Dynasty Warriors 6 Review

Oooh boat-riding. I'm there.

OK! Never tried any of the games in the series but i will buy this to see what its like.

Not a game I would have considered before but after finding Bladestorm curiously entertaining I could be tempted to see what else Koei can do.

Any online features?

KOEI used to make these awesome PC (and Amiga, maybe some consoles as well) Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, I loved them. I was a bit too young at the time and didn't really know what was going on but I loved making my generals gain levels and then go on the battlefield for a strategy combat game where I usually lost.

Great fun though.

no coop?

Sold !!! Plus I heard you can train horses in the game too !

demented squirrel :) is this a nintendo game?

I was probably going to pick this up anyway at some point, but news of climbing ladders, swimming, and other gameplay innovations of the early 80s, has sent this pretty high up my 'Oh, I must remember to pick that up'-o-meter.

In an era of complicated, story-based gaming, it's nice to sit down every now and then and just stab a whole bunch of guys with a ridiculously oversized spear. Or a yo-yo.

Better than resi 4

:D

Sounds great....shame i've got about 6 games to finish right now.

I'd be surprised if every other review doesn't give this game 5 or 6/10... EG always seem overly generous toward KOEI games for some reason. A quick glance at the GameRankings.com averages for all the games kind of shows its a pretty mediocre franchise really and I can't say I've enjoyed any of the games (I've tried the demos) since the I played one of them on the PS2 years and years ago. The repetitiveness of the battles drives me insane after just a few minutes of play...it's just so dull and uninspired, I very much doubt pretty HD graphics would change my view of the series.

I think the reason why Eurogamer scores these games better is because the reviewer actually enjoys playing these games. Which the others don't.

@disc

I played Romance of the 3 kingdoms, played 4 on the SNES, was probably the best for me. It's one of those love hate games.

Yay! \0/

The first one I ever played was Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires on the 360. Will definitely be getting this :D

"...strongholds that play a slightly more important role than before (and can be captured after you've eliminated any officers present). "

This was in Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires too... altho the ladders and stuff sounds cool :)

"Essentially, performing combos repeatedly, without getting knocked down, ramps up your Renbu"

Sounds like the Musou bar from Empires too... anyone know the difference between them?

One of the nice things about previous games is the smooth game play - 60 frames per second. Is this the case in this installment too? After so many years of playing it like that I can't step backwards for some flashy effects.

@Darren - I really liked empires. I spent *way* more time playing that than I did playing a game like Bioshock, GoW or even Halo 3... Not saying it's a better game overall, just that I spent more time playing it... You just get sucked into it so easily...

The cutscenes and the voice acting were atrocious tho...

Oh, and the soundtrack! It's awful on empires... there is this crazy elictric guitar solo going on over almost every scene and it *really* doesn't fit. Custom Soundtracks ftw!

So the voice acting is still bad then?! well, I'm afraid until they sort it out, I'll always be one of the non-Dynasty Warrioring gaming public.

The dodgy voice acting is an essential part of the DW charm.

I love Dynasty Warriors games, might have a look at this after DW:Gundamhas finished eating into my time.

Dynasty Warriors? The problem is, for me, that "the best in the series so far" is not much of a commendation for a series which sees you continuously hammering down one or two buttons until the screen is empty. Aside from "tweaks" and HD graphics, the series has barely changed since its first iteration. For once I'd like to see KOEI put some effort into a game, and not just shine up an old format for a rerelease.

Sounds a lot more like a 9 than an 8... when will Westerners open up to the brilliance that is "Dynasty Warriors"?

(that being said I myself am I Westerner) :-P

I've said this before (I think), but the thing about Koei's DW games is you dont realise how 'right' they get it, until you play one of the clones and realise just how 'wrong' they feel.

Its a very odd sub-genre, and not one that everybody likes or can get into, and I have found myself playing some of the games thinking "I wish some other company would make a rival to these games and really push things, it would be so much better", but when those rival games come, they end up being N3... or Spartan TW... or Devil Kings, which I play for a little bit, then go back to DW.

If you want true innovation on the DW formula then you can find it in Bladestorm.

I am a big fan of the DW and SW series of games (and also Bladestorm now to boot) and can't wait for this. Let's hope that the Empires version doesn't take too long to come out. I wish they would include the option to play with Japanese speech and English subtitles though, would make the game even better ;-)

Surprised this can be called a sequel. It's a remake.

I had my fill of Hu Lao Gate with the previous bajillion remakes.

I thought remakes were meant to come after long breaks?

How are Koei getting away by charging full RRP for the same story you played already in the previous versions? And at such frequency?

