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Awful camera, repetitive controls...what else is new?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: June 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The concept had seemed interesting ever since the first Dynasty Warriors game hit the shelves, but it wasn't until now that I tried actually playing this game.

As with all other one-against-many fighting games -- like Final Fight or the granddaddy of them all, Double Dragon -- the computer basically keeps trying to get at you from the back to disrupt your moves. That's fair game and to be expected. What I hadn't expected was that you would have a game camera that steadfastly refuses to look where you want it to. Sixty per cent of the time, I'm swinging at enemies behind me when I can't even see them, because the camera idiotically stays in its own angle, so that when you're battling a particularly powerful enemy, he could all of a sudden land someplace you can't see and you'd have to run around begging for the camera to go back to a 3rd-person perspective behind you so you know where you're going. Also, the 360-degree pan when you execute a super move only serves to disorient your controls. Maybe these camera problems serve to fulfill the game designers' feeble fantasies of being filmmakers, but in a game, it's just irritating. The fighting "system" is pathetic -- lots of button mashing in all directions. Most of your combos are useless because you're receiving attack from all sides, so you end up using one combination over and over because anything else would be suicide. So I played through the entire "Shu" story by doing one combo. Yeah, I'm passing levels, but it's monotonous as hell.

As the Amazon editorial review noted, there's also a lot of running around in this game. The programmers love designing level maps chock full of dead ends, forcing you to run all the way around to get where you want. Even on horseback, it takes friggin' forever. And then there's the game's charming tendency to magically make three powerful enemy platoons appear right beside your commander whom you're supposed to protect...if you happen to be launching an attack against the enemy base at that time and can't find a horse, good luck. Oh yeah, and the enemy can do the ol' "block you to death". I had Cao Cao cornered with only 5 per cent of his health left, and all he did was put his back to the mountain, hold down block against all my eight bodyguards and myself, and waited for five minutes straight until troops from his side appeared right beside my commander and took him out in a flash. This was 95 per cent through the level. Call this fun?

I've been able to advance very well through this game, but it's really not a good gaming experience. And I'm willing to bet Dynasty Warriors 5 is just on the horizon...with the exact game mechanics. Koei has made it a habit of releasing the same game over and over without making any real improvements on sequels, so I seriously doubt I will ever play another Dynasty Warriors game again.

good GAME..but series getting old

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 7
Date: November 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

THE DYNASTY WARRIOR SERIES IS STARTING TO GET PLAYED OUT...

Not a good game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is not a good one especially if you own Dynasty Wariors 3. All the battles suck and the weapons are the same the only thing that is different is the uniforms and their faces as well as the battle scenes. This game is not one you should own if you have the third one.

What Number is this......2?3?4...?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 11 / 21
Date: April 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Koei has made another installment of the Dynasty Warriors series.Capitalizing,yet again,on "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" story.It goes a little something like this:set in ancient China,three kingdoms (Wu,Wei,Shu) are fighting for supreme rule over the land.It's your job to pick which one of them will prevail.Basically,you chose a character from one of the three dynasties and fight your way through various levels to achieve your goal.You must fight soldiers to gain experience and take on enemy generals to increase your stats(strength,health,defense),like in an RPG.Now,this is all good and fun....but it was also all "good and fun" in the first three Dynasty Warriors Playstation 2 games (Dynasty Warriors 2/3,Extreme Legends).The fact is,Dynasty Warriors 4 isn't much different from its predecesors.Here's whats changed:

Graphics:Although they haven't been greatly altered(like most of this game),they have been improved.The invironments look more realistic and less vibrant than in DW3.

Music:This is one of the parts that was most drastically changed.Straying from the "Hard-rock" sound,Koei implemented more of an Asian sound fused with some of the previous music.Depending on how you felt about the previous music,the change could be good or bad.Like the other games' soundtracks,this one has songs that "stick out" and are ones you'll most-likely enjoy.I,myself,liked the old sound better...but this one's okay.

Modes:The only "new" mode is "Edit".Here,you can "edit" your body guards,but options here are limited to name,gender,and some skin-color/type options.You can also make your very own playable officers in "Officer-Edit" mode.But,again,options are limited.

Controller:THE WORST MOVE KOEI MADE!This version takes PS2 controllers.NONE of the previous Playstation controllers will work.Why Koei did this,I have no clue.I know that I don't want to go out and buy a new controller just for one game though....

