To be honest, I have been playing mobile games for at least fifteen or sixteen years since the Symbian era. I have seen too many fast food games and too many things that fool people in the name of feelings. So when I was browsing the forum and saw this Legend of Heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, my first reaction was actually: Oh, it's another chess game, right? But because of my preference for the Sui and Tang Dynasty themes, I downloaded it and gave it a try. I played it for three nights at a stretch, and my phone almost ran out of battery before I put it down 🫠
Let's talk about how to play chess first. I'm not going to brag about it, but there are really not many manufacturers in the mobile game market who are willing to make this type of turn-based strategy war chess. Everyone is doing card drawing and automatic battles. Games like Legend of Heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties that honestly let you set up formations, consider the terrain, calculate the number of moves, and use units to fight each other are simply a breath of fresh air. There are a lot of level designs in the game, and you can't win without thinking. You have to use your brain to adjust the positions of generals, especially some historical battles, such as the levels in Wagangzhai. If I hadn't accumulated the foundation from playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms on the computer, I would have been stuck for half a day.
In terms of plot, the game follows the romance story, from the tyranny of Emperor Yang of Sui to the uprising of heroes from all walks of life, to Wagang Juyi and Li Yuan's rebellion in Taiyuan. The rhythm is well controlled, there are no too lengthy cutscenes, but the dialogues and battle triggers of important plots are retained. Playing through the scenes where Cheng Yaojin robs the emperor and Qin Qiong sells his horse made me, an old guy like me, really smile. I have heard this story since I was a child. It is quite immersive to play it again in the game.
As for the graphics, it is an old game after all and cannot be compared with those of today's big 3D productions. However, the pixel style or the early 2D three-dimensional painting has a sense of the times. I remember that many war chess games on Saipan have this tone. Now I think they are a bit crude, but they are not tiring to play and are comfortable for the eyes. Moreover, the character avatars and unit icons are quite clear, and the strategy interface is also simple, so you don't have to scroll through menus for a long time.
The key point is that this game is free, and you can buy it for 0 yuan. There are no messy in-app purchase traps, and there are no physical restrictions saying "you can only play three levels today." To be honest, this kind of conscience game is as rare as the giant panda in the current environment. The developer is Chengdu Xinyue Entertainment. I have never heard of this name before, but for being able to achieve this level of strategic chess, I cannot give it too much praise.
Finally, let's talk about some nostalgia. When I was a kid, I played a ported version of "Three Kingdoms" on a Nokia that my father had eliminated. At that time, the screen was full of pixels, but I could play it from afternoon to midnight. Later, I switched to a smartphone and played stand-alone transplants such as Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, which were full of memories. Nowadays, most mobile war chess games on the market have been changed to automatic combat and card drawing. Although they have made money, they always feel that they are missing a little bit of the "chess" flavor.
Legend of Heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, maybe you have played similar and better masterpieces, but for those who like history, like war chess, and want to get back a little bit of the feeling of old games, this game is definitely worth a try. Especially if you grew up reading romance novels of the Sui and Tang Dynasties or listening to storytelling, in which Cheng Yaojin's three-axe, Luo Cheng's carbine, and Qin Shubao's mace can all be found in the game with corresponding designs and skills, giving a strong sense of immersion.
Having said so much, let's take it as a reference for similar players. War Chess is not dead, it just needs someone to remember what it once was. I hope there will be more friends who love to play this type of game 😊