Official Site: http://www.atlus.com/codeofprincess/
Source: Youtube Channel insidegamesjp
Having finally completed The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D on my 3DS, I opened up Code of Princess with excitement. I've been listening to the soundtrack for a month or so now before last night and really liked what I heard, but to hear it alongside the game was a different experience. This is generally true for all videogame music I listen to. I am able to better appreciate the songs once I hear them in-game and have a better connection with what the song were meant for. I already liked the opening song "Gather the Lights", but it blew me away hearing it along with the opening cinematic.
Source: Youtube Channel dannykim0730
There are many unique songs throughout the game that emphasizes the colorful and often eccentric characters within the game. They can be upbeat, inspiring, and playful. It's something that really gets to me when the most recognized and praised videogame music are the generic hollywood style moods, themes and orchestration while memorable music within videogames that sound nothing like other genres of music out there are largely shrugged off as background music. The level of music Code of Princess is at rivals with that of classic games with its catchy melodies, exciting beats, and memorable themes.
Source: Youtube Channel tangytablet
This is one of my favorite tracks in the game so far. I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. The quirkiness it has in the opening just leads it into a really simple riff, but it commands so much of its mood and theme that draws in the listener. The melody is equally simple, but is also uplifting. I have heard this song only once in the game thus far in the 2 hours I played, and it was during a major boss fight. It really changed the mood from when I was fighting against regular enemies. The difficulty of the boss battle mixed with this track made is so exciting and memorable. Although it doesn't sound anything like it, it really reminds me of one of my favorite tracks from Guardian Heroes:
Source: Youtube Channel KMaelstrom
The music for Code of Princess is done by a group of 3 composers who call themselves ACE+. It's really hard looking for information about them, but they've also worked on music for Xenoblade Chronicles. I'm looking forward to hearing more of their music in videogames in the future.
In terms of the game so far, I wasn't expecting the campaign to be chopped up into individual quests as I was hoping for a long and cohesive play like Guardian Heroes. Character selection doesn't change the story and there aren't branching paths. Conversations between the characters and voice acting are odd and can be perceived as pretty bad, but the writing is pretty humorous with lots of puns and jokes which makes the seemingly bad voice acting tolerable. Combat mechanics are rather limited with two attack buttons with a few special moves. Also, there are conflicting art styles throughout the game between scenes, in-game sprites, and cinematics. Despite all that, I couldn't put the game down so there's definitely something about it that makes it really fun. I'll have a full review of it in the future.
Showing posts with label HacknSlash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HacknSlash. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
GameLight - Ys I & II Chronicles+
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/223810/
Source: Youtube Channel RPGamerdotcom
I was so happy with the localization of Ys Origins and Ys The Oath in Felghana released last year. I bought both games last summer but didn't have the time to play them. I still had other games to finish, but couldn't help it anymore and installed The Oath in Felghana and started playing it. Right afterwards, I saw Ys 1 & 2 Chronicles+ on the Steam special page. Once again, XSeed Games bring the Western market another Ys title. Ys 1 and 2 has been remade, re-released, and ported countless times ever since its original release in the 1980's. Ys 1&2 defined the Action-RPG genre when it was still in its infancy and is one of the most influential games of its kind. Ys 1 & 2 Chronicles+ takes the player back to the original games with recreated art, updated music, and a more familiar hack-n-slash control scheme instead of the bumper-car style gameplay the game was original known for. Of course, all the original art assets, music, and gameplay style is still selectable. I've played through the first Ys and thought it was okay. I never got far in Ys 2 because it was very confusing. The original Ys games were extremely grindy, and so I'm hoping the remakes won't be. I'm willing to give the two games another play and try with the release on PC. Ys I & II Chronicles+ will be available on Steam February 14th, 2013 for $12.74 pre-purchase and $14.99 when it reverts back to its original price.
