30-Jul-2003 Historical slash 'em up makes a welcome return to form
Life is good as a second-century Chinese Warlord in Dynasty Warriors 4. You spend your time trying on ornate costumes, twisting your fancy moustache into funny shapes and practising your special head-severing sword twirl.
And the fun doesn't stop once you're skewered through the gizzard in battle. Your memory endures through the centuries, your exploits re-enacted in lovingly crafted detail via the Dynasty Warriors gaming saga. Result.
The Art Of War This fourth outing in the popular series sticks to the tried and tested formula of the previous games, with a few notable enhancements, such as duels and elemental attacks.
The story still focuses on the events surrounding the fall of the Han Dynasty and the legends of the Three Kingdoms of Shu, Wei and Wu. If you're confused by all the factions and clans, there's a comprehensive encyclopaedia accessed via the main menu, while the lush cutscenes and intro sequences portray the heroic deeds.
There's something about DW4 that just makes you want to smile. It uses a very simple style of gameplay, although there are elements of strategy in deciding who, what and where to attack first.
Above all it's just tons of arcade-style fun as you hack and slash your way through swathes of enemy soldiers. And even though you are repeating the same actions over and over again, sending all those bodies flying through the air with your swinging sword/cudgel/pointy thing never gets boring.
If you're new to Dynasty Warriors, this would be an excellent place to start. Just don't expect anything deeper than a flesh wound.
The definitive version of the oriental hack 'n' slasher will delight fans of the genre, and may well manage to tempt a few mêlée virgins to join the fray too.
The addition of random one-on-one encounters with enemy Officers adds a completely new element to the mêlée-based gameplay. If you refuse a duel, your unit's morale will drop. However, if you accept and lose, it's instant game over...
If you run from a duel, tail between legs, you’ll look like a real coward
Dash, dice and slash like a demon to stun your opponent quickly
Special Musou moves are only available when you’re close to death
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