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Review by: Anonymous Rating: The Lords of The Rising Sun, is a stunningly addictive game even today and yet is also an almost unknown classic.

The game is set in 12th Century Japan during the period of Japans history that was plagued by war. Your role in the game is that of one of 2 brothers of the Minamoto Clan. Yoshitsune a great planner and strategist or Yoritomo a skilled warrior.

The brother you choose greatly affects the game play. As Yoshitsune your success will depend on strategy unless you choose to participate in the action sequences. As Yoritomo your success depends on your interaction with ALL action sequences in the style of sub-games.

Most of the game time will be spent looking at the map of 12th century Japan where you manoeuvre your armies, gather intelligence and plot your strategy for success in becoming Shogun of all Japan.

Your success in the game will be measured and you will gain ranks for taking and sieging castles, cities and ports.

The action sequences are mini-games in which your own personal skills will be tested instead of that of your troops. Examples or these minigames are:

Horseback Pursuit:
You gallop after an enemy general who is fleeing from battle, as you chase after him you will overtake foot soldiers who have turned to fight. When, or even IF, you reach the general you can either cut him down with your sword for great honour and respect or you can risk personal injury and some lack of honour by running him down with your horse.

Ninja Attack:
An enemy Daimyo has hired a ninja to kill you, you are forced to defend yourself by blocking the shuriken's (ninja throwing stars) with your sword. Defend yourself long enough for help to arrive and you are treated to a semi-fmv sequence of the ninja's downfall. OR kill the ninja yourself by deflecting the shuriken back at him.

Sieging Enemy Castles:
This sub game is done in the style of a timed top down rpg-like setting, as you walk around and attack the castle yourself the goal is to kill the high ranking officer, and occasionally to rescue a kidnapped princess to be given great honour.


The action sequences are accompanied with a great selection music that suits the theme of the game perfectly.

All in all this is one of the greatest games set in Feudal Japan that I have ever played, it is only comparable in greatness to the PC strategy title of Shogun: Total War, which in my mind is still only second best to The Lords of The Rising Sun on CD-i.

-Postet on: (GMT) Wed Dec 22 20:06:25 2004 #

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