Koei Tecmo recently unveiled the remake of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 (ROTK8), sparking considerable excitement among long-time fans of the series. After all, the game retained the fundamental gameplay system introduced in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 7 (ROTK7), which was the first in the series to introduce the officer role-playing gameplay. ROTK8 not only built upon its predecessor but also garnered a lot of love from its dedicated fan base. But why did the development team choose to remake ROTK8 out of all the titles in the series? What differences can players expect in this remake compared to the original? During the recent Tokyo Game Show, we had the opportunity to interview the producer, Kazuhiro Echigoya, and the development producer, Hisatsugu Ishikawa, to get answers to these questions.

Producer Kazuhiro Echigoya (right) and development producer Hisatsugu Ishikawa (left).

Q: Why did you choose to develop a remake of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8" instead of working on a new installment in the Three Kingdoms series?

Kazuhiro Echigoya: To begin, let's delve into the reasons behind our decision to remake the ROTK series. Initially, our development team considered creating a sequel following Romance of the Three Kingdoms 14. However, at that time, we hadn't arrived at a definitive conclusion. Moreover, during this period, I was also engaged in the development of other titles, including Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening, remakes of the ROTK series, revamps of the Uncharted Waters series, Taikou Risshiden 5 DX, and more. We observed that these remakes often garnered favorable feedback from players. Therefore, within our team, discussions arose regarding the possibility of producing a remake of the main ROTK series.

As for why we chose to remake ROTK8, it primarily stemmed from the fact that Romance of the Three Kingdoms 14 had implemented the ruler role-playing mechanic at the time. So, we wanted to create a game with the officer role-playing mechanic. Among the past titles in the ROTK series that utilized the officer role-playing mechanic, we had options like 7, 8, 10, and 13. When deciding which title to remake, we considered ROTK8 to have the most unique gameplay system, featuring scenarios spanning the entire era. In this regard, we believed that ROTK8 was the most deserving of a remake, hence our decision.

Q: Does this mean that a new installment in the ROTK series hasn't entered the development stage yet?

Kazuhiro Echigoya: Yes, the development of a new installment has not yet begun.

Q: Is there a possibility of a remake for the highly acclaimed Romance of the Three Kingdoms 11 in the series?

Kazuhiro Echigoya: As for more upcoming remakes in the ROTK series, it primarily depends on how this remake performs. Currently, we are more likely to consider remakes of other series rather than the ROTK series.

Q: Following ROTK8, the series has released many more titles. Were the development experiences from these subsequent titles reflected in the development process of ROTK8 Remake?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: Indeed, some of the new elements from recent titles have been incorporated into this remake. For example, there's the Debate system, which was not present in the original version but has been added to the remake. Also, in the original game, there weren't as many officers, but by the time we reached ROTK14, there were approximately 1,000 officers. The number of officers in this game will also be of a similar scale. Furthermore, concerning the scenario aspect, recent titles have allowed players to influence the storyline by making different choices, and this new element will also be present in this remake.

Q: Regarding the officer data (stats), is it based on the data from the original ROTK8 or the data from later versions?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: Firstly, the original version didn't include the "Leadership" stats, but this new data has been added in this game. As for the officer's stats, strictly speaking, they could be considered original and don't belong to the systems of either ROTK8 or ROTK14. However, they will generally be closer to those of ROTK14.

Q: In terms of gameplay experience, how similar is the remake to the original version? Could you provide a rough percentage, like 80% or 70%, to illustrate the comparison? If the percentage is relatively high, say 80% or 90%, what is the significance of the remake if the experience is quite similar?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: Compared to the original, the gameplay experience is approximately 50% similar. To explain further, ROTK13 had broader content coverage, while ROTK8 had more depth. Therefore, the experience in this game shares about 50% similarity with each of them.

Q: Regarding the music, will the remake retain the original tracks, or will there be new compositions?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: Mr. Toru Hasebe, who was responsible for the music composition back in the days, is also in charge of the music production for this remake. The game will feature a mix of original compositions and rearrangements of the original tracks, which may evoke nostalgia for players who have experienced the original version.

Q: Will the city visuals in the game change based on the month, season, or different holidays? For example, will there be bustling streets and decorations during the New Year? Also, will different cities have distinct visuals?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: The city visuals will indeed change with the seasons, and they will expand as the city grows in size. City and battle visuals will vary based on the "region" rather than the specific city, offering different scenery in different regions of China.

