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My Lovely Empress Review: Royal Affairs, Mythical Flares & A Regal Delight
Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Empire management/dating sim
Empire sims are a genre that I’ve always been intrigued by but never had the time nor the expendable income to invest in. Now that reviewing games is a part of my job, this problem is a thing of the past. But with that, you can say that I’m somewhat of an amateur when it comes to management sims. So playing games like Civilization VI is the equivalent of throwing me into the deep end without really knowing how to swim. I could doggy-paddle at best, barely keeping afloat.
When a review code for My Lovely Empress (MLE) landed in my inbox, I approached it with a mix of curiosity and caution. Developed by GameChanger Studios and published by Neon Doctrine, this game is the third instalment in the My Lovely series. As someone new to both this series and the broader world of dating and management sims, I’m stepping into this experience with fresh eyes and no prior expectations.
In a way, I’m the outsider stepping into this universe for the first time, much like a traveller discovering a hidden kingdom. My experience with dating sims and management sims is limited, to say the least—think of me as the diplomatic envoy who’s never held a sceptre or courted a supernatural entity. But maybe that’s exactly why my perspective can offer something different, something that resonates with both seasoned fans and those who, like me, are new to this intriguing mix of genres.
Before diving into my experience with the game, it’s worth exploring the background of this fascinating series and how My Lovely Empress aims to build on its predecessors, offering a fresh yet familiar experience to all players—whether they’re seasoned rulers or just learning the ropes.
With My Lovely Empress, the series takes an ambitious turn eastward, blending the grandeur of imperial rule with its signature dark, supernatural elements. Set in the fictional Crimson Empire, players step into the role of Emperor Hong, a ruler grappling with profound personal and political upheaval. The game introduces us to Hong at a moment of profound loss: his mother, his role model, has passed away, and the burden of her legacy weighs heavily on him.
As if the crown’s weight wasn’t enough, fate delivers a shattering blow—Empress Xiang, his beloved wife, dies while pregnant with their child. This devastating loss fractures the empire’s stability and threatens Hong’s grip on sanity. My Lovely Empress plunges players into the depths of his grief, intertwining themes of love, loss, and power in a haunting narrative.
Amidst the crumbling empire and Hong’s spiralling despair, his loyal advisors propose a solution: summon the Yaoguai—ancient spirits known for their strength, wisdom, and enigmatic powers. These Northern Spirits could either lead the empire to unprecedented glory or drag it into ruin. Yet, their most tempting promise is the possibility of resurrecting Hong’s deceased wife. Overwhelmed by grief, Hong sets this as his primary quest.
Balancing the empire’s needs with his personal mission, Hong, with the aid of the Yaoguai, strives to restore his kingdom and find a path through his sorrow. In this darkly immersive journey, players must navigate the complexities of leadership, supernatural intervention, and personal redemption to reshape the fate of the Crimson Empire.
At its core, the game demands that you manage the myriad issues within your empire. Solving these “Decisions” requires action points, and ignoring them can lead to penalties like debuffs, population declines in specific factions or loss of Trust among said groups. The empire is divided into four main factions: the Commoners, the Traders, the Nobles, and the Soldiers. Technically, there’s a fifth faction—the Yaoguai—but they operate quite differently. Disputes typically arise between these factions, and you must choose sides or opt for a balanced solution. For instance, if Soldiers need a new camp on Noble land, you’ll need to decide whom to side with. Your choice impacts Trust and can result in various debuffs, such as a reduction in Trust from the Nobles.
You might think this sounds straightforward, but the real challenge lies in the ambiguity of some Decisions. You’re only given general information about which factions are affected and how your choices will impact Gold, buffs, and debuffs. The Yaoguai come into play here, offering assistance based on their Attributes. Each Yaoguai is tied to a specific Attribute and faction, like Gumiho, the Nine-Tail Fox, who is linked to Divinity and can only reveal how decisions affect the Commoners. The Yaoguai’s insights are limited to their primary faction, making strategic use of them crucial. On the topic of Yaoguai, there are ten available for summoning, requiring Ritual Essence and materials obtained either through trade or exploration.
Beyond their faction-specific insights, Yaoguai possess Attributes that can be enhanced using consumables such as Valerian Roots, Goji Berries, and Lillies, which boost their Attribute XP. They also have unique Statuses, like Stamina and Bond, and Traits that offer buffs during problem-solving, meditation, or exploration. Maxing out a Yaoguai’s abilities and awakening them involves upgrading their Stamina and Traits, making them even more effective.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the game is the character development that occurs as you strengthen the Bond between Emperor Hong and the Yaoguai. Once you reach certain Bond thresholds, the game rewards you with cutscenes where Hong interacts with the Yaoguai, revealing more about their lore and personalities—showing they might be more human than you’d initially think.
Yaoguai play a vital role in addressing Problems within the empire. These are tasks you assign to them that typically earn Gold and Trust without negative repercussions, although they do consume significant amounts of Stamina. If a Yaoguai’s Stamina runs low, you can send them for meditation, which costs Gold depending on your investment level.
