-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Looking to get into Dynasty Warriors
- Thread starter borghe
- Start date
radios shipping overview
Member
I'm mildly interested in the series, too, but I never know where to jump in thanks to Koei's EA-style quarterly revisions. It's the same with their Romance of the Three Kingdoms series. Is there a 'best', comprehensive, satisfying-on-its-own starting point? DW4 Empires, maybe?
You don't need to have played a previous title in the series to get the newest one, since Dynasty Warriors is essentially the same game (story) remade over and over again. IMO DW5 is by far the best in the series; go with that, if you're not looking to spend as much, try DW Empires.
Dynasty Warriors PSP is somewhat different than the other games. In-game play is basically the same (run around the map beating up enemies), although there are no power-ups or weapon upgrades to find in the stages. Instead, you equip four sub-generals (and can earn more), each with different abilities you can use, such as healing, speed boost, etc.
Unlike the console DW games, when the battle starts, you are on a map screen similar to what you might find in a strategy game. Each area you move to contains a mini-map filled with enemies of varying numbers. Your goal is to defeat the enemy army and keep you troops' morale up within a 20 minute time period. Characters play more like their DW3 incarnations IIRC. There aren't as many battles to play on as the console games, but the mini-maps have their own look. The game has 42 characters total; replay value comes from unlocking them all.
If you're looking to get a console DW, don't even hesitate to get the newest release, Dynasty Warriors 5. 48 different characters to use, tons of maps, and colorful stages with draw-distances pushed back and more enemies on screen at a time without them "disappearing" as much as previous games.
If you're just looking to get one game, get Dynasty Warriors 5. DW PSP is fun and feels a little different than the other games in the series, but it doesn't have as much content as the console games.
borghe said:Ok, never played a Dynasty Warriors game before, but it interests me. What is the best game to get into? How does Dynasty Warriors PSP compare to DW IV or V? Come on DW gurus.. school me...
Dynasty Warriors PSP is somewhat different than the other games. In-game play is basically the same (run around the map beating up enemies), although there are no power-ups or weapon upgrades to find in the stages. Instead, you equip four sub-generals (and can earn more), each with different abilities you can use, such as healing, speed boost, etc.
Unlike the console DW games, when the battle starts, you are on a map screen similar to what you might find in a strategy game. Each area you move to contains a mini-map filled with enemies of varying numbers. Your goal is to defeat the enemy army and keep you troops' morale up within a 20 minute time period. Characters play more like their DW3 incarnations IIRC. There aren't as many battles to play on as the console games, but the mini-maps have their own look. The game has 42 characters total; replay value comes from unlocking them all.
If you're looking to get a console DW, don't even hesitate to get the newest release, Dynasty Warriors 5. 48 different characters to use, tons of maps, and colorful stages with draw-distances pushed back and more enemies on screen at a time without them "disappearing" as much as previous games.
If you're just looking to get one game, get Dynasty Warriors 5. DW PSP is fun and feels a little different than the other games in the series, but it doesn't have as much content as the console games.
Considering you could buy 2, 3, and 4 combined for about the same price as 5, personally I'd go that way. By the time you've played through all of them (not to mention DW3: XL, DW4: XL and DW4: Empires, which are all just as cheap except for Empires), DW5 will probably be discounted.
I wish there was a general Dynasty Warriors strategy guide somewhere, maybe I'll look at GameFAQs more closely. Not a walkthru of specific battles, just general tips. Should I always follow the main unit? Is there any way I can direct the units to where I want them to go? Something that explains in further depth how the AI works, because the manuals sure don't.
I wish there was a general Dynasty Warriors strategy guide somewhere, maybe I'll look at GameFAQs more closely. Not a walkthru of specific battles, just general tips. Should I always follow the main unit? Is there any way I can direct the units to where I want them to go? Something that explains in further depth how the AI works, because the manuals sure don't.
I wouldn't overlook Samurai Warriors either. Unlike the DW games, SW puts far more emphasis on completing tasks and unique objectives in it's maps moreso than running the gauntlet. Heavilly focused on the characterization, each of the 15+ heroes get a bit more attention than a typical DW game. It's a pretty original twist on the DW formula, and in the end one I think I prefer.
