China is reunified! In the basic experience of Total War: Three Kingdoms for PC we had the opportunity to relive the phases that led to the division and reunification of China in the second century AD and to write the review, but now it's time to relive the Jin crisis, the dynasty that arose from the turbulent period of the Three Kingdoms.
The historical context of Total War: Three Kingdoms
In short: Cao Cao almost completes the total victory over the other two contenders (Liu Bei and Sun Quan) but dies before seeing his dream come true. His son Cao Pi he is as powerful as he is but does not get the same successes and Wei's scepter of power is soon picked up by the strategist Sima Yi who will engage in a series of campaigns and battles all aimed at trying to definitively defeat Shu Han (commanded briefly by an elder Zhuge Liang). Only his children, Sima Zhao and Sima Shi they will complete the enormous effort.
At this point China is reunited and the Jin dynasty reigns supreme, but has to deal with the intrigues of the court and the numerous relatives scattered throughout the territory who (all) have a minimal chance of claiming the throne. The opportunity arises when the young emperor Hui proves unable to govern because of his mother, the widowed queen, who values him low and tends to dominate. A heated battle arises between Eight Princes who want to reclaim the throne for themselves, and all this leads to a terrible war that risks breaking China again after just a generation.
The DLC
As easily understood from the title, Total War: Three Kingdoms - Eight Princes adds eight playable factions with as many generals:
- Sima Yong, The Undaunted Defender
- Sima Jiong, The Imperial Regent
- Sima Yue, The Imperial Supervisor
- Sima Ai, The Governor of Sound Principles
- Sima Ying, The beloved Governor
- Sima Mon, The Usurper Prince
- Sima Liang, The Legitimate Regent
- Sima Wei, The Violent General
In addition to the characters, we will have as many new starting positions even if the goal will remain the same: to obtain control of Luoyang, the capital of the Empire, by force or with "good" manners, that is by transforming the possessions of the Jin Empire into one of our vassals. Beyond these simple introductions it must be said that each of the eight principles has, as in the basic version, its distinctive features and its own bonuses as has always been in the best tradition of Total War. Alongside this, however, we have tried to improve some aspects of the game by changing its mechanics. Obviously these changes will only impact the campaigns of this DLC but the change to the way our actions affect public order is something that could also be extended to the basic version of the game. In addition, the new units introduced, the most powerful of which are those of cavalry, add some peculiarities to the cavalry that perhaps was missing.
One of the most interesting mechanics is that which sees the Widow Empress often turn to our faction in search of favors. Satisfying it or opposing a denial will change the Jin Empire's opinion of us and change the perception other princes have of us.
Does the news of Total War: Three Kingdoms end here? Well yes, but we are still talking about a very low price DLC that adds an almost indefinite amount of hours of play to the basic version and that above all plans the way towards something new and greater. Knowing the history of China, we can throw a small stone into the pond. Within the game map, some spaces occupied by the barbarians have been inserted to the north. Historically, at the end of the Jin Dynasty, there were three great barbarian invasions in China that handed over the entire north of the Empire to the nomadic warlords. Could this be the next DLC? We want to believe it. Huns, Mongols, Alans and perhaps Uighurs could make their appearance shortly thereafter. Let's stay at the window.
