River City Saga: Three Kingdoms

What jumps out about River City Saga: Three Kingdoms almost immediately? It's the fact that the whole game looks staged on cut-out bits of paper frantically battling for wafer-thin superiority. And when I say that, it's not a bad thing at all! This game looks unique visually, but what does this 2D platformer have to offer in terms of gameplay?

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is the latest game to take influence from the Chinese folk epic that spans the early recorded days of history. It's one of the manuscripts that document epic battles, deceit, and eternal struggles to unite the divided kingdoms of China. It's a pretty good backdrop for a video game, but does it work with platforming and beat-em-up mechanics?

Take Me to the River

Suppose you've ever played a game associated with the three kingdoms saga. In that case, you'll know that these are typically open-world titles. After all, the sheer expanse and lore of the tales stretch into massive stories, suiting the idea of endless possibilities to explore. However, River City Saga: Three Kingdoms scope the core narrative into an intense, comical beat-em-up, breaking the tradition of games based on Chinese history.

You'll play as Kunio, a combat-ready rogue whose seemingly sole purpose is to destroy everything that gets in his way. Players will find a progressive narrative that runs through all the significant chapters of the Three Kingdoms storyline. They'll build their combat capabilities and strategic battle approach as they go on.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is an excellent blended combo of beat-em-up mechanics with JRPG character progression. While combat is the core premise of this platformer, you'll find that there is surprisingly diverse gameplay between the dialogue, inventory management, and battle tactics to overcome enemies. The uniqueness of this title was an admirable feat considering most beat-em-ups tend to do the same thing.

However, that's not to say there aren't times when the game becomes repetitive. Swarms after hordes of enemies do tack up, where if your character is powered to the max, dealing with threats becomes more mundane than exciting. Besides that, River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is an excellent little platformer that will certainly satisfy those who enjoy a bit of intense combat gameplay.

Paper Romance

What makes River City Saga: Three Kingdoms standout among lore counterparts like the Dynasty Warriors franchise? The casual approach to gameplay certainly catches attention over similar titles that take you on a more serious ride. The visuals are comical, the story is more lighthearted, and the combat is surprisingly more diverse.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A different kind of game based on the Three Kingdoms saga
• Diverse gameplay mixing platformers and JRPG mechanics
• A great blend of visuals

Cons:

• Combat can get repetitive as you progress through the game
• Reaching a certain level makes gameplay too easy

Personal Rating: 8/10