On the otherhand, it's a very hard recommendation without the accompanying expansion pack SWXL. Besides the expected extra heroes/items/weapons, there are numerous fixes and balance tweaks that really transform the original game into something eminently more enjoyable.
On the otherhand, it's a very hard recommendation without the accompanying expansion pack SWXL. Besides the expected extra heroes/items/weapons, there are numerous fixes and balance tweaks that really transform the original game into something eminently more enjoyable.
radios shipping overview
Member
Does XL contain all the content from the original game, upgraded?Brandon F said:
You need to hotswap the original disk with the XL disk to play all the old character campaigns with the upgrade fixes and such, a minor annoyance that you have to do each time you turn the game on. By itself, the XL disk just lets you tackle the 4 new character campaigns, but combined everything in the original gets the same treatment. Think of it as an expansion/patch, not a replacement disk.
It's really worth it though, SWXL adds a plethora of coolness to the somewhat broken SW game.
It's really worth it though, SWXL adds a plethora of coolness to the somewhat broken SW game.
VALIS said:
Since these games are all basically upgrades/remakes, I don't even see the point of playing the older games. Just buy Dynasty Warriors 5 and don't bother with any of the other DW games, except perhaps for Empires, which has the added strategy elements. And DW5 is also back to individual character stories once again.
Brandon F said:
I liked Samurai Warriors, but not as much as the DW games. The stages are duller, and while I like the indoor castle stages, it just doesn't feel different enough overall from DW to really bother with unless you just can't get enough of Koei's beat-em-up games. I didn't like the way some of the characters played or looked in SW, too, which is just a personal opinion, but that's like 1/3 of the roster. If you don't like some of the characters DW, there's still 35+ others to choose from.
jiji said:
No. You get all the characters, but not the maps. XL has 4-5 (new) maps IIRC. Only the new characters get a campaign; if you want all the features of XL with the original cast, you have to have both games. Koei = New king of milking.
Drinky Crow
Banned
DW5 + DW4 Empires is the best way to experience the best the series has to offer.
Empires has a strategy mode plus a good character customization system. It's still my favorite DW title.
Empires has a strategy mode plus a good character customization system. It's still my favorite DW title.
Shouta
Member
I liked SW a lot myself. Each of the characters were really unique instead of how some of the DW characters feel like they're repeating as the list goes on. I think my only two complaints with SW is that there needs to be more intense enemy sequences (something like Okuni's stage where Shingen and the other guy go at it while she tries to stop them/woo them) and that dumb shared Musou bar.
DW5 sounds like the best one in the series so far so I'd say start with that.
DW5 sounds like the best one in the series so far so I'd say start with that.
Shouta, that stuff is fixed in XL. Individual musou bars are back in co-op, and Chaos difficulty has been completely retooled for more rewarding(but balanced) enemy affairs.
No more cap on learning skills either. Hitting level 20 doesn't stop you from buying up the expanded tree. Lots of great new skills have been added as well. Castle stages are less infuriating thanks to a fixed item drop rate and the ability to remove enemy gates inside.
Lots and lots more. SWXL rocked.
No more cap on learning skills either. Hitting level 20 doesn't stop you from buying up the expanded tree. Lots of great new skills have been added as well. Castle stages are less infuriating thanks to a fixed item drop rate and the ability to remove enemy gates inside.
Lots and lots more. SWXL rocked.
Let me get this straight, since I'm relatively new to the series as well. Is there any reason to play anything other than the latest/best versions of DW? The same way Madden and most sports games work? Because I have #'s 1-4 and I'm currently playing #2, planning on working my way through these three plus the XL and Extreme games until I get to #5. But is DW5 the same game as DW2-4, just a better version with more features? Same maps and everything?
Legal Step
Member
Get 3 or 5 and start from there. Samurai Warriors is similar but different, mainly in the skill system. Actaully 2 is pretty good you could get that becuase it looks like the PSP version but plays better and is more fun.
Lyte Edge said:You're starting from Dynasty Warriors *2* and planning on going through them all? You'll be sick of Dynasty Warriors by the time you get to DW3XL.