Source: Youtube Channel RPGamerdotcom
I was so happy with the localization of Ys Origins and Ys The Oath in Felghana released last year. I bought both games last summer but didn't have the time to play them. I still had other games to finish, but couldn't help it anymore and installed The Oath in Felghana and started playing it. Right afterwards, I saw Ys 1 & 2 Chronicles+ on the Steam special page. Once again, XSeed Games bring the Western market another Ys title. Ys 1 and 2 has been remade, re-released, and ported countless times ever since its original release in the 1980's. Ys 1&2 defined the Action-RPG genre when it was still in its infancy and is one of the most influential games of its kind. Ys 1 & 2 Chronicles+ takes the player back to the original games with recreated art, updated music, and a more familiar hack-n-slash control scheme instead of the bumper-car style gameplay the game was original known for. Of course, all the original art assets, music, and gameplay style is still selectable. I've played through the first Ys and thought it was okay. I never got far in Ys 2 because it was very confusing. The original Ys games were extremely grindy, and so I'm hoping the remakes won't be. I'm willing to give the two games another play and try with the release on PC. Ys I & II Chronicles+ will be available on Steam February 14th, 2013 for $12.74 pre-purchase and $14.99 when it reverts back to its original price.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
GameLight - Realms of Ancient War
Official Site: http://www.raw-thegame.com/
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/209730/
Source: Youtube Channel focusinteractive
I mentioned this beautiful looking Action-RPG, Hack-n-Slash two days before the release of Diablo 3 as my anticipation for D3 had caused me to look at other games to divert my anxious heart for its release. Realms of Ancient War (RAW) had been under my watchful eyes to see what becomes of it, and I apparently wasn't keeping a close enough watch since the game released today without notice. The game looks amazing with beautiful graphics, slick animations, flashy abilities, and fast-paced hack-n-slash action. What I'm mainly curious about at the moment for the PC version is whether the game can be played like a point-n-click or if it plays like the consoles where it uses a controller. The game seems to play more closely to games such as Gauntlet than Diablo where attacks are more directional rather than target based. I love assassin-based classes in RPGs, and so the Rogue is the character I'm most excited about playing if I get the game. What a lot of players will be sad about is that the game doesn't support online gameplay with other players. It can be played co-op with another friend, but only locally. For console players, this won't be too much of a problem having multiple controllers and playing on the usual TV screen, but this might be a bit of a drag for PC players who will need to find gamepads to play with a friend and share a screen that may or may not be really tiny depending on the monitor size. Still, the game looks like a really fun adventure and I'm very willing to play through it for a single-player experience. RAW is available today for Playstation 3's PSN download, Xbox 360's XBLA download, and PC download including Steam for $14.99 (currently 25% off on Steam for $11.24).
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/209730/
Source: Youtube Channel focusinteractive
I mentioned this beautiful looking Action-RPG, Hack-n-Slash two days before the release of Diablo 3 as my anticipation for D3 had caused me to look at other games to divert my anxious heart for its release. Realms of Ancient War (RAW) had been under my watchful eyes to see what becomes of it, and I apparently wasn't keeping a close enough watch since the game released today without notice. The game looks amazing with beautiful graphics, slick animations, flashy abilities, and fast-paced hack-n-slash action. What I'm mainly curious about at the moment for the PC version is whether the game can be played like a point-n-click or if it plays like the consoles where it uses a controller. The game seems to play more closely to games such as Gauntlet than Diablo where attacks are more directional rather than target based. I love assassin-based classes in RPGs, and so the Rogue is the character I'm most excited about playing if I get the game. What a lot of players will be sad about is that the game doesn't support online gameplay with other players. It can be played co-op with another friend, but only locally. For console players, this won't be too much of a problem having multiple controllers and playing on the usual TV screen, but this might be a bit of a drag for PC players who will need to find gamepads to play with a friend and share a screen that may or may not be really tiny depending on the monitor size. Still, the game looks like a really fun adventure and I'm very willing to play through it for a single-player experience. RAW is available today for Playstation 3's PSN download, Xbox 360's XBLA download, and PC download including Steam for $14.99 (currently 25% off on Steam for $11.24).
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
GameOn - VGCC - Hack 'n Slash & Beat 'em Ups
It feels like a while since I've done a GameOn segment. Just as a reminder, GameOn is when a week's worth of posts follows a common theme that touches upon the interests, controversy and/or culture of videogames. This week I'll be talking about Videogame's Common Complaints (which I shortened to VGCC for convenience) in certain genres. Some of these explanations can turn out to be long discussions, so I'll do my best to shorten them and keep them open ended for the reader to poke at their own opinions on things. Today, I'll be talking about Hack 'n Slash & Beat 'em Up games. I've wanted to do this one ever since I started this blog, and the main target of interest for gamers to bag on is the "Warriors" series by KOEI (now known as TecmoKoei due to their merger).
