Dynasty Warriors 4

No matter how you look at it there is no mistaking that it is just a pumped up version of Dynasty Warriors 3. If you already own DW3 then there is not much point wasting your money on this, but if you haven’t this would certainly be a great buy and I recommend it to anyone who wants a beat-em-up game but with lots of people to fight rather than just one.

If you are a fan of the Dynasty Warrior series, you are might be wondering if you should pick up the Xbox version or the PS2 release. If you don’t already own the PS2 version, it is a difficult decision. The Xbox version is cleaner looking but at the expense of noticeably more slowdown. Meanwhile, the PS2 version will be compatible with the recently announced Dynasty Warriors 3 Xtreme Legends add-on/expansion. I would personally go with the PS2 version for the expansion compatibility. The ultimate attack in Dynasty Warriors 4 is called the “Musou,” which roughly translates to “Unrivaled.” And that is what this title is when it comes to action/strategy titles.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is easily the best release in an already strong franchise. To update the classic axiom - Among Men: Lu Bu. Among Horse: Red Hare. Among action/strategy: Dynasty Warriors 4.

When developers make a sequel to a game several times, and it sells well, they know that they have a great franchise. There has been but a few games that have had accomplished this feat: Final Fantasy, Mario, Sonic, and Resident Evil, to name but a few. It is now Koei’s turn to make it into this prestigious “hall of fame,” with the release of Dynasty Warriors 4. This game not only improves the game from all of its sequels, but it even manages to add new things, to keep the formula fresh and new. This is a game not to be missed!

Once again the Dynasty Warriors series has evolved ever so slightly. If you didn't tire of the previous games then Dynasty Warriors 4 is well worth a look. Likewise if you've never played one of the games it's worth a look - but be warned - it can get repetitive.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is a fun game at heart. While the series hasn’t evolved much from its birth, the core gameplay is still fun. It is questionable that Dynasty Warriors 5 will continue being fun if Koei and Omega Force don’t drastically change the game engine, though. Also a bit disappointing is the bare-bones port to the Xbox. Besides Dolby 5.1, there isn’t any change. This game was made to be played on Xbox Live, but we’ll have to wait ‘til the next in the series. Recommended if you haven’t played the PS2 version.

Still addictively fun despite the fact that the series hardly ever changes, Dynasty Warriors 4 once again puts you on the battlefield for some more non-stop action. There are plenty of stages to sink your teeth into in this one and the improvements and much-appreciated extras will surely keep gamers more than entertained. If you’re new to the series, this fourth title is a great way to introduce you to this strategy combat game with a lot to offer.

This is the best version of Dynasty Warriors to date. It really is impressive how far it has come. If you're not a fan of mindless beat 'em up games, there isn't enough there to keep your mind active. There is a bit of strategy if you don't want to just be the one man army. In the future, though, Koei should fix the graphics, voice-overs, and give the character more customization, and some more stats like number of enemies defeated by regular attacks, special, musou and bow attacks; or a list of the character's kills that they can look at besides the one on the end game screen.

When your game sells over two million units worldwide in less than two years, company honchos are going to notice. Such is the situation that KOEI Corporation has experienced since the smash success of Dynasty Warriors 3 and its incredibly striking numbers when it first appeared in Japan as Shin Sangokumusou 2 back in 2001. Already revisited with the special add-on pack Xtreme Legends in late 2002, the expectation of another sequel to the Dynasty Warriors series was about as likely as death and taxes. And with the final touches on the American version of DW4 now a distant memory, KOEI is poised once again to shatter sales records and increase its dominance of the action/slasher market.

Dynasty Warriors 4 has everything that fans could have hoped for: More stages, balanced characters, smarter computer intelligence, and plenty of different modes to choose from (the Encyclopedia and Two-Player mode stand out as ********s). What it doesn't have, however, is innovation. Improved as the game may be, it's the same repetitive beast that it's always been and players looking for the next evolution of the action genre will be sorely disappointed. Especially once they hear the terrible verbiage of an Ancient Chinese British accent. Repetition and bad voice acting aside, DW4 still manages to advance the series in a forward direction. Refined to a point that battle enthusiasts will surely appreciate, Dynasty Warriors 4 is about as honed as a fan could hope for. In fact, it's still one of the best action games around -- no matter how familiar it may seem. Bet on it

Now, just because there are relatively minor tweaks to just about every aspect of the game, Dynasty Warriors 4 is still a very solid title, primarily because of these rehashed features. The gameplay is just as easy to pick up and play as earlier versions (even if every single stage boils down to a “kill every enemy that moves” formula), and the individual storylines that are weaved between characters and kingdoms are still very engaging. Plus, the number of hidden characters and items, some of which are carried over from previous titles, ensures plenty of replayability for those eager to get their money’s worth out of a game. While Dynasty Warriors 4 won’t break new ground or establish new benchmarks, it does bolster Koei’s dominance of the historical action game.

