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[john tv]

I haven't played any of the PS2 Dynasty Warriors games for more than five minutes, but with DW5 around the corner, I want to go back and try them out.

Now, before you say "forget about 2, 3 and 4 -- just go right to 5" please understand that I merely want to give them a try; I'm not necessarily going to play all the way through (though I may if I find myself really enjoying them).

So for DW3 you've got two versions (regular and Xtreme Legends), and for DW4 you've got three versions (regular, Xtreme Legends, Empires). My question is this: How are the two versions of 3 and the three versions of 4 different from one another? And if I were to buy one version of each (3 and 4), which one would be the best to get?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I don't understand the rationale of buying one from 3 and 4. If you must buy two previous games, get 4 (the core game) and Empires as that adds a bit of novelty to the whole experience. If you fall in love with 4 you could get Xtreme which adds additional content (but can be played by itself I believe, didn't bother with it.)

 

[Lyte Edge]

I don't understand the rationale of buying one from 3 and 4. If you must buy two previous games, get 4 (the core game) and Empires as that adds a bit of novelty to the whole experience. If you fall in love with 4 you could get Xtreme which adds additional content (but can be played by itself I believe, didn't bother with it.)

I'd say the same thing...just get DW4 and skip 3; if you want something similar to it., get the PSP version.

But I really wouldn't bother with the previous games. Just get Shin Sangoku Musou 4 and be done with it. There certainly are differences between all the games, but DW is really the same game remade over and over again each time/

 

[Brandon F]

3 supposedly had more individual focus on characters creating a campaign mode with a slightly original narrative for each of the 40+ characters. Plus it had unique weapon drops or something like in Samurai Warriors. I think a lot of diehards still prefer this game as a favorite.

4 merged the campaign into a few different strands, based purely on the faction you side with regardless of the officer you actually play as, thus the replayability can feel pretty dry (though I was pretty hooked regardless). You level up weapons now with experience, except for the ultimate 10th level weapons that require a faq to plunder, also elemental orbs can be found scattered about that modify attacks when equipped. Visuals got a nice bump, and the annoying Duel system made an appearance.

The Xtreme Legends expansions just add a few more heroes, higher difficulty levels, and uber weapons to earn. Empires is a whole new twist on the game.

Samurai Warriors lowers the overall character count, but bumps the visuals, and streams in a lot of varying objectives to accomplish on the battlefields, often removing the tension of actually subduing large forces of grunts with sheer button thwacking. You really spend most of the time playing fetch as some avatar barks orders at you in the lower portion of the screen. It's a really nice twist on the formula, but I often felt too distracted completing errands for victory rather than engaging in actual battle which kinda bothered me. Oh and the castle-esque stages sucked.

BTW, you should be playing Busin Zero...

 

[DarienA]

I just finished Empires, I rule the land! The DW series has always been kinda meh for me the constant hack and slash just didn't appeal, now with the Empires version though I can take over land, produce the items I need, recruit, etc.... so while I haven't really decided if I'm going to get 5, I'm definitely going to get 5: Empires(don't let me down Koei).

 

[john tv]

So the Xtreme Legends games are just expansions? Do you need the original versions? Or, do the Xtreme Legends versions include the originals as well...?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

So the Xtreme Legends games are just expansions? Do you need the original versions? Or, do the Xtreme Legends versions include the originals as well...?

I never buy them (I am not teh hardcore!), but they utilize the saves of your previous game. It was my understanding that many of them are playable by themselves, but I could be wrong. They do not include the original.

 

[DarienA]

So the Xtreme Legends games are just expansions? Do you need the original versions? Or, do the Xtreme Legends versions include the originals as well...?

No you can play XL by itself, but if you have the DW that goes along with it you apparently can use additions from the XL(characters, etc.) in the DW.... I think that's how it goes.


EDIT:
Sun Ce was kickin my ass in Empires... jugglin bastard.... thank god I finally noticed that one of my generals was offering to entice an enemy general... I picked up Sun Ce quick and in a hurry... aggressive character even fighting for me.

