Dynasty Warriors 5

While I admit this is undoubtedly the best version so far, it's far from original. It's built on the foundation of past games and smells suspiciously of a "best of."

Falls too often into the trap where it just feels like an add-on to the series, instead of a brave new sequel.

The improved graphics make this the best-looking DW installment to date. Too bad the tweaks to the time-tested gameplay (smarter bodyguards, more balanced weaponry, etc.) and handful of new gameplay modes (Bridge Melee) are beginning to show more desperation than innovation or creativity.

The action might draw fighting-game fans, but Dynasty Warriors has no real back-and-forth. [May 2005, p.89]

The Dynasty Warriors games are brain-dead fun, but each new title is no more or less fun than the one that cam before or the 30 that will come after. [May 2005, p.116]

For even a huge fan of the series like myself, you can't consider Dynasty Warriors 5 anything more than a letdown.

There’s nothing here that would draw in gamers who can’t stand the genre, but if you do have a soft spot for mass slaughter, Dynasty Warriors 5 is as good a place to get your fix as any. [July 2005, p.116]

A good solid game, as it should be considering it’s the fifth in the series. Being released around the same time as "Tekken 5" though, it’s incredibly noticeable how one series can progress and develop new modes of gameplay, while another can simply try to release the same old.

Odds are you'll simply grow tired of grinding through the same battles yet again, with only a half-baked storyline to keep you interested. Ultimately, you're probably better off waiting until Koei announces the inevitable first Dynasty Warriors 5 spin-off, rather than picking up this game.

There's still no significant camera control, and the fighting certainly still gets repetitive, but series fans probably won't mind one bit. [Apr 2005, p.61]

It is disappointing that only two people can play simultaneously, especially when so many other games feature online support. The camera is also far from perfect--you’ll routinely have your view blocked by troops--and enemy AI has evolved little from previous versions.

If you gave "Dynasty Warriors 4" to the average gamer and told him that it was Dynasty Warriors 5, I'm sure they wouldn't notice.

You simply can’t offer more of the same when being the fifth game in a long running series. Dynasty Warriors 5 actually manages to take few steps backwards when compared to Dynasty "Warriors 4: Empires," mainly by dropping the excellent Empire-game mode. The button mashing action is still fun, but after five games and their extended editions, you kind of hope for something new to spice up the series. [August 2005, p.70]

Add 20 to the score if you absolutely love this stuff. But for casual hack 'n' slash fans, DW5 is unremarkable, slightly lasy and a grave missed opportunity. Sorry. [PSM2]

Those of you who haven't experienced Dynasty Warriors before are better off picking up a cheaper, older version for your introduction. Trust me: you won't be missing much.

Wait until next year when "Dynasty Warriors 6" comes out, buy Dynasty Warriors 5 then at the Greatest Hits price of $20, and then comfort yourself realizing that you’ll still be playing the same game the jokers who just shelled out another $50 for "Dynasty Warriors 6" are.

Ironically, this series is unlikely to blossom until its popularity wanes and Koei stops being afraid to change it. [July 2005, p.95]