Dynasty Warriors 4

"It doesn't get much better than this!!"

Dynasty Warriors 2 was the first version of the game I played. It had somewhat crude graphics, but the real astonishment was the movement of characters on the screen, there were often very many moving at the same time, doing different things, and with little to no slowdown.. then came DW3, better graphics, more characters moving, and a lot more fun than 2. Now we have 4.. the ultimate Dynasty Warriors game. It is honestly hard to describe.. five minutes after I turn it off from frustration I curse under my breath and start playing again!

GRAPHICS 9/10
They might not look like the best graphics on the PS2.. but when you think about how many similar, or unique figures are moving around, attacking you and retreating at the same time.. it's really amazing. In the old days, when I started gaming (at about 3 years old) one pacing goomba seemed like the top-of-the-line graphics.. now we have 1-25 enemies moving around, attacking.. and they take more than a butt-stomp to kill. The cinematic's look pretty nice, and the slowdown has really been taken to a minimum. All of the generals seem very nicely done, but the average soldiers are all a bit similar for my tastes. Instead of 'ko-ing' Earl, moe, bob, billy, and carl.. you KO Earl, Earl, Earl, Earl, and Earl. Still, there's a satisfaction knowing you've knocked that guy out about 150 times, per level.

SOUND 9/10
The sound is excellent in one player mode, where all of your attacks are accompanied by sound, and the shrieks of the 5-6 Earls you just KOed can be heard cleary, the charging of more Earls on the way.. it really adds to the fun. But in two player.. the second player's attack are often muted, in turn that the first player can be heard, or the other way around. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you're being surrounded by Earls or not. Nothing to fret about, those Earls get enough beatings, and hit you about once or twice a minute. All in all it's more than exceptable. It weighs higher of a good thing than a bad.

CONTROLS 10/10
They're very easy to get used to, even comboing becomes second nature (unless you just played Dark cloud 2, where the attack button is X, not [ ]) the new jump attacks are a lot of fun, and navigating menus is even easier.. mashing of /_ (triangle) gets you out of just about anything.Manu wise at least. Action wise, you can do everything, plus more, and it seems even easier. There seems to be a general speed increase in the characters too, which is a welcome improvement.

GAMEPLAY 10/10
Hallelujah! This is one of the mos addicting games I've ever played. There are so many Earls to mow down.. and so little time.. actually there's enough time but it's so much fun.Besides the fact that Lubu is honestly invincable early on.. it is a relativly difficult game, but just easy enough where you say 'SCREW YOU LUBU!! DIRTY *******!!' then go back and just avoid him.. mow down another hundred earls and finish the level. Your army actually FIGHTS now, instead of being orienta decorations around you and an opposing general. I would place the difficulty somewhere between 2 and 3.. it's just right. Goldylocks would definitley sleep on the DW4 bed if it was available.

MULTIPLAYER/REPLAY VALUE 10/10
It is insanely fun to play the game by yourself.. but with a unique partner or enemy! Alas! this SHOULD be an eleven! Now there are 400 EArls, a few bobs, a moe, a Tim, a jeff.. and your FRIEND as an enemy/ally! But that's just the multiplayer..

The replay value is also extensive. You must play through musou mode with each of the 3 dynasties to unlock everyone, and a few side stories to catch a few stragglers. And you can also create your own general! And your own bodyguards!! It's not exactly sim-style, where you have ots of looks to choose from, but there's enough where you look bad-ass enough to tear up some earls.

BUY OR RENT BUY!!!!!!
Buy it.. I don't see how anyone could be disappointed. There are even little minigames where you have to knock enemies off a bridge for a certain amount of time, see how many enemies you can defeat, race to the end of a level.. it's definitley worth the pricetag.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/29/03, Updated 03/29/03