The Empires map was pretty evenly divided left to right between me and Xiahu Dun.... instead of attacking I instead start letting different regions of his attempt to invade... I'd repel the invasion then next round counterattack... slowly but sure I was making inroads... I cut off his two lower regions from the top by taking a middle region, then took another region down below that surrounded on of his completely, so his empire was actually split up in to 3 separate regions.

I finally decided to launch an attack right after I picked up Sun Ce, it was on a map that I hate... all desert, pretty much wide open.... we were making inroads taking over most of the map, and then I keep seeing every few minutes that Xiahu Dun is calling in reinforcements from other areas... I'm like...wtf?!?!? I can't do that... I don't think... so anyway the big man himself finally decides to put in an appearance... right near me(on his elephant) and 3 of my generals...(BIG mistake), we spanked that ass...

After defeating him I thought I'd have to go kick his ass in the other regions but nope, defeating him there knocked over the other 3-4 regions he had left.... and there was much rejoicing in the land....

but that dance sequence...<shudder> I may never play DW4:Empires again if I have to see that dance sequence....

 

[User 406]

So the Xtreme Legends games are just expansions? Do you need the original versions? Or, do the Xtreme Legends versions include the originals as well...?

The Xtreme Legends discs can be played standalone, they just allow you to use the original game to play the original game's modes with the new XL stuff like the higher level weapons, higher difficulty levels, and so on. If you play an XL game on it's own, you only get access to the new XL modes.

I agree with Musashi Wins, DW4 + DW4E will pretty much bring you the best range of what the series has to offer.

 

[MoxManiac]

DW4 XL is worth it for Xtreme mode alone. Very addicting. XL is pretty content light without have the base game though. Empires rocks too.

Are you getting the US versions, johntv? Because the US voice acting had a major step up in quality from 3 to 4. Unfortunatly they saw fit to remove the japanese language option in 4 for those that perfer it.

Overall I perfer 4 to 3, despite 3 using better exp systems.

I highly recommend Samurai Warriors. The character designs are a lot better and the gameplay is more refined. There's less characters, but more variety per character than DW. The SW:XL expansion adds 4 characters (Hideyoshi!) and fixes/improves a lot of stuff, and adds a lot of content.

 

[Drinky Crow]

DW4 + DW4E, definitely. Empires is probably my favorite DW experience, hands-down.

 

[john tv]

Are you getting the US versions, johntv? Because the US voice acting had a major step up in quality from 3 to 4. Unfortunatly they saw fit to remove the japanese language option in 4 for those that perfer it.

I am, yes. Are you saying 3 has an option for Japanese voices but 4 doesn't?

I highly recommend Samurai Warriors. The character designs are a lot better and the gameplay is more refined. There's less characters, but more variety per character than DW. The SW:XL expansion adds 4 characters (Hideyoshi!) and fixes/improves a lot of stuff, and adds a lot of content.

Cool! I'll probably check this out as well, but I'm going to hit up DW first, since I want to start from the top. This is kind of like homework for me as well in case I ever review future versions, so I really want to play them all at least a little bit.

Thanks for the info!

 

[MoxManiac]

I am, yes. Are you saying 3 has an option for Japanese voices but 4 doesn't?

Yes. Everyone was baffled and upset by it, too. Some thought it might have been space constraints, but I dunno. Anyways they restored the language option in SW (though I quite like the US voices in SW, believe it or not)

EDIT:
Sun Ce was kickin my ass in Empires... jugglin bastard.... thank god I finally noticed that one of my generals was offering to entice an enemy general... I picked up Sun Ce quick and in a hurry... aggressive character even fighting for me.

It's funny, similar to this i've had skills work in my favor. Usually taunt does little for me, but this one time I was fighting sun shing xiang (sp?) who was being a huge bitch (her ai and stats seemed cranked up) and I almost got killed by her, then one of the generals used taunt and lured her deep into my territory and me and my army proceded to gangbang her hard. That was awesome.