Viewing Single Post From: Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires Review

Viewing Single Post From: Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires Review
LoW	Apr 10 2007, 07:28 PM
This guy definitely isn't a rock anymore.... Posts: 4,434 Group: Members Member #749 Joined: February 21, 2006 Gender Male	Dynasty Warriors 4 Empires was KOEI's first attempt to see how Dynasty Warriors series would work with strategic elements and tactical action. The risk KOEI took definitely wasn't a mistake because those DW fans who were getting tired of the hack 'n slash that previous game had offered already so much, this game was nice change for them (and this includes me), But now to the review itself... Gameplay: 8/10 This time the main action doesn't happen in Musou or Free mode, but in Empire mode where your goal is to conquer 25 regions and be the next ruler of China. You can choose two scenarios: Historical and Fictional. By choosing the Historical scenario you can only play as the certain force (such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Jian) but you have chances to unlock special events and battles. In Fictional mode you choose one of the original DW4 characters as your ruler and two random officers to serve you. Fictional mode doesn't include special battles or events, but you can choose your starting region and rest of the forces are randomly chosen making this mode feel completely different than Historical mode. Before you are given chance to enter into battlefield, you must listen your generals. During each turn all of your generals give two different policy suggestions. DW4E features 50 policies in total and all of them have different effects. You may recover your troops, create alliances, recruit generals or upgrade your weapons. There are tons of choices. What makes battles different in DW4E, however, is the new base system. There are ally and enemy bases scattered around the battlefield and without these the victory is impossible. If you think you can just ignore the enemy bases and go straight for generals, you're wrong. In order to win, you have to advance with your allies and with teamwork capture the enemy bases and finally their main camp. On Hard difficulty it's actually your only choice, because otherwise enemy generals are going to destroy you. Controls: 7/10 The system from DW2, DW3 and DW4 hasn't changed a one bit in DW4E. You Use the analog/d-pad to move your character, square and triangle attacks to slay your enemies and circle to finish them off. The controls are simple and it doesn't take much time to master them. Graphics: 8/10 Nothing hasn't changed since DW4. Stages still have dark background unfortunetly, but the character designs still look great. Sound: 8/10 No changes in sounds either. Granted, there's a new opening intro music. If you liked DW4's music, then you shouldn't have problems with it in DW4E either. Extras: 9/10 Besides the Encyclopedia, DW4E features Archives section. In Archives you can view the profiles of all original 42 DW4 characters, listen their quotes, take a look of their weapons and costumes etc. There's a gallery section too, which has over 150 different pictures. You unlock them by fulfilling different requirements in Empire mode and it may take time even from veterans to unlock all of them. And finally, you can watch the Ending edit you get after finishing Empire mode at least once. Re-play ability: 8/10 I had to finish this game seven times before I unlocked everything. Once I had done that, I still kept playing because this game is so much different than other DWs and offers a new gameplay experiences. It's worth of your money, trust me... Overall score: 8/10 I personally hope KOEI keeps making these games in the future as well. I'm not the only one here who started with DW2 and now wants to see something different. Hack 'n slash is fun but sometimes it really gets boring. That's why games like DW4 and DW5 Empires are always a nice welcome. My review ends here.
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Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires Review · Dynasty Warriors Series Reviews