Source: Youtube Channel MyKOEITV
Repetitive Gameplay
This is probably the most common complaint people use whenever a new Dynasty Warriors or recently "Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage" game comes out. True, the goal is usually the same with killing hordes of men and then either beat the last guy or escort an ally to safety; however, it's not the goal that's important (or fun) but the journey there. The truth is, Dynasty Warriors and other Warriors games have much more depth to them than most gamers think. Some of these Warriors games contain 40-60 characters, each with their own attributes, weapons, style of play, and skill sets. All characters have the capability to grow like in RPGs where the player can earn experience points by fulfilling goals and killing enemies to receive more power, items, weapons, and abilities. The game gets more interesting when the player has a stronger character and plays on a harder difficulty level, because playing on the easiest mode really can feel repetitive since you only have to whack away without blocking, dodging, or parrying. Others will complain that the "Repetitive Gameplay" they refer to is the same game that KOEI releases with different maps, graphics, and modes and that the core gameplay is the same. Well...games like Super Mario Bros., Call of Duty, and Final Fantasy have gone through lots of graphic changes and some new design concepts, but the game is essentially the same which still makes them great (for the most part). I personally like the additions of custom characters, destiny and xtreme mode, and the 7th Dynasty Warriors that's coming out will have an extension of the timeline into the Jin Dynasty with new characters and a conquer mode. My guess is that some people don't actually think that the Warriors series is repetitive, but that Hack 'n Slash and Beat 'em Ups just don't interest them.
Button Masher Game
A follow up to repetitive gameplay and the "main reason" for being monotonous for most players is that the game seems to be based solely on mashing on the same two attack buttons throughout the entire game. If you're playing on the easiest level, it will definitely feel that way since there's no immediate threat. For the Dynasty Warriors series, you can't win simply by using any sort of combo throughout the game when playing on normal and above (especially Chaos mode). Dynasty Warriors prides itself on being a strategy hack 'n slash rather than be an all out action game. Being in the right place in the right time is pivotal to winning because even if you're an incredible player, your main general may not be and get overwhelmed by 100 men trying to maim him (or more closer to what the game is like, juggled to death). When fighting certain generals, you have to execute more singular, vertical attacks to deal the most amount of damage while keeping them off the ground in order to prevent them from retaliating when recovering from an attack when compared to using horizontal attacks against dozens of lackeys. It certainly doesn't feel like a simple button mashing game once you get past hard mode and into the really difficult missions. The player has to fight through enemies, strategies, and time. Fist of the Northstar: Ken's Rage is a bit on the button mashing side with a linear path rather than an open world and with every attack doing devastating damage. But this is how I look at it: each type of enemy will still have a certain way of defeating them and the game is more of an arcade beat 'em up in 3D rather than 2D like in the old days with Final Fight or Double Dragon. These games are much more than what critics and certain gamers are claiming, it really depends on the preference of the one playing the game.
Dumb Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)
If the computers were really as dumb as some critics say they are, why is it that they still lose from them? The problem here is not that the AI is entirely "dumb," but rather "unrealistic". Dynasty Warriors has always been about "over-the-top" martial arts fighting with one warrior fighting against ridiculous odds like Keanu Reeves fighting all those Smiths in The Matrix Reloaded. It was the developer's choice to design the AI to be competent enough to give a challenge, but not so much as to have every little soldier fight like a real player. Could you even imagine that? You would be infinitely juggled by smart enemies the second you let one of them touch you. What's funny is that the main generals in Warriors Orochi are capable of doing so and thus the player has to formulate strategies against that. I do have to admit that the allies are pretty dimwitted when it comes to survival or aiding in battle. Characters you're supposed to protect run in on their own, bodyguards that are supposed to heal you fail when you need them the most, and tons of your own men stand in the middle of nowhere when they're needed elsewhere for battle. Koei has continued to improve the quality in the computer AI and sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.
