Dynasty Warriors 4

"Koei does it again..."

Koei does it again and releases yet another saga to the Dynasty Warriors series, and just in time too, its also Koei's 25th anniversary. Before I begin let me say that this is my first review for this site, and also that I am fair when it comes to rating games. You will however never see me give a game a 10/10, because no game is perfect, they all have there flaws.

Gameplay
8/10
The gameplay for Dynasty Warriors 4 is great. The controls don't get much level, and playing it on the XBOX just feels natural. This game is tons of fun and supporting up to 2 players you can kick butt simultaneously with a friend. The difficulty of the game changes as frequently as the NYSE. One minute the game is extremely easy and the next minute it seems as though its impossible. In some cases this can be an ok thing because its not just a hack and slash game, and will actually require strategy.

Story
6.5/10
The story is ''ok''. There isn't anything real exciting that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but its not that bad of one either. Dynasty Warriors 4 is once again based on ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''. You don't have to follow the story to enjoy the game, but it still helps to understand it.

Graphics/Sound
8/10
The graphics in this game are decent. They don't really take advantage of XBOX's power, yet everything is still beautiful. The main complain I have with this is during the movies some of the scenes become a little choppy. Other than that the graphics are good, especially considering the fact that Dynasty Warriors 4 was ported from the PS2 version. The sound in this is great. It sometimes seems as though, you are actually in the game.

Playtime/Re-playability
8.5/10
This game will require a lot of time invested into it, if you wish to complete it. Considering the fact that there are over 40 playable characters, most of them have to be un-locked. A weapon experience system, as well as un-lockable items to help and guide you along the way. Once you beat this game you will find yourself playing it over and over, because the game never gets old, and there is so much to do in it.

Overall
8/10
Overall I give this game an 8/10. It has its pros/cons, but the pros more than make up for any of the games flaws. What kept me from giving this game a semi-higher score is the slowdown that occurs often during battle, and becomes annoying quickly. Trying to watch the videos can become difficult, because of it being choppy sometimes. This is a great game to rent, but even better to buy. Don't be afraid to spend the money to buy the game it is worth it. The best out of all 4 is definitely this one, and as hard as it is to admit, I don't see the series getting a whole lot better, its just too good already.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/14/03