And,here's what pretty much stayed the same:

Story:Wow.Koei REALLY must not like change.I suppose they have a "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" thinking but,I believe they are in the teens' as to how many of their games have this story...

Gameplay:If you've played any PS2 Dynasty game,you'll know how to play this one.The use of attacks and combos are pretty much the same as in the previous titles.And if you're new to the series,it shouldn't take long for you to learn the controls.

Bad voice-acting:...I think this pretty much explains itself.

In closing....
For anyone who has never played,but curious...:This is a very good action/RPG game.Out of all the Dynasty games,this is a good one to start with.Very addicting.

Fans of the series:...don't expect too much.While it's a good game,it's not much different from the previous ones.

It is okey.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: April 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I thought that Dynasty warriors 4 is way too frustrating. Dynasty warriors 3 was a epic adventure. DW3 was fun and perfect. But now DW4 is a shipwreck waiting to happen. The only things I like about it are the edit mode, The orbs, And the improved graphics. The levels are colorless, The menu screens are plain, and the weapons arent very interesting. I loved the way that you got weapons in the DW3, But now you train weapons like pokemon. Just like pokemon evolve, the weapons evolve. When I play this game I feel like I am playing Pokemon Ruby instead of Dynasty Warriors.

The funnest game ever for 2 hours

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: April 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

You've read two types of reviews. One is correct, the other is wrong. When you first start this game it is the best game you've ever played. After you start to play it you realize the flaws, mindless warrior bashing, no strategy, and [...] poor ai with potentially great game design. First off, I've played dynasty warriors 2 and own dynasty warriors 3. The newest installment does nothing but upgrade graphics and sound, give you more levels and different item/weapon/bodyguard physics. At the same time the AI shows its face as pointless bodyguards and allies who end up dying and not helping any time at all. Meanwhile by yourself you can slay 1,000 enemies and 15 officers without breaking a sweat, securing gates and killing officers becomes repetitive and stupid, new level designs conintue your quest and the story is somewhat fun. But the fact that every time you jump near enemies you are automatically knocked down or when yuo switch characters who have no exp and end up dying bye the first arrow that hits them........ [...]

Dynasty warriors 4?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I assumed the fourth installment would be an improvement over the third. While there are a few interesting additions the graphics seem inferior to Dynasty Warriors 3. While it is still fun, I have found myself back to playing the old one more.

Enough Already.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 7
Date: April 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

It's the 4th title in the series, and it's more of the same. If you've never played a Dynasty Warriors game you will enjoy this, but for everyone else, it's gonna just be more of the same linear boring gameplay. You might like it, and you might not. Just depends on if you like mindless gameplay.

An improvement, but not an Innovation

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: April 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Let me start by saying I totally love this game. Everything about it sucks you in, and keeps you hacking away. However, while a great deal of problems were fixed from it's predcessors, it plays as almost the exact same game, just buggier. My tohughts are Koei rushed to develop this one, and thus left a lot of things unfinished.

Story/Characters: This is kind of a split for me. While they managed to give us greater background to the story it was done so in a text basis. Most of the previous cut-scenes that added flavor to DW3 (Guan Yu maiming Yan Liang and Wen Chou, or the Triangle Duel against Lu Bu) have been replaced by a simple phrase, "Lord Yan Liang, I have come for your head". Also, those familiar with the Romance Novels will find Koei takes a great deal of liberties(Guan Yu fighting at Yi Ling... it was his death that triggered Yi Ling). But this really shouldn't deviate too much from the gameplay esspcially if you are new, so in that respect I give it a 4-.

Graphics: Firstly, the resolution was reduced, so everything runs smoother, a nice touch. Second, the levels are incredibly re-vamped. My biggest problem with the old games was the large flat areas of nothing, but most of those hvae vanished from this game. The characters are better defined, and Ma Chao has a face! However, DW3 had pretty much pushed the PS2 to its limits, and unfortunatley these great graphics have drawbacks, mainly in the 2 player mode. The biggest problem is if you and your buddy get to close and theres a mob of 15+ guys, you lose your interface screen, and thus have no idea what your health is. Dual Musou and True Musou's are pathetic, and the drawing distance is still pretty bad. Again, somewhat minor, but things that really could have been fixed had they spent an extra 6 months, so again a 4.

