Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom, Desktop Computer

The much-loved RTS genre makes a foray into the Orient with the release of Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom - a city-building strategy game that engulfs the player in China's remarkable history. China has existed for over 4,000 years, but its history has been marked with new technologies and ideas, replacing or enhancing the old. This is the world in which players will take the reigns of leadership and take their cities through the twists and turns of Chinese history. With an emphasis on the multiplayer aspect, Emperor offers players the opportunity to play online via the Internet. A great variety of both collaborative and competitive multiplayer games are on offer: players may need to collaborate in building one of China's engineering marvels, or there may be a common goal for all cities to attain. In competitive multiplayer modes, players take sides - or maybe a side unto themselves - and fight for sole power over China. Familiar concepts and ancient beliefs both play a crucial role in the game, with the Chinese zodiac and the concept of Feng Shui featuring throughout. During the game, players are represented by an animal of their choosing, and receive benefits based on that animal's role in the Chinese zodiac. In addition, the concept of Feng Shui (the harmonious arrangement of objects in relation to their environment) must be taken into consideration when designing cities. Players achieve a high level of Feng Shui when their cities are designed efficiently and when people are surrounded by beautiful structures. An absorbing title with a great deal of depth, this is the one to buy if you've ever fancied building your own Great Wall of China.

Buy Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom for 4.99 GBP

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