I hope Bungie doesn't catch on and release 6 different versions of Halo 1 or Valve with 7 versions of the same Half Life. Crazy.

@disc

KOEI is still making this game.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 12 came out on PC last year, only in Japanese and Chinese though, soon this franchise will catch up FF. :)

One thing that worries me is the combat being compared to DW: Gundam. That was such a step backwards. If ever a Warriors game could be called a button masher, it'd be that. As many combos as you can count on a hand that's been in a blender, all of which do precisely sod all damage to officers.

I'm looking forward to this, but I wish KOEI would put a bit more time into their games and deliver proper sequels, instead of incremental updates. How about getting rid of the constant base capturing and give us some proper missions?

This review is lacking in verve and spunk. Also, why did the reviewer find the game fun?

Sorry, Mr McCarthy, but you haven't proven to me why this game is a communist. Or 'good'.

Definitely be getting this.

How does this compare to Bladestorm?

@hiddenranbir

Sort of like the yearly updates of Football games? Slightly updated roster, new features, and better graphics. But at its core, it's still football.
Yet I don't hear complaints against them.

It is always complained about. There was a time when updates to rosters came in cheap update packs rather than fully fledged "sequels". Hell, some just provided update patches!!

It's like Hollywood remaking Shrek(rehashing the story from the first with slight tweaks in dialogue) over a dozen times in seven years.

It's a crime whoever does it. Koei, however, are the biggest culprits. They've released more DWs in the shortest span of time than any other franchise. And every single one is Hu Lao Gate, with the same cutscene of Lu Bu when you approach it with the same Dong burning Luo Yang and the same fire attack at Chibi with Zhuge Liang. Always starting with the same Yellow Turbans. It's great they're picking a period in history. But to simply repeat that offering over and over is unbelievable.

No-one should get away with this kind of complete lack of effort in design and development.

For all you complaining about the lack of new missions, try reading the book and see if you can come up with some.
I think KOEI took the best, if not all the battles from the book and put them in the game.

I guess they could take a little more time between releases, but KOEI wants to make money and Dynasty Warriors is an easy way to make it.

To be fair, as far as sports games go there's only so much that a developer can do while staying faithful to the subject matter. KOEI, though, has complete control over what a Dynasty Warriors game is. Konami can't alter the concept of football to make Pro Evo a better game, but anything could be changed about DW, and the fact that it very rarely is shouldn't be quickly forgiven.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the series (well, from what's been released since the 360's launch) but they really aren't the games they could be. Which is frustrating, because if they'd stop messing around with endless quasi-sequels and put their effort into one proper new installment, I'd imagine the games being a lot better received outside Japan. Until then, well, I just try to bite my tongue and be grateful that I get to play them at all.

Never gone for any of these before. This may change now. Looks damn good.

@muters

This has always been a historical series and although some series (I haven't played them all) offer a fictional storyline you cannot escape the issue that historians and the majority fans of the series will probably blow their top if Koei deviated too much from the storyline. And this series is big in Japan AFAIK.

"if they'd stop messing around with endless quasi-sequels and put their effort into one proper new installment, I'd imagine the games being a lot better received outside Japan. "

The thing is, they have kinda already tried this with 2 Crimson Sea games, DW Gundam, Bladestorm, the Kessen games and of course Samurai Warriors.
And none of them have either made signifigant inroads into the western market, or been much of a success in Japan. Well, SW does OK, but I think DW still eclipses it sales-wise.

So, while you can blame Koei for churning out endless DW games, you also have to blame the (mostly Japanese) gamesbuying public for lapping up each installment.
Its hard to begrudge Koei for wanting to make money, and the fact that they do try these spin-offs is fair play IMO. I just wish more people actually bought Crimson Sea 2 and Bladestorm, because if they dont, then Koei just goes back to what it knows sells.

Problem is if the other games sold well, Koei would just rehash those titles instead. Same pattern, different cloth. It's either boycott or just continue to let Koei earn money in this way. Sure, companies want to make money. But better they make it in the way Valve does, surely? High quality gaming at an actual lower price than retail? (Thank you Steam for being the added bonus!)

Yes, though. This game is primarily targeted at the Japanese gamers. But Koei needs to realise, then, the West expects more than just a new costume.

The wait is now for Creative Assembly's Viking (successor to Total Warrior). It is actually dramatically improving from the first game, adding real tactical and strategic flow and so forth. I'm gonna put faith in our London boys to improve on the genre.

I think the 'Warriors' franchise is something you either love or hate, based solely on the concept. That probably accounts for the games get such a broad range of review scores.

