Once a company finds a successful game formula, you will see them duplicate it in several sequels. In each of these sequels the developer’s make sure that they improve the game to be the best that it can be. We have seen this in sports games, RPG’s, and hack and slash games. Every so often the developers want to throw players for a loop and mix up their gameplay drastically. Sometimes it is for the best and other times it ruins the franchise.

KOEI, the developers of the Dynasty Warriors franchise has changed up their latest game in the series. Instead of players going through ancient Chinese legends, the game has now shifted to Japan, and the game has a new name: Samurai Warriors. Not only has the scenery changed, but there are new elements in this game that help further the franchise into greatness. Read on to find out more!

There are a few games options and game modes in Samurai Warriors: Story Mode, Free Mode, Verse Mode, New Officer Mode, Challenge Mode, and Survival Mode. The Story Mode is the real meat of this game. Players will choose what player they want to use, and see if you can accomplish all of their goals in order to beat it. While playing in this mode, you will be able to boost up your characters stats, and even buy new abilities to help you while you are on the battlefield. Another thing that makes this mode enjoyable is that a friend can join you in your quest to defeat the enemy. It is always refreshing to find a game that allows co-op play nowadays. Also as you progress and beat the characters scenarios you will unlock other characters to play as.

In Free Mode, players will be able to choose any character and take them through any of the other characters scenarios. Also this offers a good practice mode, so players can get adjusted to how the game is played, before they dive deep into the action in the Story Mode. Verses mode is when two human players fight off against one another to see who the best is. New Officer Mode will let players have the ability to create their own character or bodyguard in the game to their own tastes. This opens up a whole new avenue of the game, and gives players a whole new level of customization.

Challenge mode is more of a training mode that lets you get used to how the game is played. You can practice your melee moves, archery, combos, horse riding and many other of the game facets. Besides helping you train, this mode also keeps stats on how well you do, and see if you can beat some of the high scores that the game already has.

In the Survival Mode, gamers play through an indoor place, either the Abyss or Tower. The object is to clear as may floors they can complete before they die. You must try to set records for each floor cleared, the amount of kills, and other things. The Abyss has a time limit of an hour and the Tower is only twenty minutes.

One of the most interesting things included in this game is the Internet rankings section. After players complete the Survival Mode, they are given a password to enter into the ranking site. This will prove who the best player in the world is, and it gives someone true bragging rights on how good they are. The only thing better would be a real online gameplay.

There are several new features in this game, and the most noticeable one is the RPG elements. Players now have the ability to buy new abilities, such as elemental attacks that occur at the end of a combo. After playing the game through players can make their character the ultimate fighting machine. Also there have been two major changes to the control scheme. The first is now players have the ability to roll, and this move can become very helpful during tough spots. The other major change is now players now have unlimited arrows.

Since this game is set in a different era and location the style of the game has changed as well. The game really benefits from this change of pace. The costumes that the characters wear are really detailed and look really nice. Even the NPC’s that you will face are nicely detailed. The locations that players will come across look really nice, and give the presence that you are in ancient Japan. Also the special effects that the game produces really light up the game, and make it a sight to see.

To help cope with the hundreds of enemies that you will face throughout the game, KOEI has done something very efficient. The enemies will remain invisible till you get close enough to see them; it is like an invisible fog of war. This is the best that players will be able to get since this game has a limited draw in distance. To be honest I would rather have this and be able to face myriads of enemies, than be able to see all 10 of the enemies you would face if they didn’t implement this.

One of the biggest complaints I have about this game is the camera control, meaning there is none. The camera control is not horrid, but it definitely could have been better. For example, if you get stuck in a corner you are pretty much screwed because the camera goes a little psychotic. There are different camera angles that players can take by pressing the R3 button, but the game would have been so much better if players could have controlled the camera with the right analog stick. Then when players do get in a tight spot they could have corrected the problem and get right back to kicking butt, but instead when you are stuck between a rock and a hard place you will get some life cut out of you.

For all of you audio purists out there, you will be ecstatic to know that the KOEI has given games the option to listen to the original Japanese or English dialog. At times the English voiceovers sound a little bit on the cheesy side, but either option is both really pleasant to listen to. The music used in the game really gets you pumped up to some war action. The sound effects from the swords and weapons clashing sound really realistic.

Samurai Warriors is rated T for Teen for suggestive themes and violence. It will take up 310kb on your memory card.

Gameplay: 9.1
Anyone who has played any game in the Dynasty Warriors franchise will be instantly familiar with the game play mechanics. After choosing which character, players go into war against a myriad of enemies standing between you and your goal. The controls are really fluid and game is really solid.

Graphics: 8.5
There are so many things going on during one game it is amazing. There are literally hundreds of allies and enemies on the screen doing battle at once. All of the characters have a decent polygonal count, and the entire game has great textures. The character animations are really fluid and never seem choppy. The only thing bad about the graphics department is the camera can become a hassle especially when players are deep into combat and locked up against a wall.

Sound: 8.6
It is amazing that the developers left in the option to listen to both the English and Japanese dialog. All developers should include this option in all their games, especially since storage issues is something of the past, with the new media available nowadays.

Difficulty: Medium
The AI in this game is better than its predecessors, and that is always a good thing. Each game in the series, the enemy AI gets better and better and gives players more of a realistic challenge.

Concept: 8.4
I am very glad that the developers decided to change several things in this game. Being set in another part of the world really helps give the game a little fresh twist. To go along with this change in scenery there is also a few new gameplay additions that prove that KOEI is one of the masters at creating hack and slash games like this.

Multiplayer: 8.9
Nothing is more exciting than being able to play with a friend to beat a common enemy. The AI in this game is really good, but it is nothing in comparison to what another human can do, when your playing with or against them. This along helps give this game even more replay value.

Overall: 8.7
Samurai Warriors gives players plenty of action, fighting, and even slight RPG elements, that will keep you entertained for hours on end. This game is not to be missed!