Dynasty Warriors 3

"Chinese Butt Kicking Battlefield!"

Introduction
Koei pumped up their reputation of their favorite action battling games, and released the latest expansion of the Dynasty Warriors series. This time, it boasts excellent 3D graphics, there's still more heroes and treasures. Not to mention a whole new arsenal of killing weapons and strange items, extraordinary troops and mounts. And last but not least, a whole new exciting campaign for you to adventure in. So, get ready your brain-racking Chinese history books, prepare your latest cup of Rocket Fuel and get cracking into these bustling lands filled with ignorant privates ready to be slaughtered under your very hands. Enter Dynasty Warriors III.

HA! SMALL FLIES!
In the latest installment of the already successful Dynasty Warrior series, you take the role once again of the many incredible heroes date back many centuries ago. Once you pick one of them, or two if you are having a cooperative ally, or another pesky nemesis. Whatever you choose, you are sure to be engrossed in this whole new world. Expect vast plains to be trek, large boats for you to explore, and many more. Along the way, you'll get to meet many enemies. And I mean many. In the group though, most of them are just pathetic idiots that can't even scratch you. The most threatening ones are opposing heroes. They can be easily spotted with a name of their own on top of their character. These are the real people you want to duel against. If you meet a troop of privates and sergeants, don't be afraid, storm forward and wipe their faces of our very mother Earth.

...resulting in you getting a mud sample!

If you're tired of walking these huge lands, why not snatch a horse or two? Of course, there are varieties of horses to be mounted on. They have a mind of their own as well, if you're no general or anything, especially if you just started playing, don't even think of settling your nice butt on these white horses. Once you sit on them, they will move a step forward and fling you off their precious saddles, resulting in you getting a mud sample. Oh well, your only choice would be those regular, not special brown ordinary horses. On the other hand, they do their job and bring you to the destination, that's what you want right? Besides, these horses only aid you in the speed factor. Attacking from the horse is virtually useless. Your accuracy from the horse is pathetic, and there's no nice combo to utilize. Plus, those dumb mud colored horses have this annoying habit of standing on the two of their hind legs. Annoying isn't it? Just get to the destination you want, alight from the animal and wipe all of them out. Simple?

FLASHY MOVES? SUSHI? MUSOU PRIVATE!
Along the way of your battling, there would be this really useful attack called the Musou. No, it isn't something you can eat. You can't wear it either. Instead, it's a really powerful flashy combos, which will whack off enemies off their feet. In addition to that, it cannot be countered. One of my favorite ways of utilizing it is during a period where I am being pummeled by attacks. Just press the ''O'' button and spin away. Oh yeah, when you are in critical zone, in other words your health is at the red portion, you get a really humorous Chinese matrix style where the camera rotates around your character when you perform the Musou. Also, your weapon catches fire and whomever this Musou strikes will catch fire as well. It just adds damage I guess, nothing special like burning effect or those sort. Yeah, don't sulk.

CHINESE AND ENGLISH
Although these characters in the game are Chinese, or Japanese, you have this really hilarious effect where you can activate them to speak English. Most of you would be expecting really cool voices like those from Metal Gear Solid 2, or maybe you were expecting the wonky ones of Peter Parker, whatever you were wishing for, you are sure to get a big laugh from this one. The voices turned out to be really weird, hilarious in a sense and sad in some portion. One great example is from this warrior where he said, ''Feel the power of my...maaagggiicccc...'' at the Yellow Turbans Rebellion. Holy cow, I laughed and laughed until I spilled the cup filled with milk. One good tip for you before you go around rolling, turn the voice actors to Japanese style. Don't worry, the subtitles would still be in English so you don't fret and turn out being lost.

DY-NASTY ENDING
Well, to cut a long story short, Dynasty Warrior should be a game to be picked up and bought. It would provide you a lot of fun and laughter along the road. For those of you who prefer more realistic games like MGS2, maybe you should rent this one. As no general or warrior goes hacking around the fray of the battle and killing about 350 people without even scratching himself. Okay, I won't make it sound so bad. I shall never do it again. Anyways, I strongly encourage you to snag this game, it isn't that bad. Plus, you get to learn Chinese history as well. But, quite frankly, I have never learn anything yet besides knowing the fact that Guan Yu was well-known for his long and beautiful beard. Hey! I'm a male! Stop accusing me for being, er, anyway, that's what the game writes! I was just stating facts!

Results
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Audio: 7/10
Besides the really weird voice actors in English, there's nothing else to complain.
Story: 8/10
Replayability: 8/10
Buy or Rent?: Buy

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/10/02, Updated 03/01/03