If I had to describe Dynasty Warriors 4 in one word, it would definatly be "fun." There's something to be a said about a good hack ‘n slash game from time to time. Dynasty Warriors takes me back to a time when video games were much simpler and it was not about all the sizzle, but the games were just flat out fun to play. I first started playing Dynasty Warriors shortly after DW3 was released. I remember that I had never really heard anything about it and Cone one day just wouldn't shut up about it. Like we do with Cone most of the time we just ignored him. One day a few months later Pickle and I were bored out of our minds so we decided to raid Cone's game collection. DW3 was the only game in his collection that we hadn't played, so we decided to give it a shot. Lord, I had no idea what I'd been missing. About a week later I finally pried myself away from the game and got some sleep. I didn't quite know what to expect from DW4, but I defiantly was not disappointed.

Although I would never describe the graphics in Dynasty Warriors 4 as "stunning," they do the job. DW4 is one of those games where there is so many things taking place on the screen at a time that if they tried to do too much with the graphics it would turn into a complete lag fest. The only time I've actually noticed any lag in the game-play was when I was playing two player and we each had about 100 enemies on our screen. Even than the lag actually seemed kind of cool because one of us would do our "Musou" attack and it would look like it was in slow motion. When I say 100 enemies on my screen, I am not exaggerating. Sometimes you will get into a battle so huge that your entire screen will be covered in bodies flying every which direction. Amazingly enough DW4 doesn't struggle very much with the "Camera Demon." If you're having trouble seeing just tap the L1 button and the camera centers behind you. The only time I've ever had a problem with the camera is when you get into a duel with an enemy general. I give the developers of DW4 kudos for not sacrificing game-play for better graphics. A lesson that many developers of today need to learn that a game can still suck even if it has great graphics.

Sound is really a non-issue in DW4. All you're really going to hear the entire time you're playing is enemies screaming and bodies flying. Occasionally other generals on your team will yell out orders to you, but it's hard to pay attention to them because you're busy hacking through an enemy squadron. This is another one of those games where the voice-overs don't sync with the lips in the cinematics at all. I think this game has that problem because it was originally in a different language, but I'm not sure.

DW4 is a game that you can pick up and play. There isn't anything about the controls that seems complex, and you can explain it to a friend in about 10 seconds. The only thing that takes any thought is when you're trying to learn combos, which are really just combinations of mashing the square and triangle. The only time that I had any trouble controlling what I was doing is when I was trying to shoot archers down off towers with my bow and arrow. I found that finding an elephant and ramming down their towers was much more effective anyway.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is a game that is just easy enough to learn quickly, but just hard enough so that you don't get bored with it. The levels get progressively harder, but your hero and his bodyguards gain levels as well. If you go back with a hero that you have leveled up to an earlier level you'll find that you can slice through armies like butter. On the other hand if you try to skip forward to a later level in "Free Mode" you're going to find that you'll get your ass handed to you. When you take a character through the story mode you'll find that you are usually at about the exact level you need to be to beat the level you're playing. A word for the wise to all the DW newbies, when you see Lu Bu for the first time, just freaking run. Run like the wind!

DW4 is all about the game-play. If you're looking for a good story mode or stellar graphics, than go elsewhere, but if you're looking for a game that is a blast to play, than pick up DW4. After playing for a day of two you'll find yourself obsessing about leveling up your character and finding new items. My roommate and I actually had a half hour conversation about a strategy to beat Lu Bu. I usually end up skipping through a lot of the cinematics because I just want to get back to the game-play. I can't emphasize enough how fun this game is!

If you've never play any of the previous games in the Dynasty Warriors serious you should defiantly get out and rent yourself a copy. I suggest a rental it first because this is a genre that's not for everyone. I have a feeling that you'll be out buying it very soon after you rent it. For those of you who are DW veterans you're going to love this game. They kept all the things I loved from the previous games and added a few things that make it even better! Dynasty Warriors 4 definitely gets the "Soda Seal of Approval."

Apr 11, 2003 | 5 comments
Shane Quast