I'm not saying that some of these complaints are entirely wrong since some critics do bring up good points on the way Koei develops their games. Such as all those expansions that came along with Dynasty Warriors. Xtreme Legends and Empires were great additions to the game; however, why weren't those contents in the game to begin with? If the original game with the 2 expansions all combined together, it feels more of a complete game. For me, I have followed the Dynasty Warriors series since the 3rd release (in the West, the 2nd in the East) and have gotten every Xtreme Legends expansion for each release (didn't bother with Empires).
Source: Youtube Channel GamersDigestNet
Since then, I have become a fan of the Warriors and support the designs and concepts of the special attacks within Samurai Warriors, the 3 character system within Warriors Orochi (such a fun game), the even crazier version of Dynasty Warriors in Strikeforce, capturing the immense power of each character within Fist of the Northstar: Ken's Rage, and the awesome space battles in Dynasty Warriors Gundam. I'm not really digging the changes within Dynasty Warriors 6 which killed off the combo system, unique character animation/weapons, and taking out things like custom character and special modes. I'm having high hopes for Dynasty Warriors 7 and will continue to hope for a release of Warriors Orochi Z. (I have no idea of what Troy Warriors of Legends though; I kind of don't care about that one).
Source: Youtube Channel MyKOEITV
Repetitive Gameplay
This is probably the most common complaint people use whenever a new Dynasty Warriors or recently "Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage" game comes out. True, the goal is usually the same with killing hordes of men and then either beat the last guy or escort an ally to safety; however, it's not the goal that's important (or fun) but the journey there. The truth is, Dynasty Warriors and other Warriors games have much more depth to them than most gamers think. Some of these Warriors games contain 40-60 characters, each with their own attributes, weapons, style of play, and skill sets. All characters have the capability to grow like in RPGs where the player can earn experience points by fulfilling goals and killing enemies to receive more power, items, weapons, and abilities. The game gets more interesting when the player has a stronger character and plays on a harder difficulty level, because playing on the easiest mode really can feel repetitive since you only have to whack away without blocking, dodging, or parrying. Others will complain that the "Repetitive Gameplay" they refer to is the same game that KOEI releases with different maps, graphics, and modes and that the core gameplay is the same. Well...games like Super Mario Bros., Call of Duty, and Final Fantasy have gone through lots of graphic changes and some new design concepts, but the game is essentially the same which still makes them great (for the most part). I personally like the additions of custom characters, destiny and xtreme mode, and the 7th Dynasty Warriors that's coming out will have an extension of the timeline into the Jin Dynasty with new characters and a conquer mode. My guess is that some people don't actually think that the Warriors series is repetitive, but that Hack 'n Slash and Beat 'em Ups just don't interest them.
Button Masher Game
A follow up to repetitive gameplay and the "main reason" for being monotonous for most players is that the game seems to be based solely on mashing on the same two attack buttons throughout the entire game. If you're playing on the easiest level, it will definitely feel that way since there's no immediate threat. For the Dynasty Warriors series, you can't win simply by using any sort of combo throughout the game when playing on normal and above (especially Chaos mode). Dynasty Warriors prides itself on being a strategy hack 'n slash rather than be an all out action game. Being in the right place in the right time is pivotal to winning because even if you're an incredible player, your main general may not be and get overwhelmed by 100 men trying to maim him (or more closer to what the game is like, juggled to death). When fighting certain generals, you have to execute more singular, vertical attacks to deal the most amount of damage while keeping them off the ground in order to prevent them from retaliating when recovering from an attack when compared to using horizontal attacks against dozens of lackeys. It certainly doesn't feel like a simple button mashing game once you get past hard mode and into the really difficult missions. The player has to fight through enemies, strategies, and time. Fist of the Northstar: Ken's Rage is a bit on the button mashing side with a linear path rather than an open world and with every attack doing devastating damage. But this is how I look at it: each type of enemy will still have a certain way of defeating them and the game is more of an arcade beat 'em up in 3D rather than 2D like in the old days with Final Fight or Double Dragon. These games are much more than what critics and certain gamers are claiming, it really depends on the preference of the one playing the game.
