24-Mar-2006 There's fun to be had from State of War's solid battling action Samurai Warriors: State of War takes its cues from the Dynasty Warriors games, a series that, in Japan, is almost as popular as breathing. Considering there's not an awful lot more to these games than making mincemeat of wave after wave of pointy stick shakers, that's weird.
It's billed as a tactical action game, but the most tactical thing about it is turning to face the right direction before resuming the incessant slashing. Each scenario is preceded by an overhead grid depicting the battlefield, with certain objectives for each segment of it: a mutiny within your ranks might have to be averted by taking out enemy spies, for instance, or you may have to simply lay into an opposing force's ranks by going berserk.
And that's it. Hammer your PSP's delicate buttons, kill lots of troops, complete a goal, move on; that's how it goes. However, although the Samurai Warriors series has appeared on PS2, the PSP version makes far more sense. By the time you've finished taking a dump, or got to where your bus was going, you'll have finished a couple of the bite-sized chunks which make up each campaign. You'll have had your fill and moved on before getting bored by the repetition of it all.
Combat itself is satisfyingly solid in feel, and when you unleash a fireball or spin around with an outstretched sword, the swathe of enemy troops you'll cut through is dramatic. Seeing troops scattered because of your button-mashing is a thrill, even though it's a very one-dimensional thrill. You're ably abetted by one of 200 bodyguards. These are used to multiply the amount of damage you can inflict, and offer other benefits like increasing your offensive and defensive capabilities.
If this wasn't a portable game it would get very dull, quickly. But it is, and developer Koei has taken advantage of that by producing a game that's very good at providing short, sharp bouts of mindless carnage. But if you have more time on your hands than a 15 minute bus ride, you might want to leave State of War behind.
PSW Staff
// Overview
Verdict
Shallow and repetitive, but there's satisfaction to be had from the solid battling action.
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