It's something akin to what Dan Whitehead said in the Smackdown vs. Raw '08 review; Yuke has a captive audience who'll buy the new smackdown whatever, so they've got no incentive to fiddle with the formula. Except in koei's case, they've gone to the extreme of effectively re-releasing the same game for the fifth time in a row.

That's always put me off from getting the sequels. I've got nothing against the mechanics or the concept. What I object to is paying full price for a roster change, and a fresh coat of paint. I'm glad they've started branching out . Bladestorm and DW: Gundam had the same appeal, and didn't feel like re-releases. I hope they'll keep going in that direction.

I am from Germany. I can not speak English well. I translate my letter to the translation engine "Google":


( I have played the "Japanese-Version" of the game "DYNASTY WARRIORS 6", aka "SHIN SANGOKU MUSOU 5". I have played the game total around 10 to 15 hours. )

I think the "Dynasty Warriors" series is one of the interesting series. Although "KOEI" in the game for years no major changes and innovations made, it still makes for a lot of fans are still very fun.

It is true that "KOEI" since "Dynasty Warriors 3" no major changes made. One of the reasons is because it is very difficult for the game "Dynasty Warriors" to make many changes. Because in the game the battle on a big card takes place, and where hundreds of thousands of opponents on the field, and because it is difficult, all in real-time display, even with a live report card and protocol. Because everything happens in real time. And also, there is at "Dynasty Warriors" about 40 playable characters, and everyone has a different weapon and various attack-, fight- and Musou-movements (techniques). It is even very difficult to have a game to produce that have all these properties, and even on the PS2.
Therefore, it is very difficult for years been major changes and improvements to make. There was always only small changes and small changes. Some fans wanted so, but some not.

But, this time the game "Dynasty Warriors 6" is different, for "PS3".
At "DYNASTY WARRIORS 6" has been very many changes and innovations. Both of her graphics, as well as from her scenario, as well as the characters ... Etc. .. Because, at the "PS3" on the "Blu-ray" Disc you can much more save data, "KOEI" now all of the changes and improvements made, which have been years when PS2 could not do.

Now, I come to the innovations and changes in the "Dynasty Warriors 6". I have played the "Japanese-Version" of the game "Dynasty Warriors 6", aka "SHIN SANGOKU MUSOU 5". I have played the game total around 10 to 15 hours. I have played alone and Coop (2 Player).

"Dynasty Warriors 6" is a mix of "Action", "Real-Time Strategy", "Beat'em up" and "Hack&Slay".
There are a total of 41 playable characters. Of these, 9 have at the beginning of the game. The other 32 playable characters you must unlock.



"The POSITIVES":

+ The characters all have a *new outfit* (new look) and *new costumes*.
+ The characters all have *new weapons*.
+ The characters all have *new attack* and *new fight techniques*. The characters have acrobatic and elegant attacks.
+ There are 3 elements for weapons: Fire, Ice, Lightning.
+ There are 32 unlock characters.
+ You can either play alone, but also Coop (2-Player).
+ At the game must be broken the normal doors with sword. And the big doors must be broken (prepared) with batterings ram attack and catapults. (in real-time)
+ The characters can now *swim* and even on *horseback swimming*. (in real-time).
+ Now you can *ride boats* and you can *climb ladders*. (in real-time).
+ At the game, there are also a lot of *strategy* elements. (in real-time).
+ Especially these characters have very good new weapons and very very good new fighting techniques = For example, "Liu Bei", "Xiahou Dun", "Zhao Yun", "Lu Bu", "Zhou Yu", "Sima Yi", "Yue Ying", "Zhen Ji", "Lu Xun" and "Zhuge Liang".
+ And you can make infinitely long *COMBOS*. On the screen is a "combo" counter.
+ And there's the new, for the characters different for each specific *"RENBU SYSTEM"*. The system is different for each character. The system comes with the character development and meet with certain orders always evolving, so that new Fighting techniques appear, and allows the character very long attacks and combos. This is a great innovation.
+ The scenario and development system is now different.
+ In the story mode, the characters can go different paths.
+ During the game, there are many Cutscenes.
+ There is also the new *"CHALLENGE MODE"*.
+ There are many different and varied opponents varieties.
+ The *control*, *gameplay* and *camera work* is very good. The *controls* are very fluid. The characters are now much more agile and have multi skills.
+ With the left stick to move the character. With the right stick can rotate the camera, and the camera can even move up and down, so get to the top and look down.
+ And most importantly, the *graphics* are now very good, detailed graphics. You can see the opponents very far. You can see all and the enemys of far away. (720p HDTV, 60 frames per second (fps), Dolby Digital audio).



