Ive played Dynasty Warriors since DW2 say back since DW2 was a PS2 launch title. The original DW was a 1x1 fighter, while this was a crowd combat brawler and the first of its kind. Loosely based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms literature works based on ancient China, no other game has put as many enemies on screen as DW, which founded a new genre which spawned a host of copy cats. They have released 20+ games, spinoffs, expansions, and a successful franchise and kept the beat em up genre strong.
I have played most of the main DW titles over the years from varying platforms. PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, and loved the simple combat and thrill of moving forward into 100s of enemies and slicing through the hordes.
Looking for something to entertain me late nights while baby sitting, i picked up DW9, which promised for the first time, an open world GTA style game. This direction of the franchise didnt work and is a supreme disappointment. Searching for licorice root to make healing items and ingredients for crafting items is not the kind of game for an action game like DW.
The open world is barren, lifeless and dull. Traveling across the massive map is a chore. The graphics don't feature the kind of open world it tries so hard to convey. The english dub voicework is atrocious, notably a step down from earlier versions thatxwere shoddy before has hit a new low.
The reworked combo system doesn't allow the smooth combat flow of pervious versions. They do an impressive job of keeping the framerate solid with 100s of enemies on screen, but the sacrfice is dulled down by the terrible pop in and short distances.
Some of the mission structure is broken too, and others seems thrown in for good measure. Obligatory stealth sections? Fishing? Hunting? This isnt Legend of Zelda or Metal Gear, when the purpose of DW was to make you seem like a God of War, slaying 100s of thousands of enemy soldiers.
The amount of customization is high, with 40+ playable characters. But the movesets are recycled and they just have a new coat of paint, and the missions don't change.
DW9 is a step in the wrong direction. I hope they listen to their fans, as this isnt what DW was built on.
2/10
Xbox One/PS4
