Fate of the Dragon

Pros • Somewhat complex, but the city management is great fun • Nicely detailed, historically based real-time strategy	Cons • Combat can be tedious • When all is said and done, the game offers only three types of soldiers, and a handful of siege weapons
Bottom Line Think Age of Empires II meets Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Detailed graphics, intricate town management, and nice Asian atmosphere make this one real-time strategy that gamers and history buffs will both enjoy. In the west all things Asian are cool. Couple this intrinsic coolness with a real-time strategy game that is at least graphically--if not intrinsically--reminiscent of Age of Empires II and you have Eidos' latest entry into the real-time strategy market, Fate of the Dragon. A game that frequently feels like a real-time update of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Fate of the Dragon is nevertheless an engaging game in its own right.

The date is A.D. 220. The Chinese Han Dynasty has fallen. The lack of a cohesive central government throws China into a period of turmoil as warlords fight among themselves for control of the country. The splintered factions of warlords slowly settled into three kingdoms: Shu, Wei, and Wu. Prestigious and powerful warlords reigned in each of the kingdoms--Liu Bei ruled Shu, Cao was under the hand of Cao Cao, and Sun Quan was Wu's sovereign.

Gamers are thrown into this land of three kingdoms as they assume the persona of Lei Bei, Cao Cao or Sun Quan and play the three campaigns offered in Fate of the Dragon. The playing is at once familiar, yet somewhat different from real-time strategy titles that have come before. Graphically, Fate of the Dragon is darn near the spitting image of both Age of Empires II and it's North America-themed clone, America. That isn't, however, a bad thing. The visuals were attractive in both Ensemble's and Data Becker's games, and so they are here. The kiln lights in the workshop, water rushes through the farm's mill, and warriors train future sergeants in the swordsman's barracks, while hawks circle lazily overhead. No, it's not 3D accelerated, but the game nevertheless looks nice.

A production-based real-time strategy game, Fate of the Dragon players must collect wood and iron to fuel the economy. Both resources are used to erect buildings, train units, and research technologies. By the same token the farm produces corn and raw meat, and the workshop uses the resources to produce food and wine--all old hat to strategy gamers. Nevertheless, there is a new twist. Not only must workers be assigned to labor in the buildings, the materials they collect are used for more than creating new units. Specifically, fighters need food and wine to heal and regain strength.

Within their city walls, troops replenish themselves normally, but once they leave, supplies must be transported to the troops via workers or by horse. The troops can set up an away camp, which functions as a supply depot, but the away camp's supplies must be constantly replenished from the home camp. It's a uniquely fascinating way to simulate supply and logistical problems. Additionally, it opens up new strategies. Rather than going head to head with an attacking army, you may simply cut off its supply. Without supplies, an army is brittle and easily defeated.

The era of the Three Kingdoms was full of heroic deeds and chivalrous leaders. Fate of the Dragon simulates this with its own heroes. Recruited at the inn, these heroes are not only strong fighters, but may be placed in charge of various city functions such as Administrative Affair's officer, Science Officer, Sacrifice Officer, and Public Security Officer. When the positions are filled they allows gamers to engage in sundry activities such as diplomacy, more efficient research, appeasement of the Gods, etc.

God appeasement is a big deal. Unlike any real-time strategy game outside of SimCity-style offerings, Fate of the Dragon includes natural disasters. These include droughts, locusts, and earthquakes. Constructing temples and then offering sacrifices can mitigate the frequency and seriousness of these disasters. Failure to do so will bring much bad fortune on your empire and dissatisfy your subjects. The bad news is that dissatisfied subjects can revolt. The good news is that you may mollify them with gold or keep them in line with a strong Public Security officer. Complex? Yes. Nevertheless, it is a delightfully rewarding economic and civic model.

Conversely, the combat model is simple. Supply lines aside, it has all been done before. There are three types of fighters: Archers, Swordsmen, and Pikemen. You may mount them to make cavalry and upgrade them, but it still comes down to three fighter types. Throw in a handful of siege weapons, which include ladders for climbing over the enemy's walls, the aforementioned leaders, and you have the complete unit list. Warriors may be given standard offensive/defensive commands but--unlike Age of Empires II--there are no formations. That's not a bad thing, but chrome freaks beware--supply lines and leaders aside, this is basic real-time strategy combat.

Besides the campaign, Fate of the Dragon supports up to eight in multiplayer contests. Additionally there is the now mandatory skirmish mode, and an excellent tutorial.

A fine game; Fate of the Dragon combines a top-notch economic/civic model, attractive graphics, and solid real-time combat to give gamers a slice of Chinese history. And that, like all things Asian, is tres cool.

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