Destiny of an Emperor

Destiny of an Emperor NES is a tactical role-playing game from Capcom, released in North America in September 1990. It retells the Three Kingdoms era of China through the eyes of Liu Bei and his sworn brothers. This listing is the loose NES cartridge.

About Destiny of an Emperor NES

Capcom developed and published Destiny of an Emperor. In Japan it is called Tenchi wo Kurau and came out in May 1989. The game is based on Hiroshi Motomiya's manga of the same name. That manga loosely follows Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the 14th-century novel by Luo Guanzhong.

The story begins with Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu leading a village militia. Over the course of the game, their small band grows into a full army.

Battles work differently from most RPGs of the time. Many random encounters are against enemy generals. After you defeat a general, he may join your side if you pay a bribe of money or horses. Recruiting the right officers is the heart of the game.

Destiny of an Emperor Game Details

• Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• NES release (North America): September 1990
• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom
• Genre: Tactical role-playing game
• Players: 1
• What you get: Loose cartridge only, no box or manual

Playing Tips

The All-Out command hands a battle to the computer and plays it at high speed. It is handy for easy fights, but it gives no tactical edge, so control harder battles yourself. Saving money and horses for bribes pays off, since recruited generals make your army stronger. Players who know the Three Kingdoms story will recognize many of the officers you meet.

A note on the name: the Famicom original launched in Japan as Tenchi wo Kurau in May 1989. Capcom gave it a new English title for the North American release about sixteen months later. If you see either name in a collector guide, it refers to the same Capcom game, with this cartridge being the US version.

Related Three Kingdoms Games

See all NES games in our shop. For more of this period of Chinese history, try Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Romance of the Three Kingdoms II. Read about Destiny of an Emperor on Wikipedia.

Destiny of an Emperor NES: FAQs

When did Destiny of an Emperor come out in the US?
Capcom released it in North America in September 1990.

What is the game based on?
It is based on the manga Tenchi wo Kurau, which loosely follows Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Who are the main characters?
Liu Bei and his sworn brothers Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, who start out as a village militia.

Is it a strategy game or an RPG?
It is a tactical RPG. You explore and fight turn-based battles, and you build an army by recruiting generals.

Does this listing include a box or manual?
No. You get the cartridge only. It is an NES cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

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