Dynasty Warriors 9 is an ideal instance of why you have to be cautious what you want for.
You understand how each time a Dynasty Warriors sport is launched followers quietly get on with having fun with it whereas others kind of roll their eyes and say it’s principally the identical sport over once more? Those individuals have wished the sequence would do one thing completely different for some time. Well, Koei Tecmo has a solution for that – however in a pursuit of one thing new and completely different Dynasty Warriors 9 finally ends up feeling like a confused sideways step for the franchise that doesn’t add practically sufficient to justify its shift in path.
After some profitable outings for the sequence method with Dynasty Warriors eight and franchise mash-ups Dragon Quest Heroes, Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors, Dynasty Warriors 9 has a brand new large function: it’s gone open world. It’s taken them some time, however Omega Force is lastly having a crack at that large buzz-word function – although the outcomes are blended.
Present these options as back-of-the-box or press launch bullet factors and it appears like the best Dynasty Warriors ever, however these techniques simply don’t work and mesh collectively in a approach that turns into partaking and satisfying.
I say blended, however let’s be clear: it’s a depressing open world sport. The map is completely large however totally devoid of issues to do, the inverse of the kind of dense open world design that makes many others work so effectively. On paper it provides up: you’ll be able to hunt, collect sources for crafting and climb towers within the open world.
There are additionally time, climate and AI techniques that like Breath of the Wild impression the way you would possibly strategy an open-world encounters with enemies. You may even get a bit dwelling space you’ll be able to beautify, customise and improve.
Present these options as back-of-the-box or press launch bullet factors and it appears like the best Dynasty Warriors ever, however these techniques simply don’t work and mesh collectively in a approach that turns into partaking and satisfying – and the tip result’s an open world that merely doesn’t work. The ambition is there to see, but it surely feels barren. The boast is that this huge land would take lengthy whereas to traverse end-to-end on horseback, however I can’t for the lifetime of me fathom why someone would wish to do this in a world so devoid of attention-grabbing life and with a body charge that creaks and groans underneath the burden of streaming in new geometry, even on a PS4 Pro.
The concept is so as to add depth, however this new design does little to succeed at that. That’s the darkish secret of Dynasty Warriors that solely followers perceive, by the best way: beneath the seemingly senseless hack-and-slash gameplay there’s a coronary heart of nuance and depth that followers adore, but it surely’s not often allowed to shine on this new open world design. It’s bold, but it surely falls fully flat.
This is the nice frustration and in addition why I referred to the sport as blended earlier versus being fully damaged – these core musou battle mechanics are nonetheless there, hidden away behind the open world, and so they’re nonetheless as satisfying as ever.
Beneath the seemingly senseless hack-and-slash gameplay there’s a coronary heart of nuance and depth that followers adore, but it surely’s not often allowed to shine on this new open world design.
There’s even some neat new additions to assist prolong combos and power enemies into particular states to will let you arrange lethal follow-up assaults, and when you may get into a correct Dynasty Warriors scuffle the place you’re surrounded by tons of of totally ineffective AI grunts and some enemy officers that vary from barely difficult to outright lethal this launch lastly begins to really feel as if it’s again on observe.
This is the stuff that made laughable voice performing and uneven story execution bearable in previous video games, and likewise right here when fight works and clicks the expertise is reworked. All too rapidly you’ll end up again within the open world, nevertheless, and the dread returns.
On event the open world even meshes with the present strengths of the sequence to create one thing particular. For essentially the most half it’s a wretched try, nevertheless, rescued solely by how essentially satisfying and enjoyable the musou fight is if you strip it proper down.
That’s the purpose, in the end: earlier Warriors video games are typically stripped again to that exhilarating core. Eighty-odd characters, a bunch of campaigns, and enclosed maps designed to funnel you into thrilling encounters. All of that’s right here, however in Dynasty Warriors 9 this pleasant stuff is scattered throughout a mistake of an open world. It’s not an concept with out advantage, and one Koei Tecmo can hopefully construct and enhance upon, however make no mistake: this can be a sizable misstep for the sequence.
Version Tested: PC (Primary), PS4 Pro. Review copy offered by the writer.
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