What can I say? I'm disappointed that Koei simply chose to port over a game that I had in my hands six months ago. No additional features... nothing. While the game is still great and a lot of fun to get through, the lack of new features (especially in light of the upcoming expansion), and the odd addition of slowdown, really turned me off. In essence, the game looks and sounds better, but what they make up for in aural and visual presentation, they remove in features and load issues. If you don't have a Playstation 2, I highly recommend Dynasty Warriors 4. If you do have a Playstion 2 and were thinking of getting the Xbox version... don't. Not enough has changed to warrant buying this edition over the Playstation 2 one.

I can see where some people might find the game to be a bit "more of the same". However, the improvements made are signifigant enough to make this a worthwhile additions to any PS2 library. An unbeatable story, fantastic fighting engine and fantastic graphics really ties this package together well. Overall, it's a solid title. One last thing... if you haven't read the books, do it. You can find them on Ebay. It's a reading experience that is long, rich and rewarding. Get a copy ASAP!

Ogółem zabawy kupa i DW4 śmiało stanowić może przerywnik pomiędzy poważniejszymi produkcjami. Tym bardziej, że takich gier się już na komputery osobiste nie robi. Mały apel do dystrybutorów - zainteresujcie się tą produkcją w klimatach kraju kwitnącej wiśni, bowiem tak dobrego relaksatora nie było dawno.

Comme pour les autres volets, le titre ne plaira pas à tout le monde. Outre le fait qu'il faudra passer au-delà d'une réalisation pas au top, c'est surtout le gameplay qui n'a que peu évolué qu'on pourra reprocher à ce quatrième opus. Un peu au-dessus de DW 3 mais pas encore au sommet de nos attentes.

Comme pour les autres volets, le titre ne plaira pas à tout le monde. Outre le fait qu'il faudra passer au-delà d'une réalisation pas au top, c'est surtout le gameplay qui n'a que peu évolué qu'on pourra reprocher à ce quatrième opus. Un peu au-dessus de DW 3 mais pas encore au sommet de nos attentes.

You know what Dynasty Warriors is? It's the Kiss of video games. It's got a dedicated legion of fans and a far greater expanse of people scratching their heads and wondering what the big deal is. The fourth trip around the yin-yang ball attempts to bridge the gap between the hardcore and the deathly bored with several flashy new features...that, by some divine miracle, somehow make the game even more engaging than before.

The several million gamers who've experienced previous entries in the franchise will dig on Dynasty Warriors 4 and its plethora of additions, which far outweigh its minor drawbacks. This should definitely be the last entry in the series for a while. KOEI needs to overhaul the engine and launch a spectacular DW5 two years down the road, perhaps providing the PS2's swan song.

Wenn Sie schon immer bei epischen Massenschlachten dabei sein wollten, ist Dynasty Warriors 4 Ihr Spiel. Da kommt auch Die Rückkehr des Königs nicht mit.

At the end of the day, Dynasty Warriors 4 is a pretty good game especially if you like insane, dense melee action. It’s a sequel, but hasn’t really added as much as it could have to what was in Dynasty Warriors 3. So unless you skipped Dynasty Warrior 3 there won’t be that much that’s new here. It’s a fun game though, and if you were really into the last few Dynasty Warriors games, then pick this up. With all the unlockable characters, items to find, and now a decent number of levels, there is enough replay value to last a while. And most importantly, there’s that great feeling you get when you’re charging down entire armies on the field of battle like Mel Gibson.

Auch im vierten Teil der bekannten Serie geht es nur um eines: in riesigen Massenschlachten hunderte von Gegnern niederzustrecken. Dazu stehen jedem Charakter Kombos zur Verfügung, die sinnvoll eingesetzt werden müssen. Die verschiedenen Missionsziele können leider nicht über das monotone Spielprinzip hinwegtäuschen und so stellt sich schnell Langeweile ein. Die reine Anzahl an Feinden ist optisch zwar eindrucksvoll umgesetzt, dafür nerven wie schon bei den Vorgängern kahle Umgebungen und sehr dichte Nebelwände das Spielerauge.

The fourth entry in Koei's action-packed Dynasty Warriors series presents a frustrating question: How many times can a company revisit the same gameplay concept, adding just enough features to please hard-core fans, and still get away with selling it as an entirely new game? With Dynasty Warriors 4, Koei is walking a fine line between updating a venerable franchise with valuable new features and simply milking a cash cow. True, the Dynasty Warriors games have met with commercial success both in Japan and North America, so clearly a lot of players are into this tried-and-true hack-and-slash formula. But for the casual gamers who are on the fence about whether or not to try yet another Dynasty Warriors game, the blatant sameness in the fourth installment will probably cause them to pass on it.

Liefhebbers zullen DW4 z'n toch wel talrijke gebreken vergeven. Een pure consoleport voor de hardcore Hack & Slash-fans!

Although the gameplay hasn’t changed too terribly much since the last installment, being able to slay over 1,000 soldiers within an hour proves to be an addictive allure that I cannot escape. It’s like a Siren that sings out to me with the beautiful melody of "Kill them. Kill them all, Reiner." Now, if that isn’t music to my ears, I don’t know what is. While it can easily be labeled as an expansion pack to Dynasty Warriors 3, there are a couple of standout features. Along with a larger quest and the ability to create your own character, you’ll encounter new one-on-one officer battles as well as siege weapons like battering rams and catapults. Unfortunately, the joy that comes with slaughtering entire civilizations is still plagued by plenty of slowdown and environment pop up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun game that will keep you glued to your tube, but it’s just too much of the same. Killing good…updates bad!

