Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires

"Another enjoyable installment in thw DW series"

Graphics: 7
The graphics are nothing spectacular but they are pretty good. The game has only slightly improved in this department since the last DW. The game has some lag when there are a lot of people on the screen but that is to be expected with the PS2. The intricate designs on weapons and characters add a nice touch.

Gameplay: 9
The gameplay is classic Dynasty Warriors with a new twist. You still get to choose items before a battle and you still have bodyguards. The duels from Dynasty Warriors 4 are still here. In battle you have to take over enemy bases by defeating enemies in that area. On the offense your primary goal is to defeat the enemy ruler or take their main camp. On the defense you have to defend against the enemy.

This time around you do not find weapons and items, instead you have to create them and they disappear after use. Weapons are upgraded by selecting smith proposals.

Instead of picking battle to fight, in this game you are presented with a map of China. You start off with three officers and one region. Your goal is to conquer and unite all of China. There are a total of 24 regions to conquer. A new feature in Empires is each turn you will be given the opportunity to select a proposal from one of your officers. These proposals do a variety of things including giving you an advantage in battle, giving you gold, or replenishing troops. Another new feature is the ability to form alliances for joint attacks or joint defense.

Sound: 9
The music is pretty much the same as the last game with an exception of a few tracks. The voice-overs are well done like every other DW game. If you enjoyed the music from the previous DW, then you will enjoy this.

Replay Value: 8
Since most of the characters control differently you may want to play the game over again. It does get repetitive playing Empire Mode over and over again. There are 4 mini-modes. In Vanquish you have to defeat more enemies than your opponent, in Melee you try to knock the person off the castle, in Pilfer you try to collect treasures, and in Endurance you try to last longer than your opponent.

Overall: 8
Overall this game is great if you want a new twist on DW, but love the original gameplay. This game is a must buy for fans of the series. If you are not a fan, you might be after this. There is much to offer in this game to keep you playing until the next game comes out.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/07/05