Dumb Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)
If the computers were really as dumb as some critics say they are, why is it that they still lose from them? The problem here is not that the AI is entirely "dumb," but rather "unrealistic". Dynasty Warriors has always been about "over-the-top" martial arts fighting with one warrior fighting against ridiculous odds like Keanu Reeves fighting all those Smiths in The Matrix Reloaded. It was the developer's choice to design the AI to be competent enough to give a challenge, but not so much as to have every little soldier fight like a real player. Could you even imagine that? You would be infinitely juggled by smart enemies the second you let one of them touch you. What's funny is that the main generals in Warriors Orochi are capable of doing so and thus the player has to formulate strategies against that. I do have to admit that the allies are pretty dimwitted when it comes to survival or aiding in battle. Characters you're supposed to protect run in on their own, bodyguards that are supposed to heal you fail when you need them the most, and tons of your own men stand in the middle of nowhere when they're needed elsewhere for battle. Koei has continued to improve the quality in the computer AI and sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.
I'm not saying that some of these complaints are entirely wrong since some critics do bring up good points on the way Koei develops their games. Such as all those expansions that came along with Dynasty Warriors. Xtreme Legends and Empires were great additions to the game; however, why weren't those contents in the game to begin with? If the original game with the 2 expansions all combined together, it feels more of a complete game. For me, I have followed the Dynasty Warriors series since the 3rd release (in the West, the 2nd in the East) and have gotten every Xtreme Legends expansion for each release (didn't bother with Empires).
Source: Youtube Channel GamersDigestNet
Since then, I have become a fan of the Warriors and support the designs and concepts of the special attacks within Samurai Warriors, the 3 character system within Warriors Orochi (such a fun game), the even crazier version of Dynasty Warriors in Strikeforce, capturing the immense power of each character within Fist of the Northstar: Ken's Rage, and the awesome space battles in Dynasty Warriors Gundam. I'm not really digging the changes within Dynasty Warriors 6 which killed off the combo system, unique character animation/weapons, and taking out things like custom character and special modes. I'm having high hopes for Dynasty Warriors 7 and will continue to hope for a release of Warriors Orochi Z. (I have no idea of what Troy Warriors of Legends though; I kind of don't care about that one).
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
GameLight - Dynasty Warriors 7
Official English Site: http://www.dynastywarriors7.eu/uk/index.htm
Source: Youtube Channel machinima
DYNASTY WARRIORS 7! It's coming out late March early April with new combat systems, new characters, extra timeline, and returning character and weapons Koei took out in DW6. I am so excited about the new Dynasty Warriors, and I'm sure long time fans are too (especially those wanting everything that was great about DW5 and previous ones before everything changed in DW6 back in DW7). Dynasty Warriors has had a long history of being a repetitive hack 'n slash with no depth and purpose by critics and the gaming community. Only those who have followed the Dynasty Warriors series for the past 10 years have been praising Koei for their hard work and dedication to the series each time they revamp the game. Other past complaints have been Koei's tendency to come out with expansions to each DW game such as Xtreme Legends and Empires. Most argue that the expansions should have been in the original game to begin with for the full experience of the game. Spin-offs have started having their own series and iterations of games including Samurai Warriors, Warriors Orochi, and Dynasty Warriors Gundam, Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce, and Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage.
