Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom

Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Predecessor	Queen of the Nile
Founded	2002 (2002)
Founder	BreakAway Games (developer)
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Jeff van Dyck (composer)
Products	Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom (video game)
Owner	Sierra Entertainment (publisher)
Parent	Impressions Games (developer)

Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom is a city-building title and marks the sixth installment in the City Building franchise, launched in 2002 for Microsoft Windows. Following their work on Queen of the Nile, BreakAway Games was contracted to develop Emperor. This entry is notable for being the final one in the series to utilize the 2D sprite-based engine from earlier releases and introduces multiplayer gameplay for the first time.

Consistent with previous games, Emperor focuses on constructing and managing cities set in ancient China, covering a timeline from the Xia dynasty (2033 BC) through to the era of the Song and Jin dynasties (ending in 1234 AD).

Gameplay

Players are tasked with sustaining their city by securing sufficient supplies of food, healthcare, and security. The expansion of a settlement depends on providing a wide range of goods and services. Economic growth is supported through effective trade management and taxation systems.

Offering sacrifices to revered ancestors and influential figures from Chinese philosophy, Daoism, and Buddhism can help avert calamities or grant advantages. Unlike earlier titles, players must now navigate diplomatic ties with competing cities alongside maintaining favor with the emperor. Defensive measures such as walls and archer units are essential to safeguard against enemy attacks.

Constructing grand landmarks like the Great Wall of China, Grand Canal, and Terracotta Army demands robust economic resources and military strength due to their substantial costs and susceptibility during assembly.

The game’s seven campaigns span approximately 3,300 years of Chinese history. Initial missions involve guiding a nomadic tribe as they establish a riverside settlement; later scenarios focus on governing Zhongdu—the Imperial capital known today as Beijing—and defending it from Mongol forces led by Genghis Khan.

Throughout the dynastic progression, players witness historical developments in agriculture, technology, and religious practices. Cities may be constructed or revisited over centuries, requiring adaptation to evolving circumstances or reconstruction following decline.

Campaigns are accessible in any sequence, with difficulty levels rising progressively. Objectives vary from producing specific goods and conquering rival cities to achieving population milestones or erecting monumental structures.

Reception

On Metacritic, Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom garnered "generally favorable reviews." While critics praised its qualities, some pointed out a lack of innovation and minimal departure from earlier titles developed by Impression Games.

In February 2017, the game was reissued on GOG.com, broadening its reach to contemporary audiences.