Super Sangokushi II is one of those deep SNES strategy games that doesn’t hold your hand—you’re thrown right into the chaos of China’s Three Kingdoms era. At the start, you pick a warlord (or make your own, which is fun but risky), and suddenly you’re staring at this sprawling map full of cities, generals, and rival factions eyeing your territory.

First thing I did was panic because my advisor kept suggesting terrible ideas. Turns out, diplomacy is just as important as battles—you can recruit enemy officers, bribe your way out of trouble, or just go full conquest mode. The combat’s simple on the surface, but terrain and morale actually matter, so charging blindly gets you wrecked fast.

It’s got that classic Koei vibe where one wrong move snowballs into disaster, but pulling off a comeback feels amazing. Just don’t expect flashy graphics—it’s all menus and tiny sprites, but the depth makes up for it.