So even after so many iterations and low ratings by critics, why am I still excited about a 7th installment of Dynasty Warriors? Besides having followed Koei since their Romance of the Three Kingdom days watching my dad play on the NES and having great interest behind the history of the Three Kingdoms era, I am hoping for something truly great from Koei after they had some experience creating a few more games on the Playstation 3. The combat system for Dynasty Warriors 6 truly was shallow compared to the extensive combo mechanics Dynasty Warriors 2-5 was so well known for and the change in character weaponry with copy animations a la fighting games (like street fighter's Ryu and Ken or Smash Bros. Melee's Marth and Roy) was a great disappointment. There were interesting changes in DW6 that made the game fresh, but some of the changes took quite a bit of what was great about the game out of it. Well, here are some of the things to look forward to in Dynasty Warriors 7 that has hopefully improved the game:
Rise of the Jin Dynasty
Unfortunately, my Ancient Chinese history isn't up to snuff and so I can't say for sure in what time period the Jin Dynasty took place. As far as I understand, it's sometime near the end of the Three Kingdoms era (Three Kingdoms 220–280 / Jin Dynasty 265–420 - Wikipedia). So this means new storylines, new characters, and new battles. I already like the character Wang Yuanji based on her description and her musou on the video up top at 1:12. With such a large difference in time periods, will the story in the Jin Dynasty be separate from the Three Kingdoms era entirely? Sima Yi (usually of Wei) is seen in the characters list of the Jin Dynasty, and it also possesses decedents of those who fought in Wei such as Sima Yi's son Sima Shi, Zhuge Liang's family decendent Zhuge Dan, and Xiahou Yuan's son Xiahou Ba. From what I remember in the actual history, it was one of Cao Cao's decedents that ends the long war between the Three Kingdoms. Perhaps it has something to do with the Jin Dynasty? Not sure, I should really learn the actual history or at least read the translated version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
New Weapon System
According to the description on Koei's site, every character has access to almost all the weapons and can equip two weapons at the same time like in Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (Koei seems to implement new systems and game mechanics every time they tried it out on a spin-off). From the screenshots, it seems many players of Dynasty Warriors 6 complained about the characters losing their original weapon and thus losing the entirety of what made the character unique and special because each character holds a weapon they used to use prior to DW6 and a 2nd weapon that they wielded in DW6. The fact that any character can use any weapons really worry me. If that's truly the case, what's the point of playing any other character if one can do it all? If it's just the story that's different, then there's a big problem. Doesn't that just ask players to play with the same character throughout the entire game since they'll practically be the same? I really like the idea of new weapons and being able to switch between two of them in the middle of battle, but there's a lot of concern about being able to wield any weapon.
Switch Attack
Since characters can hold two weapons in battle now, a special attack called a "switch attack" grants the player with an effect that aides the player in fighting such as a bolt of lightning spreading everywhere or swords flying around the player while they attack after switching weapons in the middle of a combo. The idea sounds cool, but I wonder how smooth the transition between switching weapons will be.
Musou Attack and EX Attack
Each character has two different musou or "hyper" attack for those who don't know what a musou is. One is used on the ground like usual and the other can be used in the air. This could come in handy for certain situations against large groups of enemies or generals that ride on mounts. The EX attack sound similar to the combo system used in the Samurai Warriors series where an extra Triangle or "heavy attack" can be chained to cause a stronger or longer attack or combo. I'm hoping that it changes the way combos are done because constantly mashing on the square button with the occasion of the triangle and circle was pretty boring with only 2 different heavy strikes compared to DW5 and below's 7-9 different combo chain.
Growth/Upgrade System
The skill trees, upgrades, weapon looting and such are back. I didn't mind the implementation of the skill tree since it was much like an RPG game with skill branches and gave the player more control of where to grow in power. All the items, weapon looting, skill trees, seals and all will implement really well with the additional mode they're adding to DW7.
Conquest Mode
I am super excited for Dynasty Warriors 7 with this additional mode being one of the reasons. It's a free roam map with mixtures of Adventure, RPG, Strategy, and of course Action Hack 'n Slash. If anyone has played Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends on Xtreme Mode, you'll probably get a kick out of Conquest mode. Xtreme Mode in DW5XL was sort of like a one time RPG adventure where the player chose between three missions upon completion and upgraded weapons by going to blacksmiths while staying replenished with the army by going to the shop. There will be similar aspects in Conquest mode as well as those from the Empires expansion (which I never played but have seen). I'd say that Conquest Mode is one of the biggest attractions to the next iteration of the series.
Source: Youtube Channel KOEIWarriorsMedia
Well, there you have it. Here's hoping for an awesome game~
Source: Youtube Channel machinima
DYNASTY WARRIORS 7! It's coming out late March early April with new combat systems, new characters, extra timeline, and returning character and weapons Koei took out in DW6. I am so excited about the new Dynasty Warriors, and I'm sure long time fans are too (especially those wanting everything that was great about DW5 and previous ones before everything changed in DW6 back in DW7). Dynasty Warriors has had a long history of being a repetitive hack 'n slash with no depth and purpose by critics and the gaming community. Only those who have followed the Dynasty Warriors series for the past 10 years have been praising Koei for their hard work and dedication to the series each time they revamp the game. Other past complaints have been Koei's tendency to come out with expansions to each DW game such as Xtreme Legends and Empires. Most argue that the expansions should have been in the original game to begin with for the full experience of the game. Spin-offs have started having their own series and iterations of games including Samurai Warriors, Warriors Orochi, and Dynasty Warriors Gundam, Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce, and Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage.
