Suikoden – Tenmei no Chikai (released in the West as Bandit Kings of Ancient China) is a historical strategy game developed by Koei for the NES in 1990. Based on the classic Chinese novel Water Margin, players are tasked with gathering a rebel army, managing resources, and recruiting legendary heroes to overthrow the corrupt minister Gao Qiu.
How to play
As a Koei simulation, gameplay revolves around turn-based management of your provinces and tactical grid-based combat. You must balance the morale of your heroes, build up your territory’s defenses, and carefully plan military campaigns. Use the Arrow keys to navigate the extensive menus, Z to select or confirm actions, X to cancel, and Enter to pause or access main options.
Tips
- Keep an eye on popular support and the loyalty of your generals. Rewarding them with gold or items prevents them from defecting.
- Food management is critical. Ensure you have enough supplies before launching long campaigns, or your troops will rapidly desert.
- Because this is the original Japanese release, familiarity with the menus or having a translation guide on hand is highly recommended to manage the complex strategy elements.
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