Prince of Qin
Score: 80% ESRB: Teen Publisher: Strategy First Developer: Object Software Media: CD/3 Players: 1 (up to 500 in Multiplayer) Genre: RPG
Graphics & Sound: In what appears to have become a standard for this genre, Prince of Qin utilizes a graphical engine similar to the RPG powerhouse Diablo II. It is a mock 3D world created using two-dimensional maps and character sprites. For that matter, it is actually quite a nice representation of ancient China in all of its splendor. The architecture of that period remains intact in the building models, and playable and nonplayable characters have enough detail in their appearance to imply certain characteristics of Chinese culture. Characters seem to walk realistically throughout the two-dimensional environments, although sometimes, valuable treasures have a way of blending into the surroundings, often going unnoticed. I also had some difficulty in heavily forested areas, as passing under trees and shrubs seem to hide the action during some very important battles. This is simply something that you must live with when considering the two-dimensional environment and the limitations of creating a realistic look to the standard slight overhead view. Although the humanlike figures appear mostly realistic in their design and movement, the same cannot be told for the various animals encountered in Prince of Qin. It is truly disappointing to enter into battle with a fierce tiger or a monstrous white wolf and watch as they leap and scurry like rodents. This could be attributed to the small relative size of these creatures on the screen, but it is quite a humiliating sight. Equally as humiliating and quite honestly, almost unbearable, is the poor choice in vocal talent for Prince of Qin. Expecting Mandarin or possibly Cantonese accents, I was surprised when I heard the sounds of upper class Englishmen. Furthermore, the acting skills seemed like no more work went into production than a single read-through of the script. Luckily, this embarrassment only happens in specific cut scenes, as most in-game speech is left to text. To help compensate for that tragedy, Prince of Qin's musical audio is stunning. Plenty of mood-setting scores merge with one another to produce a very elegant and timely background companion to the action of the game. Variations range from blood pumping fight sequences to the melodious sounds reminiscent of Chinese folk music.
Gameplay: Over two thousand years ago, in the mythical land of ancient China, rose a great struggle between the two heirs of a great dynasty. Does this story seem familiar to you? Probably not. Nevertheless, Prince of Qin is actually derived from true Chinese history. The plot offers a look at what could have happened if Fu Su, a Prince of the Qin dynasty, had attempted to battle an order that he commit suicide and allow his brother to heir the throne. Most of the names noted in Prince of Qin are true historical figures in China's rich yet unpopular history. With this in mind, Prince of Qin could be enjoyed as a sort of virtual history lesson bringing details of ancient Chinese life and culture. Taking on the role of Fu Su, your main quest in Prince of Qin is to uncover the truth about the emperor's (your father) death, and hopefully take your place as the rightful ruler of China. Along the travels, you will encounter a number of different characters, some of which can join your expedition. These accompaniments range in their class and skills. Some such classes are Paladin and Wizard. Aside from the main objective, many sub-quests exist for Fu Su to tackle if he so chooses. Completing quests help to build attributes that will make Fu Su and his party stronger. Each quest, however, does not have to be completed in order to reach the end goal. Some quests, in fact, could be overlooked entirely, as quests range from simple seek and return objectives to full-scale war. Along with strategic quests, Prince of Qin is filled with opportunities to battle enemies. Throughout the game, characters acquire special abilities, weapons, and armor to use in battle situations. An interesting aspect to Prince of Qin's weapon and fighting system is the use of the Chinese belief in the 'Five Elements' (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth). Each element may have a positive or negative effect on another element. These elements are infused into the attributes of certain weapons and tools and make interesting effects when used correctly in battle. Although this highly worked out system for battles and strength progression may suggest a heavy action based plot, Prince of Qin actually delivers the best of both worlds. Dialog between player and nonplayer characters are rich in their story development and really pushes the player to learn more about Fu Su's mission. If the huge single player game is not enough, Prince of Qin also allows for a huge multiplayer network over a dedicated server. The multiplayer version expands on the historic Chinese culture allowing you to choose any class type and explore a huge world inspired by the Qin dynasty's history.
Difficulty: Figuring out the best method of tackling a situation could render the game's difficulty in completely different directions. Making a wrong decision during a conversation or moving too far off screen while traveling could bring unwanted enemies which will often prove to be too much to handle. However, if you take things slowly when necessary, or make the right choices when faced with a decision, you may never have to face too much harm from enemies. Prince of Qin is definitely a mind game, requiring more thought and planning than hardcore attacking, fighting, and bloodshed. For those who want bloodshed, however, a selection screen at the beginning of the screen will define the enemy difficulty and strength, but the true difficulty comes from your decision-making strategies. Every move is not a wrong move, but some are more wrong than others.
Game Mechanics: An attractive interface with easy and related keyboard commands makes Prince of Qin a breeze to operate. Basic movement is controlled via mouse clicks and special commands can either be initiated by setting specific keystrokes or choosing them through a series of menued interfaces. Even without prior knowledge of Chinese history, the story of Fu Su and the Qin dynasty is enough to peak a person's interest to keep playing for hours on end. Excellent use of storytelling design makes Prince of Qin an excellent addition to any RPGer who is looking for a new game that wants more than simple hunt and destroy gameplay. This game requires thought and strategy to avoid unnecessary roughness. Who knows, you might even change a little bit of Chinese history.
-==Boy, GameVortex Communications AKA Kyle Prestenback
Minimum System Requirements: Windows 9x/me/2000/XP, Pentium II 266Mhz, 128MB RAM, 1 GB disk space, Keyboard, Mouse, 4x CD-ROM, DirectX 8.0 Compatible 16 bit Video Card with 2MB RAM, Internet connection or LAN for multiplayer.   Test System: Windows Me, Intel Pentium III 600 Mhz, 8x DVD-Rom, 4MB S3 Savage IV video card, DirectcX 8.1
Post Mortem Rugrats: Munchin Land