Q: About the character portraits enhanced with dynamic effects, do they maintain the style and appearances from before, or have they undergone a redesign?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: The character portraits primarily inherit the officer appearances from ROTK14, so they will bear a resemblance to the officers from that game. However, apart from the common elements, there will also be new officer appearances specially created for this game, such as the one you’re seeing now (Zhou Yu).

Q: Have new scenarios been added? Are there any interesting elements in these new scenarios, such as completely fictional stories?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: There are new scenarios in this game, including IF scenarios. I personally find them quite interesting. We will gradually release more information about this, so please look forward to it.

Q: Has there been significant improvement in the enemy AI in this game compared to the original?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: The AI in this game doesn't inherit the AI system from the original. Instead, it has been redesigned, taking advantage of the accumulated technology and experience over the years. The AI system in this game can be considered a step up from previous titles.

Q: Since this is a remake of a game from many years ago, are there any Easter eggs or elements that only longtime players would notice? What differences in the gaming experience can be expected between new and old players?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: In terms of the gaming experience, longtime players may discover many nostalgic elements in the game, such as the game visuals, city scenes, and the scenes we showcased earlier. Just like the comparison between the original game and the remake in our trailer, longtime players will get that nostalgic feeling of "this is Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8" when they see these visuals. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, there are remastered old BGM tracks that longtime players should find nostalgic when they hear them.

For new players, the game system based on ROTK8 is more straightforward and easier to grasp compared to recent systems, making it more accessible for newcomers.

Q: Why was the Debate system added, and can one unify China solely through Debates?

Kazuhiro Echigoya: The officer role-playing system, on its own, may not be as engaging in terms of gameplay enjoyment. We wanted to make the officer role-playing system more interesting by introducing elements like the Debate system. However, it's important to note that you cannot unify China solely through Debates.

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: Nevertheless, Debates do have an impact on the player's gameplay experience. For instance, if you initially could only comply with your superior's orders, but through successful Debates, you can convince them and overturn their decisions.

Q: Are there any updates to the Debate system compared to previous titles?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: The Debate system in this game is a completely new system developed specifically for this title.

Q: Since ROTK8 is a title from many years ago, how many members from the development team have played the original game, and has playing the original had any influence on the development of this game?

Kazuhiro Echigoya: Every member of the development team has played the original game, but it's difficult to quantify the exact impact it had on them. One interesting detail to note is that Mr. Ishikawa was a part of the original development team back in the day.

Q: In the game, do both of you prefer to play as strategists or as generals? Why?

Kazuhiro Echigoya: I enjoy combat and like to be the active side on the battlefield, so I prefer playing as a general.

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: I prefer playing as a general to support the strategist in unifying China. In real life, there are times when you may have to carry out orders or requests from a superior that may not seem entirely reasonable, and playing as a military commander allows you to experience similar real-life situations in the game.

Q: Since the remake will be released on various platforms, will there be differences in the game's graphics and controls on different platforms?

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: In terms of graphics, the PC and PS5 versions will certainly have more refined visuals. Regarding controls, while the game is primarily designed with mouse-based controls, the experience when playing with a controller won't be significantly different.

Messages for players from Chinese-speaking regions:

Kazuhiro Echigoya: While this game is a remake, in reality, the effort we put into it may be on par with creating a sequel after ROTK14. Additionally, I would to mention something related to the development process. Due to our intensive efforts during development and the inclusion of a substantial amount of Japanese voice acting, we regret that we couldn't accommodate Chinese voice acting in the game. We hope our Chinese players can empathize with this decision. Nevertheless, the extensive use of Japanese voice acting across the game contributes significantly to its immersive atmosphere. We trust you'll find enjoyment in the richness that Japanese voice acting adds to the experience.

Besides, the game boasts an extensive array of content, featuring the most scenarios ever seen in the series, ensuring players hours of engaging gameplay. Moreover, since it's a remake based on ROTK8, its game mechanics are comparatively user-friendly when compared to recent entries. This results in a substantial content offering that remains approachable, making it an ideal choice for newcomers looking to dive into the game.

Hisatsugu Ishikawa: As Mr. Echigoya mentioned earlier, this game offers a tremendous amount of content. Having been involved in the development of the original many years ago, I can say that my abilities now are on a completely different level compared to back then. Some things that couldn't be achieved at the time, we've worked hard to implement in this remake, aiming to deliver an even better experience than the original. Therefore, I hope everyone can thoroughly enjoy the fun this game has to offer.

And that concludes our interview with the producers of the upcoming Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake. We want to express our special thanks to the producers, Mr. Kazuhiro Echigoya, and Mr. Hisatsugu Ishikawa for their diligent responses to our questions about the highly anticipated game.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is scheduled for release in early 2024 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.