Dynasty Warriors 5

It’s no surprise that when Dynasty Warriors’ series producer and creator, Takazumi Tomoike, attends a gaming-industry event, high-profile celebs like Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima are reduced to mere fanboys in his presence. The Dynasty Warriors series is just that huge and influential in its native Japan. And its astronomical level of success explains why it’s become a near annual release, a spiritual U.S. equivalent of the Tomb Raider series in the ‘90s.

But with four titles already under the series’ belt and a host of Xtreme Legends spin-offs already on shelves, DW may still be the best mass-scale hack ’n’ slasher on the market – but it’s also one that’s showing its age no matter how addictive its simplistic gameplay remains.

Never heard of Dynasty Warriors? Well, just think “button-mashing destruction with Ancient China as a backdrop,” and you’ve got pretty much the entire gist. For DW5, you pick one of 48 playable heroes (18 are playable at the outset, with the rest gradually unlocking throughout), then take them through several chapters  pitting you against hundreds upon hundreds of enemies.

You’ve got your weapon, possibly a horse, and a trusty bodyguard (a new, selectable, and much appreciated addition to DW5) – and that’s it. You’ll have troops and fellow generals on your side, but they mean nothing when you’re surrounded by an ocean of enemies. When you find yourself adrift in said ocean, you can pull out any of a series of button-mashing moves or execute the newly implemented Musou Rage, which powers up your attacks for some satisfyingly destructive über-moves.

Also, there’s a slight tactical edge to fighting due to the inclusion of base camps that can be occupied by you or your enemies – lose all your base camps and you’re boned. Steal them from your enemy, and your troops’ morale rockets higher – giving them an added zeal over the opposition.

And yet, even though the visuals look just past their sell-by dates and the game stubbornly refuses to truly distinguish itself from the rest of the series, there’s no denying that its gameplay formula still works. You’ll still keep plunging into battle despite the difficult camera and super-corny dialogue (opt to keep the voice-overs in Japanese if you know what’s good for you). And for that, Dynasty Warriors 5 keeps its fan appeal intact.