Samurai Warriors 2

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I remember when I first acquired access to the series beginner Samurai Warriors I was overcome with joy at something that was in some ways entirely new. Essentially it was still the same product as its counterpart game also made by K.O.E.I., Dynasty Warriors. However, with the new variety of characters, a more complex attacking system, and a completely new setting, Japan, I was ready to move into a whole different atmosphere. I was ready to learn about Japan and have a blast doing so and for a while it was good. I was kept in a certain trance comparable to a coma infused with rabies to boot… for I was not without constant drooling and a mesmerizing state of lost movement accompanied by the lack of will to want to. Unfortunately and fortunately enough the grasp it had upon me eventually disappeared and I was free to move onto other adventures. Then it reentered my life, not as a clone, but as something familiar yet so much better. This phenomena could only be described as Samurai Warriors 2, the second game in the franchise to be released onto the PS2. And so I was once again trapped in a state of nirvana more likely harmful than helpful.

Gameplay

The game's core element lies solely within this category. In general terms it's label is Hack N' Slash, but it's a kind of repetitiveness that draws you away from that and instead adds in different fighting styles, special type moves, and differing combos. Each character has 1 of 3 fighting styles accompanied with him/her. Special, Normal, and Charge all of which have their advantages, and using them correctly with each characters not only ensures victory, but also demonstrates a sort of Godly presence on the battlefield, that true warriors would be envious and loathsome of. Something new to both the Dynasty and Samurai Warriors series is the new use R1 has. Most know it to be a secondary weapon, a bow, that has always been for the most part useless. Now characters have two special moves to use instead. By using these two special moves it can give you some kind of advantage during battle. Whether that be calling your horse from the other side of the field, producing large amounts of gold, powering up stats, and many more, these are definitely an improvement over the former. As for the basic modes of play the game returns with it's story and survival modes. New to the game is the Sugoroku mode, which to me is comparable to Monopoly. Being an American, I am as familiar with other cultures as I can be, and this was totally new to me. It's fun to play with friends, but can be a bit dull otherwise. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to this game's greatness.

9/10

Story

As I mentioned earlier, the game contains a story mode, which is used to tell each character's individual stories. They come through means of biographical introductions before stages, cut scenes, and CGI movies. However, not all of the character's have completely truthful stories, as some in real life before their story modes are completed, but to give the player a more entertaining time, they have “what if” scenarios. This game is still missing one of the most important things that makes Dynasty Warriors great, the Encyclopedia. In Dynasty Warriors it gives detailed information on all playable and non playable characters in the games, which are usually very interesting. If Samurai Warriors 2 had that, and as many playable characters I'd call it the superior games hands down.

8/10

Graphics and Sound

The game's graphics are nicely upgraded in some areas, such as environments. The environments seem really detailed now, compared to the drab ones of the last game. Character models still seem about the same, but that was never a negative. The game videos in this game are also relatively longer than those in the past and more life like. Very good display here. The sound portion is almost flawless. I like the music, unlike the last game's, and the voice actors are good, except for Keiji's I hate his voice. There are some memorable quotes here and there's even a sense of humor that was lacking in all games previous. Sound effects are what you should expect in a game, and Nobunaga's sword still has the cool “light saber” sound so that's a plus.

8/10

Playtime/Re-Playability

I'm not even close to completing the game with every character and I've put 75 hours into the game, it's insane. What I like about this game that no other has ever had is the time count. It actually tells how long you've spent playing. It makes this review so much easier for me. As for replaying the game, hell am I ever going to finish it? It's so long it's impossible to tell. I really don't think you need something such as replay, because the length is so long 1 play is all you should ever require, but even so I'd say it's moderate.

9/10

Final Verdict

Should you own this game? Yes. If you're a fan of Dynasty Warriors or Samurai Warriors this is a no brainer. If you like Hack n' Slash in general this is again a no brainer. If you like fun games to kill time or to enjoy with friends, pick this up. It's worth it.

9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/10/06