PlayStation 2 Critic Reviews

With an overhauled tutorial, user-friendly interface and straightforward goals, this is easily the most accessible game in the series.

You never feel like things are dragging on and the next goal is always in sight.

If you're new to the series or the genre and have ever wondered what it would be like to conquer ancient China, we can't think of a better introduction than this.

When you're screaming and yelling at the game, wishing that the enemy will fall, you'll find it nearly impossible to put the controller down and walk away.

A game that will quickly be embraced by fans of the original series; fans of VII and VIII, however, might feel a bit alienated by all of the changes that have been made.

Sports not only improved visuals and a fantastic jazzy soundtrack, but the real changes lie in streamlined gameplay and a very different perspective. Unlike the other eight before it, this title follows the events depicted in the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" novel.

It may not be the most advanced sequel, but for fans of hardcore number crunching and statistic-laden simulations, still among the best strategy titles available for PS2. [Apr 2004, p.38]

If you're a series veteran, or found yourself wishing the previous PS2 entries had less number-crunching and more action, you'll probably love RTK9. I'm squarely in [this] category, but not because I disliked 7 and 8's RPG elements; I just appreciate KOEI's willingness to keep tinkering with a 15-year-old franchise.

Romance IX manages to make a few improvements to the interface and systems from the previous games while still retaining the core of what made them good. Ultimately, it's more of what you already love.

Although it includes new welcome features like expanded character training and a single map, its conventionality in all other areas fails to make the game stand out.