Sangokushi 2 – Haou no Tairiku is a turn-based historical strategy game released for the NES in 1992. Developed by TOSE and published by Namco, this deep management sim places you in the era of ancient China’s Three Kingdoms. Players choose a historical warlord, such as Cao Cao or Liu Bei, and work to unify the country by managing city resources, deploying armies, and conquering neighboring territories in tactical, top-down battles. It stands as an impressive and distinct 8-bit alternative to Koei’s strategy titles.
How to Play
Your objective is to build a prosperous empire and conquer all rival warlords to unite ancient China. Gameplay is largely menu-driven, balancing regional governance and troop movement. During combat phases, battles unfold on tactical maps where unit positioning and numerical strength dictate the outcome. For browser play, the classic NES controls apply: use the Arrow Keys to navigate menus and move armies, Z for the A button (confirm/select), X for the B button (cancel), and Enter/Shift for Start and Select.
Leave a Comment / Review: