Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires REview
Due to the popularity of the original mystical third person beat-em Dynasty Warriors, KOEI released numerous additional games to the series as well as spin-off games with each making a steady progression to this latest instalment, Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires.
Whilst Ancient Chinese history is blurred with myth, Dynasty Warriors 5 : Empires concentrates on historical facts, and blends the eccentric characters of bygone days, from the powerful warlord Yuan Shao to the mighty sorcerer Zhang Jiao, with fact based battles for control and land gain through a magical era that is still saturated in mystery. The enhanced battle system hasn’t put an end to the button bashing of the previous games, but it has added a tactical element and a number of new features that gives the game depth, playability and more control over the vast armies of warriors than ever before.
Through commanding these enigmatic soldiers, deciding on political policies ,using diplomatic skills and, of course, by exerting sheer brute force, the ultimate aim of the game is to build an Empire and conquer the regions of Ancient China.
Click for larger imageThere are two game modes to choose from, Free Mode or Empire Mode. Both modes consist of the same beat 'em up stlye battles but the latter also features strategy based moves. In Free Mode you can jump straight into a battle without the need for unlocking any of the maps. There are 25 battles to choose from, ranging from the Battle of Bei Ping to the Battle of Jian Ning. There’s also the option of taking part in an extra war in the epic Yellow Turban Rebellion - which took place in 184 AD, when the peasants (all 350,000 of them) rebelled against Emperor Lingdi of the Han Dynasty. The battles in Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires don’t feature thousands of fighters, but there is plenty of opposition to ensure that the action remains frantic and relentless.
Free mode gives you two options, either to invade or defend a territory against enemy attack. Choose the difficulty setting, which ranges from easy to chaos – the latter being insanely difficult, and handpick the generals and officers you wish to lead the battle. Before the invasion begins you’ll have the opportunity to prepare your fighter by choosing a weapon and, if you like, a horse to stride across the battlefield in full regalia. In the sub-menu you can view the battlefield conditions which reveals a map of the area, shows the objective, and, via a basic map, shows the positioning of the enemy camp. You can also view information on all of your own and enemy units by accessing the Unit Info screen. This screen shows you the exact starting positions of all the friendly and opposition’s generals and helps you decide on a plan of attack or defence. The aim will be to capture the enemy bases, marked in red, or defend your bases, marked in blue.
Click for larger imageAs the game begins the map, which sits in the top right hand corner of the screen, shows your position by means of a green arrow, ensuring that you’ll never get lost amongst the mayhem. It’s hack and slash action from the outset as hordes of brave warriors, commanded by the vicious warlords, descend on your camps or defend their own with some bizarre A.I manoeuvres.
