PlayStation 2

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.