Jason hacks up hundreds of people. Then plays this game.
Publisher: KOEI Ltd
Wed, 8 November 2006
by: Jason
KOEI Ltdare obviously firm believers in the "if it aint broke don't fix it" philosophy, as evidenced by this game, which is the latest in a series that has graced just about every game playing device known to man. At first the premise was simple; beat the living shit out of the controller to cut down vast hordes of blokes that all look the same.
Then some bright spark had a brain wave of sorts and began a conversation with his co-developers that may have gone something like this: "hey guys sooner or later somebody is going to pick up on the fact that we're just knocking out the same game over and over again here, we need to add something more to it to keep the punters flinging us their cash". Thus was a turn based strategy element introduced to the game. Personally, I hate to use an old cliché but oil and water comes to mind.
From my point of view the two different types of gameplay are just too different, it's like trying to combine Twister with Risk. Having said that, the concept is an admirable one as they are attempting to give you greater control over the whole campaign to rule China.
 | | I choppy choppy your pee pee! |
Of course, if you just want to jump straight into a massively one sided slaughterfest, the game offers a free mode that allows reasonably accessible - if somewhat long winded to get to - pick up and play action. The meat of the game is the empire mode that includes the strategy bit. This consists largely of menus and maps, with the gameplay actually beginning when you (or one of your allies) invade an enemy territory, or are when your army gets invaded themselves. Then its on to the traditional Dynasty Warriors game, i.e. beat the crap out of anything that moves and isn't on your side.
The button configuration will be instantly recognized by anyone who has played any of the prequels, with 3 attack buttons and a jump on the face of the controller and the shoulder buttons being used for blocking and the first person bow and arrow.
Graphically, the game looks okay. It is not exactly jaw dropping next gen stuff here, although the cutscenes do look good. Sound wise it features the same thumps and clangs of the battlefield, with generic metal music that all blurs into noise after a while in the background. Personally I would suggest loading up your 360 with tunes of your own choice and bash away to those instead.
So, have KOEI managed to inject new life into a series by combining two vastly different genres? Well yes and no. I've always enjoyed the mindless 'take on a horde of thousands' style of gameplay the previous efforts in this series have supplied, but I'm not exactly in love with the turn based strategy bits. I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate that aspect, but I'm finding the free mode more enjoyable than the empire mode. But, again, that's just me.
So, if button bashing and brow furrowing strategizing are your thing, give this a look. Although, if its just controller destroying you're after, then Ninety Nine Knights is probably right up your alley.
by: Jason
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