Samurai Warriors

"Not for those who think it is a Dynasty Warriors clone, but fun nonetheless."

Okay, well let me start off by saying I was skeptic to buy this game. Even though it had the Koei name on it, and the fact that it looked exactly like a Dynasty Warriors game, I had heard about the "dreaded" castle missions, the graphics looking choppy and/or crappy, the slow pace, and the lack of characters. But after playing it for a while, unlocking each of the characters, and thinking about it, all of those things have reasons.

Gameplay: 9/10
It is like the Dynasty Warriors engine. Basically, you and your allies (who do not seem to ever want to do anything but run around) face off against another army. Or, to put it bluntly, you versus hundreds of other soldiers. Including footmen, archers, generals, and the dreaded...riflemen. Yes, for those of you who have always wanted guns in Dynasty Warriors, this is as close as you are going to get for right now. Basically unlike the archers, who's arrows can be deflected, you cannot deflect bullets...duh. And about the lack of characters, there is a reason. Unlike Dynasty Warriors, where a bunch of characters are more or less clones of one another, each character in this game has their own feel, move set, and musou. Now in Dynasty Warriors, most of the characters were close, if not exactly the same (*glares at Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Sun Quan, Liu Bei, Dong Zhuo, and Yuan Shao*). But yeah, there is also a create a warrior option, but I have not really gotten deep into that because I have been too busy trying to unlock Nobunaga since he looks so cool. Anyway, next part before I get off track.

Graphics: 9/10
Most people will say the graphics are not great. I guess the argument is valid, but what do you expect? A bright sunny day when this is feudal Japan? Everything is suppose to really have a dark, mysterious feeling. I mean, look at Nobunaga. He is claimed to be some what of a demon, and you expect the sun to be shining all the time? Yeah, right...anyway, but Koei certainly did not strain themselves in the game, but hey, they did not have to, the game looks awesome.

Rent or Buy:
Okay, since I forgot to put it above, I'll tell you about the castle missions. Basically, they are randomly generated maps. Basically your one warrior, and you have to run to the end of the level and go up (or down sometimes) to the next level, until you get to the enemy commander, who is always on the last floor. It may not seem like fun, but you do not even have to fight the enemies, just run through them, avoid the traps, and hurry and get them over with, no big deal. But rent or buy Samurai Warriors? It is easily a buy. But if you are not sure even after reading me break down all of the so called "setbacks" of the game, rent it. But you'll waste 5 bucks because you will want to buy it.

My Final Word:
Samurai Warriors is an awesome game. Bar none. It is not easy by no means, but definitely not ultra hard (*glances over at Ninja Gaiden*). If you loved the Dynasty Warriors series, definitely look into it, but do not expect Dynasty Warriors 5 here. But easily a great game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/04