If there ever was a game that stretches the definition of a sequel, this is it – and I don't necessarily mean that in a positive way. I'm amazed at the lack of innovation and improvement Dynasty Warriors 4 brings. That doesn't make it a bad game by any means, but it does make it a questionable investment for people who know the series.

Über die ersten drei Episoden der Kampagne hinweg konnte mich das Massengeschnetzel durchaus bei der Stange halten. Das gelingt sonst nur geübten Damen mit beiden Händen. Damit die Begeisterung allerdings anhält, muss dann schon noch was nachkommen. Und eben da passiert bei Dynasty Warriors zu wenig. Da hilft auch der Pro-Modus mit verschiedenen Herausforderungen nichts. Zudem geht das ewige Gewedel wegen der verkorksten Bedienung zu oft in die Hose, was frustet. Da zieht die Konkurrenz davon.

La guerre des Trois Royaumes et la révolte des Turbans Jaunes, voilà le contexte historique chinois choisi par les développeurs pour leur beat-them-all. Un jeu de guerre à l'échelle 1/1 relativement immersif et sauvage.

Die Dynasty-Warriors-Spiele habe ich trotz des simplen Spielkonzepts auf den Konsolen gern gespielt. Vom PC hat Koei aber offensichtlich keine Ahnung. Es reicht nicht, die Playstation-Polygone mit ein paar verstaubten Xbox-Texturen zu überziehen, um am PC bestehen zu können. Selbst alte Online-Rollenspiele sehen besser aus. Und die unfreiwilligen Tempowechsel sollten den Entwicklern eigentlich die Schamesröte ins Gesicht treiben. Wer das Spielkonzept mag, findet auf den Konsolen die besseren Versionen (dort gibt’s schon Teil 5). Der Rest wird die fernöstliche Hack&Slay-Orgie ohnehin nicht vermissen.

Die Dynasty Warriors-Reihe hat Tradition und spaltet Konsolenspieler schon seit Ewigkeiten. Das Gemetzel ist vielen zu untaktisch und auf die Dauer zu eintönig. Eben eines dieser Spiele, das stark vom persönlichen Geschmack abhängig ist. Wobei sich vor allem Anfänger schwer tun, den Einstieg zu finden. Bis man alle Möglichkeiten für sich entdeckt, kann es schon einige Stunden dauern. Gerade deshalb ist es ärgerlich, dass die Anleitung nur als PDF-Datei beiliegt. Hat man den Dreh aber erst mal raus, entwickeln sich die Massenschlachten zu einer spaßigen Angelegenheit. Der Mehrspielermodus, der zwei Spieler an den geteilten Bildschirm holt, ist zwar unkomfortabel, für zwischendurch aber witzig.

Men det finns en sak som lyfter över spelet på rätt sida av medelstrecket och faktiskt gör det riktigt njutbart. Co-op. Ni som läste min krönika i förra numret har förhoppningsvis förstått att jag är sjukligt förtjust i spel som stödjer samarbete, och att springa runt och smiska hundratals identiska fiender i gråblaskiga miljöer tillsammans med en vän kan periodvis vara den ultimata lyckan för mig. Då glömmer jag bort att konceptet är lika upprepande som kvällspressens löpsedlar om nakenchockerna i Farmen och Big Brother, och bara njuter.

For those of you who are afraid of joypads but long for some quick arcade fun then this’ll be just right for you but anyone who’s played it on a console really doesn’t need to pick this up, unless they want to know what it feels like when someone actually blocks your attacks!

Aussi réussi dans le fond que les versions consoles, cet opus PC souffre pourtant de défauts majeurs qui l'empêchent d'atteindre un niveau équivalent. Ainsi, malgré le fossé graphique séparant les machines, le titre de Koei ne tire pas pleinement parti des possibilités des PC récents et se voit contraint de conserver les défauts de sa série. Il est vraiment dommage de ne pas avoir pu profiter d'une vraie déclinaison digne de ce nom, ou tout simplement de l'adaptation de DW 5. En espérant que la prochaine fois sera la bonne.

Definitely a rental. While DW4 can be quite attractive in the early hours of play, it has almost no replay value. Granted, you can up the difficulty or play the game as a different officer, but the game won’t change. If you really want to buy it or have already bought it, play through Musuo mode twice and trade it in.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is an excellent action/strategy title, and while Xbox owners deserved a better conversion, it's hard to demand that KOEI waste time and energy on a port that won't sell in Japan, and probably won't sell that well in the States, either. Then again, with a port, these weak sales are essentially a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The dictionary describes the word ‘dynasty' as meaning a succession of rulers of the same line of descent, or a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time. So, in a way, the Dynasty Warriors series has really lived up to its name. Not only has it ruled the so-called taction (tactical action) genre since its inception, but with the fourth game hitting shops recently - fifth if you count Xtreme Legends - it can also lay claim to a succession of decent titles.