Summary
TheSega CDmay have been most well known for its smash titleSonic CDand large collection of RPGs such as theLunarseries, but it also has more than a fair share of its own strategy games which had only just started to become fully realized within the world of gaming. Because they were still in their early days, strategy games didn’t exactly have a definitive formula or template to follow, meaning that developers would need to get a little more creative with their games for them to be fun and engaging to players.
This inevitably led to a lot of strategy titles falling shortbecause of how unorthodox they were, but there were still a handful of them that made quite an impression on players, and provided an insight into just how these games might look in a few years with improved technology. These are the very best strategy titles releasedduring the Sega CD’s lifespanthat fans of the genre definitely need to check out.
Nowadays, many chess games are designed to be pretty brutal and unforgiving in their difficulty in testing the player’s strategic abilities, butStar Wars Chessisa lot more casual and laidback. The AI in this game is always pretty lenient, which is either a bad or a good thing, depending on who is asked. What makes the game stand out though, aside from theStar Warscharacters being placeholders for the pieces, is the small battle animations that occur when a piece is taken.
This could be something as simple as C-3PO accidentally knocking over a character, to Boba Fett blasting an enemy to smithereens, but either way, they each add a lot of charm to the game while also making reference tothe Dejarik board gamethat Chewbacca can be seen playing in the movies. It might be lacking in content and is far too easy at times, butStar Wars Chessis still a fun little minigame to play in short bursts.
Powermongeris a game that was incredibly ahead of its time when it was released in 1990. Not only did it feature a game map that was technically fully 3D, but the game also had a fairlyadvanced AI systemwhere citizens of a village would have their own lives and perform certain actions without having to be commanded around by the player. While the player only starts a game with a tiny patch of land and a handful of soldiers, they will need to work their way towards building a city that’s capable of not only keeping the people happy, but that can also defend itself from outside aggressors.
It can therefore feel very similar to the modernCivilizationseries, but it features much less conflict, which can end up making it a lot slower and more methodical. Still, for anyone who enjoys the challenge that comes with being a leader of a gigantic population,Powermongeris a great game to try out.
Considering that Koei started developing theRomance Of The Three Kingdomsgames back in 1985, it meant that by the time the third game was released for the Sega CD, they already had a pretty good idea of what made strategy games work, and what mechanics players enjoyed using the most.Dragon of Destinytook everything that was so beloved about its predecessors, including the giant world map and theChinese Han Dynasty setting, but added in far more unique characters and scenarios for players to sink their teeth into.
While a lot of strategy games at this time were still trying to find that perfect balance between complexity and fun,Dragon of Destinygoes all in with its difficulty, providing a true test for anyone who considers themselves a veteran strategist of the genre. To win a match, the player will need to lead their forces to take over 46 different cities, something that’s no easy task when also having to manage morale, happiness, and political tensions at the same time. It might be a little overwhelming for newcomers to the series, but it’s a real treat for any hardened strategy fans looking for a new game to enjoy. It should be noted that the Sega CD version of this game was only ever released in Japan, which is a real shame considering just how amazing it is.
It’s pretty astonishing howGenghis Khan 2: Clan Of The Gray Wolfmanages to containsuch a wide array of gameplay mechanics and systems, while still feeling easy to jump into. While players can obviously choose to play as Genghis Khan himself, there are multiple other factions to choose from too who have similar objectives, but that also play quite differently from one another, adding a lot of replayability to the experience.
The game is split up into four scenarios, with each one expanding the amount of territory that can be conquered, so by the time the player reaches the end, they’ll be able to take over the entire world if they play their cards right. While the core gameplay of building up and managing units is already incredibly fun and addictive, what helps the game stand out is the other smaller aspects that aren’t seen in strategy games. Building a family and creating a lineage is one example of this, along with random natural disasters which help keep the game unpredictable and intense at all times. The menus can admittedly feel a little messy, which often makes it hard to know exactly what’s going on, but if players can get used to this, they’ll be in for an amazing strategy experience.
While this turn-based strategy game might be severely lacking in content, there’s no denying that the actual core gameplay ofThe Third World Warfor the Sega CD is very layered, providing the player with many options and tools to help secure their victory. When players boot up the game, they’ll be able to choose from a staggering 16 different nations to lead, with each of them having their strengths, weaknesses, and unique units to deploy onto the field.
As players face off against an AI leader, they will need to build up their forces, manage their economy, and negotiate treaties to either earn a victory through economic means or by using their forces to conquer the entire map. There are definitely still a few downsides, with one of the biggest being just how reliant the game is on using its clunky menus and UI, but these are ultimately very small issues that are largely overshadowed by the amazing core gameplay.
WhileFire Emblemis usually credited for being the series that popularized the idea of incorporating RPG elements into strategy games,Dark Wizardstill does a tremendous job at replicating this style of gameplay, while also adding in a few of its unique mechanics to help make it stand out. The aim of the game is pretty simple: take back the kingdom of Cheshire from the clutches of the evil wizard known as Velonese, but there are plenty of ways that the player can go about achieving this thanks to just how many units are in the game.
Each unit has its abilities, weapons, and skills which make them ideal for different scenarios, whichadds an extra layer of strategy to the game. There are also a few characters who can be recruited along the way which helps keep the game fresh throughout its reasonably short runtime. There might be a ton of cinematics, but these very rarely get in the way of the gameplay so that the player can feel fully engaged from beginning to end.