No I won't. All my friends have gotten married in the last few years and I have no social life anymore. It's just me and the Wu Kingdom for the time being. :lol
But, anyway, I was wondering if there was any reason to play other DW's apart from 5 and Empires. Like Madden, there really ain't no reason to play 2001-2004 if you have 2005. Same with DW, or does each game at least offer something of a unique experience compared to the others that's worth playing through?
Personally, I think DW4 Empires and DW5 are all you need; wouldn't bother with anything else except for the PSP version and the upcoming GBA version if it turns out well.
I sold off Empires and don't have any plans to repurchase it right now; DW5 and DW PSP are all I need. The game play in previous games are too similar to bother playing through ALL of them if you haven't by now. DYnasty Warriors 4 did have 1-on-1 duels, but no one liked them, so they were removed.
Nothing is "broken" about the game in any way. The character models aren't as detailed as the console versions, and every once in a while one of the mini-maps might have some bad slowdown/frame rate problems, but the game is still very enjoyable IMO.
My only real complaints are that Koei didn't try to fix the slowdown for the U.S. release, and the lack of a 2P mode.
I sold off Empires and don't have any plans to repurchase it right now; DW5 and DW PSP are all I need. The game play in previous games are too similar to bother playing through ALL of them if you haven't by now. DYnasty Warriors 4 did have 1-on-1 duels, but no one liked them, so they were removed.
Razoric said:
Nothing is "broken" about the game in any way. The character models aren't as detailed as the console versions, and every once in a while one of the mini-maps might have some bad slowdown/frame rate problems, but the game is still very enjoyable IMO.
My only real complaints are that Koei didn't try to fix the slowdown for the U.S. release, and the lack of a 2P mode.
Despite my no $49.99 PSP software stipulation I've put for myself, I'm so damn tempted to get Dynasty Warriors PSP! I must stay strong and hold out though! Sad thing is, if I do get DW PSP it'll be the $70 premium pack! :lol
There is some nasty fogging and enemy popup DW2/3/4 which is practically almost removed in DW5. You can see some enemy pop up in the distance in DW5, but I haven't run into any problems up close. In some of the earlier games enemies would fade in and out around you.
DW5 has the biggest selection of characters, the most amount of refinements, and gets back to being an extension of the best game in the series (Dynasty Warriors 3). Plus with Dynasty Warriors 5 you know there will be an XL and *hopefully* Empires type expansion, so you'll get the expanded gameplay of these expansion packs on the best possible version. I'm guessing we'll see a Dynasty Warriors 5 expansion around October/November in NA.
There is some nasty fogging and enemy popup DW2/3/4 which is practically almost removed in DW5. You can see some enemy pop up in the distance in DW5, but I haven't run into any problems up close. In some of the earlier games enemies would fade in and out around you.
DW5 has the biggest selection of characters, the most amount of refinements, and gets back to being an extension of the best game in the series (Dynasty Warriors 3). Plus with Dynasty Warriors 5 you know there will be an XL and *hopefully* Empires type expansion, so you'll get the expanded gameplay of these expansion packs on the best possible version. I'm guessing we'll see a Dynasty Warriors 5 expansion around October/November in NA.
Legal Step
Member
Mrbob said:
Usually they announce it the day after they announce the Xbox version of Dynasty Warriors 5.
WrathOfOtaibah
Banned
I got DW PSP ordered from Toys n Joys for $39. Please tell me they are good. I chose the cheapest shipping and they're at Hawaii. I better not be assfucked out of my $40.
Anyway, I didn't get DW5 but compared with Samurai Warriors and DW4, I enjoyed SW more. Not sure how 5 is but SW did a lot of things better. I like the more mission like level structure and the much better music.
I thought they could have been done better but was a good thing they should have added.
Anyway, I didn't get DW5 but compared with Samurai Warriors and DW4, I enjoyed SW more. Not sure how 5 is but SW did a lot of things better. I like the more mission like level structure and the much better music.
I thought they could have been done better but was a good thing they should have added.
WrathOfOtaibah
Banned
Son of a bitch. Well, I'm assfucked out of $90 and don't feel like rebuying them.