"NEGATIVE":

- The only thing you could describe as negative is that the opponents almost exclusively from *humans*. The opponents are almost all "humans" in different clothes (varieties), and with various weapons. (But there are many different and varied humans varieties.) (Sometimes the tigers and wolves attacks the character.)



"CONCLUSION":

I think "KOEI" has done it this time, the game in the "NEXT-GEN" to convert. And it has finally managed to very many different changes and innovations. This is a very good interesting game was what the fans liked very determined.

In the *"Coop-Mode"*, there are more effects at the combination "Musou-attack" and there are more fun.

Especially important for me is that the characters can now *swim*, *ride boats* and *climb ladders*. Because these properties needs a mass battle game. That brings variety.

Another important point is that this infinitely long *"combos"* can take. This too is important. Because it's really fun when you see on the screen how many combos you did.

And most recently, the new *"Renbu System"*. The system is very new and very interesting. Thanks to this system, you can also very long combos. At the beginning of the game is the "Renbu system" has not developed. But, the more you battles done, and the more the tasks done and special tasks done, the more developed the "Renbu system." Then you can do in the battles for a long time various attacks and combos.



RATING: 9/10 (90 points)

-------------------------------

Graphics: 9.0
The graphics are now very good, detailed graphics, Next-Gen. You can see the opponents very far. You can see all and the enemys of far away. ( 720p HDTV, 60 frames per second (fps) )

Gameplay: 9.0
The "control", "gameplay" and "camera work" is very good. The "controls" are very fluid. The characters are now much more agile and have multi skills. With the right stick you can rotate the camera. There are 3 Modes...

Sound: 8.8
This time the game have very good sound quality. "Dolby Digital audio".

Fun Factor: 9.1
The game is very fun when you play. Both alone, as well as Coop (2-Player). There are very much unlockables, unlock Characters. A lot of interesting skills. The game has a motivation for the long-term-playing.

-------------------------------

is there any form of online co-op in this?
/intrigued

Meanwhile, there is the Official "Dynasty Warriors 6" Europe Homepage on the Internet. There are currently plenty of information about the game.

Here is the internet-address: http://www.dynastywarriors6.co.uk

It's a better looking cousin from a family you already love or hate. 6/10 from me.

I am from Germany. I can not speak English well. I translate my letter to the translation engine "Google":

HERE IS THE LIST OF OBJECTIVE REVIEWS FOR THE GAME "DYNASTY WARRIORS 6" :


Gameshark.com= REVIEW Rating= B+ (85.0%)
http://www.gameshark.com/reviews/2934/Dy...


UnderGroundOnline.com (UGO.com)= REVIEW Rating= B+ (85.0%)
http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=...


Eurogamer.net= REVIEW Rating= 8/10 (80.0%)
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...


Wonderwallweb.com= REVIEW Rating= 8.8/10 (88.0%)
http://wonderwallweb.com/article-301-Dyn...


GamersDailyNews.com= REVIEW Rating= 8.4/10 (84.0%)
http://www.gamersdailynews.com/article-2...


WorthPlaying.com= REVIEW Rating= 7.5/10 (75.0%)
http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?...


Jolt.co.uk= REVIEW Rating= 7.9/10 (79.0%)
http://www.jolt.co.uk/index.php?articlei...


Gameinformer.com= REVIEW Rating= 7.25/10 (72.5%)
http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/F7...


PS3fanboy.com= REVIEW Rating= 7.5/10 (75.0%)
http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/02/25/ps3-...


Gamespy.com= REVIEW Rating= 3.5/5 (70.0%)
http://uk.ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/...


Totally360.com= REVIEW Rating= 7/10 (70.0%)
http://www.totally360.com/gameinfo.php?g...



Yours sincerely,

Devil-_-King

I've got this and I'm completely loving it. However, has anyone noticed a quite a bit of slowdown when you encounter the enemy generals?

Doesn't seem to happen anywhere else, maybe it's the number of high poly "boss" characters that hang round with the big cheese. You'd think KOEI would have inlcuded some sort of LOD system to stop this happening. Oh well.

Also wierd is the way the long grass vanishes just as you approach it... Hell, I'm nit picking here. Fantastic game, even with the odd torpid moment.

The slowdown is on purpose, it's an "effect". Probably one they included for the reasons you stated, but it is on purpose, even if it is a purposeful way of masking the fact it'd happen anyway!

I still get left cold by this, since Gundam felt like such a step forward.