Gameplay: They added some nice touches. The AI has made a big step, learning how to block(maybe a little too much) and hit you back. Leaders will make a break for it if their moral is shattered, and can ocme abck in a Gaiden Stage. The first and third Charge moves have been altered, altohugh I was dissapointed half the characters have the same first one. These are nice, but when you come down to it, the basic objective will always be "Kill the Enemy Commander". Siege Engines are practically non-existant(except for the damn Juggernaughts, which are totally unbalnced by having lighting speed, and massive damage). There was 1 new item added(none of the items form XL are in it), and your final weapon is pitful(no stat bonuses, all it does is allow you to use your orb when your musou isnt full). O yes, the orbs, well Ice and Posion are pretty much ineffective(excpet for a few characters), and you'll find that your best bet is Lightning and Fire for damage. All this was meant to balance the game better, but many hcarcters end up falling short(Pang Tong w/o his Tornado Staff from DW3 can't do his Super Musou Charge, Lu Xun is quite slower, and lackes his excellent Death Attack which made him an equal for the Likes of Guan Yu). Not to mention we only got 3 new Characters, and a ... Create a Warrior. While the same concept enthralls me, it just dosent deliever what it's predcessors had.

Audio: Wow, the sound is definetly better. Crisp with wooshes, block breaking, crunching action. The music once again goes into the "Love it or Hate it Category". Some tracks like Yi Ling and Chang Ban have excellent adreniline pumping, yet mood set music. But then we have Yellow Turban Rebellion(whoever composed this needs to be shot, esspcially since every character plays the freakin level!), Nanman, and this one song that sound like a Reject 80's band. And finally the dubbing... I'm used to watching Anime, so I know good dubs and totally awful dubs. Thank heaven this isn't an awful one. For one, the lip synching is done rather well, and we don't have people stretching or trying to speed up there voices. Second, most of the voices fit, Dian Wei, Guan Yu, Sun Jian are really good. Some like Zhao Yun, Sima Yi, and Zhang He could use work, but aren't anything as bad as DW3..."You Flaming IDIOTS!". I big improvement, so this earns a 5.

Replay: With 50 levels as opposed to like 18 you'd think "Wow I'll never get tired of this!" unfortunatley, everyone has the same Musou Mode(One for Shu, Wu, Wei...) Ending( 1 basic Cinema for all Kingdoms, then 4 Indivdual ones for Each Kingdom) and, some levels are re-used(Yellow Turban Fortress and Guan Du). Without Weapons to collect, or a plethora of new characters to try out, there just doesn't seem to be as much to do as there was in 3. Lu Bu is a pushover (aside from dueling, which is rigged anyways due to the enemeis unlimeted msuou, life recharging, and the bug that turns off your items during the duel, but forgets to reactivate them afterwards!). With less events, and smaller maps its some what of a let down, getting a 3.

Is Dynasty Warriors 4 a good game. Yes, infact it's worth the 50 dollars. Is it for everyone? Probably not. Is it a major Improvement? Not really. If you enjoyed the past games, pick it up, and you'll probably still have a blast. If your new, try renting it first, you may become bored within 2 days.

Addictive in small doses. Incredibly annoying in large.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game has had the same motive since the beginning. Which is to tap the square button repetitively until about 1000 soldiers fall on the floor.

But this is what makes the Dynasty Warriors games their own person and can be quite interesting. It's set in ancient China in the time of the Three Kingdoms (want a history lesson? Tough you're not getting one.). And you can start off Musou mode (the main story) with either of the Three Kingdoms Wu, Wei or Shu. (Tee hee those names sound like phonetic spelling)

Now for every level the easiest way to win is just to simply run straight through a crowd of enemies, kill them in a few button bashes, run to the leader kill him and... YAY YOU WON!!!

However if your a committed gamer like me you will get bored of this and try to play the game properly and that of course is far more enjoyable. With cut scenes and random stuff it makes the game slightly thicker. HOWEVER!!! After playing it solidly for a while YOU WILL GET ANNOYED AT THE SITE OF THIS GAME. It gets sooo repetitive that you'll put it down and play Final Fantasy all over again. Yes there are alot of characters but is that enough? Yes for a little while but it all gets boring in the end.

Buy the game, play it for a week, STOP!!!, then play it again after you had the break. Seriously playing it for too long and you will get bored.

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