situation at hand.

Debates are an important part of ensuring a well-rounded (and well-supported) kingdom. These intense conversations present the ability to convince lords to act and lend their support in certain ways to benefit the player’s cause. Duels, conversely, replace words with weapons and are executed in a turn-based fashion. Carrying out a duel will present bonuses for the victor, which can be useful in ultimately getting the upper-hand on an opponent.

Players will encounter numerous battle types while commanding an army. Naval battles and warfare has been further perfected in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, allowing a player’s navy to create strategic blockades or carry out skirmishes on vast rivers. On land, battles differ depending on location: Narrow Pass battles require the player to hold a strategic pass or create a line of defense to protect a narrow passage; Open Field battles are large-scale fights in which the player can dynamically control the course of battle. For further strategic advantage on the battlefield, Siege battles can be initiated during another ongoing battle, as creating a blockade around an enemy stronghold allows it to be captured more effectively. Ultimately, players should organize units in the best possible vantage points to ensure any given assault unfolds in their favor. These strategic options are further brought to life by a wide selection of beautiful battlegrounds, as well as individualized officers who possess unique abilities and special attacks that can be used to enhance their army.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII offers three bonus scenarios to players who pre-order the game through select retailers, including GameStop, Amazon, EB Canada, and Best Buy:

• The Battle of Chibi scenario, in which fan-favorite character Cao Cao has captured Jing and is preparing his attack upon Sun Quan’s Yang Province;
• Thirteen Heroes scenario, which follows thirteen chosen heroes who will gather together to compete for control of the land;
• The Campaign Against Lu Bu scenario, in which Lu Bu has successfully tricked Liu Bei to gain control of the Xu Province, but Liu Bei and Cao Cao have joined forces to reclaim the land.

Those who purchase the game via the PlayStation®Store within the first month following launch will receive The Campaign Against Lu Bu scenario.

This comprehensive and exceptionally detailed strategy title features two compelling gameplay experiences: the Campaign mode, which stays true to the most profound of strategy games by allowing players the freedom to choose a starting year and customize the board to their liking before attempting to beat the game, and the Hero mode, which acts an in-depth tutorial, closely following historical events while teaching players all of the game’s mechanics. In Hero mode, players familiar with characters from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series can also enjoy an alternative way to relive the exciting lives and adventures of those heroes before proceeding to leave their own mark on history!

Players also have nearly endless customization choices in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, with the option to take on the mantle of one of 700 historical characters (including fan-favorites such as Zhao Yun, Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and more), or create their own unique character and try to climb the proverbial leadership ladder.