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| Source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/dynasty-warriors-7-returns-to-reclaim-the-hack-and-slash-throne/ |
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| Source: http://darkaquamarine.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html |
Unfortunately, my Ancient Chinese history isn't up to snuff and so I can't say for sure in what time period the Jin Dynasty took place. As far as I understand, it's sometime near the end of the Three Kingdoms era (Three Kingdoms 220–280 / Jin Dynasty 265–420 - Wikipedia). So this means new storylines, new characters, and new battles. I already like the character Wang Yuanji based on her description and her musou on the video up top at 1:12. With such a large difference in time periods, will the story in the Jin Dynasty be separate from the Three Kingdoms era entirely? Sima Yi (usually of Wei) is seen in the characters list of the Jin Dynasty, and it also possesses decedents of those who fought in Wei such as Sima Yi's son Sima Shi, Zhuge Liang's family decendent Zhuge Dan, and Xiahou Yuan's son Xiahou Ba. From what I remember in the actual history, it was one of Cao Cao's decedents that ends the long war between the Three Kingdoms. Perhaps it has something to do with the Jin Dynasty? Not sure, I should really learn the actual history or at least read the translated version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
New Weapon System
According to the description on Koei's site, every character has access to almost all the weapons and can equip two weapons at the same time like in Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (Koei seems to implement new systems and game mechanics every time they tried it out on a spin-off). From the screenshots, it seems many players of Dynasty Warriors 6 complained about the characters losing their original weapon and thus losing the entirety of what made the character unique and special because each character holds a weapon they used to use prior to DW6 and a 2nd weapon that they wielded in DW6. The fact that any character can use any weapons really worry me. If that's truly the case, what's the point of playing any other character if one can do it all? If it's just the story that's different, then there's a big problem. Doesn't that just ask players to play with the same character throughout the entire game since they'll practically be the same? I really like the idea of new weapons and being able to switch between two of them in the middle of battle, but there's a lot of concern about being able to wield any weapon.
Switch Attack
Since characters can hold two weapons in battle now, a special attack called a "switch attack" grants the player with an effect that aides the player in fighting such as a bolt of lightning spreading everywhere or swords flying around the player while they attack after switching weapons in the middle of a combo. The idea sounds cool, but I wonder how smooth the transition between switching weapons will be.
Musou Attack and EX Attack
Each character has two different musou or "hyper" attack for those who don't know what a musou is. One is used on the ground like usual and the other can be used in the air. This could come in handy for certain situations against large groups of enemies or generals that ride on mounts. The EX attack sound similar to the combo system used in the Samurai Warriors series where an extra Triangle or "heavy attack" can be chained to cause a stronger or longer attack or combo. I'm hoping that it changes the way combos are done because constantly mashing on the square button with the occasion of the triangle and circle was pretty boring with only 2 different heavy strikes compared to DW5 and below's 7-9 different combo chain.
Growth/Upgrade System
The skill trees, upgrades, weapon looting and such are back. I didn't mind the implementation of the skill tree since it was much like an RPG game with skill branches and gave the player more control of where to grow in power. All the items, weapon looting, skill trees, seals and all will implement really well with the additional mode they're adding to DW7.
Conquest Mode
I am super excited for Dynasty Warriors 7 with this additional mode being one of the reasons. It's a free roam map with mixtures of Adventure, RPG, Strategy, and of course Action Hack 'n Slash. If anyone has played Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends on Xtreme Mode, you'll probably get a kick out of Conquest mode. Xtreme Mode in DW5XL was sort of like a one time RPG adventure where the player chose between three missions upon completion and upgraded weapons by going to blacksmiths while staying replenished with the army by going to the shop. There will be similar aspects in Conquest mode as well as those from the Empires expansion (which I never played but have seen). I'd say that Conquest Mode is one of the biggest attractions to the next iteration of the series.
Source: Youtube Channel KOEIWarriorsMedia
Well, there you have it. Here's hoping for an awesome game~
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