PlayStation 2

Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires

To wrap this up the new addition of the empire mode and addition of the political policy, a stronger focus on strategy and improved character edit mode and the addition of new moves and combos really gives the game a kick. Enough kick to ignore the fact that most of the game follows the same formula as the ones before it. I definitely like this game and would recommend a purchase. 30 dollar price tag is more than a bargain for this game.

KOEI and Omega Force owns this style of game. The sound track is good, the graphics are very nice and players can jump into the game and play without a lot of manual reading. There are some setbacks but they are relatively minor. While the whole line of games are similar, DW4: Empires offers challenge and entertainment.

That being said, it is laudable to note that this is the first significant tweak that’s been made to the DW formula in some time. Throwing many of the “expansion pack” elements aside for an actual shift in gameplay, the inclusion of planning elements forces a slight, albeit flawed sense of strategy to the oftentimes mundane action play. If the less than stellar updates to the Dynasty Warriors series has left you cold, take a look at Empires: You may just rekindle that conquest flame.

The RISK-style gameplay lends an interesting twist to the same action, but there is still something missing without the storylines and the lack of multiple goals. The gameplay itself is still over the top and ridiculously fun in a guilty pleasure sort of way, but the fact that the more interesting action happens between the matches is an indication that the strategy should have taken on an even greater role and the battles themselves could have been smaller. It's definitely got the funk, but without enough of a compelling motivation to take over the country, this is more of an exercise than an adventure that the previous entries were.

Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires isn't exactly a complete overhaul for the series, since the graphics, sound, and hack-and-slash gameplay remain almost identical to the regular Dynasty Warriors 4. But the empires mode essentially gives you a more complete overall experience by adding a degree of complexity that was missing in the older games. Add in the fact that Empires debuts at a fairly budget-minded price of $30, and you've got a Dynasty Warriors that has some value for existing fans and newcomers alike.

It is very debatable as to whether the game is worth getting into if you have played Dynasty Warriors 4 or Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends (unless you are some kind of Dynasty Warriors devotee). Having said that, I thought that I might have had enough of the hack/slash repetition of the Dynasty Warriors series, and wouldn't find myself playing the game at 3am when I have work the next day at 8. Alas no, they add in one little feature and I'm completely hooked again. Bastards. The trouble is, it's a nagging, dangerous addiction – I can see the flaws in the game, and quite often will be feeling a mite bored while hacking my way through my 500th body in a single battle. But then comes the end of the battle, and by the time my next strategic choice has loaded up I'm all ready to go again.

Since March of 2003, Koei has released Dynasty Warriors 4, Dynasty Warriors 4: Extreme Legends, Samurai Warriors (a Japanese-themed spin-off with nearly identical gameplay and graphics), and now Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires. Can someone say "Army Men?" While I’m suffering a severe case of burnout on this franchise, Empires does add some nice new elements to the overly familiar formula.

Faire du neuf avec du vieux, Koei c'est un peu leur truc. La série des Dynasty Warriors est déjà composée d'épisodes qui se ressemblent, voilà qu'ils nous servent 3 déclinaisons du même opus. S'il est vrai que l'ajout de la phase stratégique est une bonne idée, on ne peut que déplorer son manque d'utilité effective et son manque d'ambition. Du coup, les nouveautés ne sont pas si évidentes et on commence à trouver le temps long avant de voir la série se renouveler vraiment.

Empires is essentially what Koei should have done with the series since the beginning, but it's not a perfect fit -- a lot can still be learned here for next time. More strategy could have been applied, and moving that strategy into the multiplayer game would have added a lot. Otherwise, what you have is the same DW4 with a slightly more tactical story mode. Still, for its gracious $29 price, Empires is an interesting variation on the DW formula to gamers wondering what all the fuss is about, and should keep current fans satiated until the next inevitable sequel.

Even with basically the same faults of its predecessors, Empires succeeds where KOEI wanted it to: it kept me playing Dynasty Warriors. I bet it'll do the same for you, especially with a $30 MSRP (it's a standalone game, by the way). If you've been off the Dynasty Warriors wagon for a while, this may bring you back. It offers some new depth and motivation to fight lots and lots of stupid bad guys, and should keep a smile on your face until the next inevitable sequel.