Investment is a key feature for optimising empire management. It allows you to enhance Meditation effectiveness, expand your empire’s capacity, or increase rewards. However, you need Gold for these upgrades, which you can only acquire by solving Decisions, addressing Problems, or receiving tributes from factions at the end of each Cycle. The amount of tribute depends on Trust and Population, making it essential to keep factions satisfied. But with a finite number of action points in each Session, prioritisation becomes key. Decisions and Problems are marked with a bar indicating the number of turns remaining before they incur penalties, so strategic planning is essential. Each Session refreshes only one action point, limiting how quickly you can address issues.
Additionally, the game operates in Cycles (seven Sessions per Cycle) and three Cycles are equivalent to a season: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Some features and areas, like sending a Yaoguai to explore certain locations, are season-dependent. For example, the Lake in the Mizujima Kingdom is restricted to Spring and Summer, adding another layer of strategy to your management decisions.
The storyline progresses through Chapters, independent of the Cycles, but is interwoven with storyline-related Problems. But at this point in the review, I’m sure you’ve already forgotten about the fact that Hong’s goal is to resurrect his late wife. To achieve this, he must gather Human Essence to boost his wife’s Soul Vitality to 1,000. This process involves creating disasters that sacrifice the Crimson Empire’s denizens. If the Empress’ Soul Vitality drops to zero, your run ends, forcing you to either restart or continue from a previous save. As someone new to management sims, I experienced this failure several times, which I’ll delve into further in the review.
One of the game’s biggest selling points is its hybrid nature, combining management sim and dating sim elements. The dating sim aspect emerges through interactions with other kingdoms. After the death of Hong’s wife, his advisors suggest rebuilding relations with neighbouring kingdoms through marriage. To do this, you must visit those kingdoms and interact with their rulers, which may trigger Ruler-Related Problems that need to be solved before further interactions. And my goodness, these lovely ladies are majestically beautifully designed, with my favourite being Governor Farah of the Persepolis Territory. Each successful interaction earns 5 Relation Points, and you need 100 points to propose. However, proposing requires a Dowry, which takes time to gather all the necessary materials.
That, in essence, covers the gameplay mechanics of My Lovely Empress—albeit in a simplified form. As someone new to management sims, this was a lot to take in, but my enjoyment of the story and setting motivated me to learn and understand the game. Over time, the mechanics became more intuitive. While I can’t compare My Lovely Empress to other management sims, I found it a good starting point. As someone more accustomed to FPS games, this required more critical thinking than I’m used to, and though it could be mentally taxing, I appreciated how it kept me engaged, making me plan my empire’s expenses, manage faction trust, and use my Yaoguai efficiently. The game’s engaging story and setting, rooted in ancient Chinese mythology and fables like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, made the experience more compelling for me. Plus, the game is polished, with no game-breaking bugs to disrupt immersion, and it runs smoothly, with a small file size of just 1.44 GB.
MLE’s soundtrack delivers exactly what one might expect from a period drama empire sim. Its majestic and atmospheric score draws heavily from traditional Asian music, weaving orchestral elements and haunting melodies that encapsulate themes of loss, power, and mystique. This rich auditory experience forms an emotional backdrop that enhances the game’s narrative, especially its darker motifs involving resurrection and the enigmatic Yaoguai.
Visually, the game captivates with a distinctive art style that evokes a sense of familiarity while also feeling fresh. The cel-shaded aesthetics remind me of Borderlands, featuring bold black outlines that give characters and objects a comic book-like quality. At the same time, the art draws inspiration from traditional Asian ink-brush paintings, marrying 2D and 3D elements to create a strikingly immersive world. The delicate brush strokes, muted colour palettes, and intricate character designs culminate in a unique aesthetic that beautifully blends the elegance of classical art with the eerie undertones of its darker themes.
My Lovely Empress was a journey of discovery for me as a newcomer to both management and dating sims. The game challenged my strategic thinking, tested my patience, and ultimately rewarded my efforts with a richly immersive experience that even a beginner like me could appreciate. Its blend of mythological depth, intricate faction management, and supernatural elements creates a unique atmosphere that draws you in, even if the gameplay can feel overwhelming at first. The learning curve is steep, but the game’s intuitive design and captivating story make it accessible to those willing to dive in.
As for the target audience, this game will resonate most with fans of empire management and those who appreciate a good narrative twist on the dating sim genre. However, it’s also an excellent entry point for newcomers who are intrigued by the concept but daunted by more complex titles in these genres.
Although the Steam price hasn’t been revealed yet, it’s retailing on Xbox for US$19.99 (roughly RM93). For that price, My Lovely Empress offers a compelling and richly detailed experience that is well worth the investment, especially for players seeking a fresh and engaging twist on familiar genres. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or a curious beginner, this game has something to offer, making it a worthy addition to any collection.
Review copy provided by publisher.
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