Recently, a friend of mine went crazy about a mobile game called "The End of Troubled Times" and said that the style of painting is particularly strange. I didn't take it too seriously at first. After all, there are only a few Three Kingdoms strategy games on the market. However, since I wanted to make a horizontal comparison, I pulled out "Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition" and "The Shore of the Land" and ran them together. It turned out that there is indeed something good about this game.
As for the picture, to be honest, I was a little put off at first glance. It is completely different from the realistic CG style of "Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition" and the heavy ink style of "The Coast of the Land". It has the feel of hand-drawn graffiti, the lines are very random, and the color scheme is more candy-like. At first glance, I thought it was a tower defense game. But after playing it, I felt quite comfortable, especially the standing drawings of military commanders. There is no overly-forced design, it is a very simple Q version style, but the details of the expressions are particularly good. To sum it up in one sentence, in other games, famous generals are still standing, but in this game, famous generals come to life. If you are really tired of seeing the same realistic faces, you will find that this simple style is more recognizable and stands out among a bunch of Three Kingdoms games.
In terms of gameplay, this is the key to widening the gap. On the surface, "The End of Troubled Times" is the same as "The End of the World", which is a big map national war, including paving roads, attacking cities, and grabbing territory, but if you really get started, you will find that its rhythm is much faster. Unlike "Three Kingdoms·Strategy Edition" where you always have to queue up and wait for half an hour to march, it provides a sufficient sense of feedback for a single operation. The paving area is small and the troop dispatch speed is fast. Even if you play fish during the lunch break, you can achieve some results. In addition, the strategic design of this game is more thoughtful. It is not just about stacking combat power values. There are some skill-based strategies that can produce small and large-scale effects, which requires you to use your brain. So you say it is a hardcore SLG, it has depth; you say it is a casual strategy game, and its national war is no less exciting than mainstream masterpieces. This intermediate positioning just fills a gap in the market that is "either too aggressive or too idle".
In terms of the degree of krypton gold, I must say it fairly: it is quite restrained among similar games. In "Three Kingdoms·Strategy Edition", it is normal for the monthly card party to be beaten by the red bosses, and "The Coast of the Land" is even more famous for its heavy liver and krypton. The current charging model of "End of Troubled Times" is zero. The resources in the store can basically be saved through daily tasks, and low-star generals will not be said to be useless. Many mechanisms are supported by matching rather than rarity. Of course, if you insist on pursuing full stars in the full illustrated book, that's another matter, but at least I won't feel uncomfortable playing when I don't want to recharge. Compared with those products that use "forced krypton anxiety" to operate, this is really more conscientious.
It's also quite interesting socially. Unlike some games where everyone starts a national war and each fights his own battle, the legion system of this game is very important. All day long, the group is calling for people to come online to help defend. And because the map is highly open, the battlefield situation may reverse at any time. Often you are beating someone else one second, but you are attacked by another group of forces the next second, so the frequency of communication between allies is particularly high. For players who like liveliness and teamwork, this social concentration is just right. It will not force you to participate in group activities, but also allows you to feel the peace of mind that "someone is protecting you" at critical moments. The atmosphere in the regiment I am currently in is very comfortable. The commander is talkative but understands the command, and there are old men who patiently teach newbies when they ask questions.
Comparing it horizontally, I think the combination of punches in "The End of Troubled Times" is quite smart. Would you say it has better graphics than "Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition"? That's certainly not the case. Is it more hard-core than the strategic depth of "The Coast of the Land"? Not necessarily. But it has cleverly found a balance point - using a lower threshold to accommodate more types of players, while at the same time the strategic gameplay has not shrunk too much. Civilian players have room for survival, and kryptonite players can also find a sense of accomplishment. Casual players will not be separated by a big gap just because they are not online for a day, and serious players can also rely on time and management to gain a sense of existence.
Give me a rating at the end.The screen score is 7.5, because the style is unique but the technical ability is not top-notch; the gameplay is 8.5, the rhythm is fast and the routines are rich; the krypton gold friendliness is 9, which is relatively good in this category; the social experience is 8, it is fun but it tests the online status of the group members. With a comprehensive evaluation of 8 points, it is a top choice for Three Kingdoms SLG enthusiasts worth a try.
Anyway, this game has been on my phone for two weeks, much longer than I expected. If you are also tired of the few major mobile games of the Three Kingdoms on the market, you might as well come here for a change. If we happen to be in the same district, remember to report to our legion. 😏