Samurai Warriors 4 Empires

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 7 out of 28
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  1. NecrousGir
    May 22, 2016
    10
    I have been playing warriors games almost all of my life but I've personally found Empires games much more appealing. While I give this game a 10/10 it is very important for people who are fans of Empires games to think of what you want before you buy. This game is far more a sequel to Samurai Warriors Empires 2 (Or more likely 3 Empires though that never got a western release) than it isI have been playing warriors games almost all of my life but I've personally found Empires games much more appealing. While I give this game a 10/10 it is very important for people who are fans of Empires games to think of what you want before you buy. This game is far more a sequel to Samurai Warriors Empires 2 (Or more likely 3 Empires though that never got a western release) than it is to Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires. This game and SW 2 Empires aren't focused on a certain character so there are no free officers and no quests like "Infiltrate the traders house." SW 4 Empires takes a lot of it's elements from Samurai Warriors 2 Empires, such as placing officers in specific territories, fulfilling a smaller ambition before conquering Japan, and formations that add to the tactical elements of the game.

    I really think this game was meant to differentiate Dynasty Warriors Empires and Samurai Warriors Empires. While some elements are weak, such as the character creation, some things that seem to be gone or completely random you just have to dig for. This game, unlike just about ever other Empires game, has objectives that occur in battle that generally raise the friendship between two characters. If you choose to ignore these objectives these characters will not become closer. So basically, if you want your character to become friends with a specific person, and not other people, do the right in battle objectives. It's not like DW 8 Empires where you can just have two characters talk twenty times and they're in love.

    All in all I think the game is the best installment in the Empires series since Dynasty Warriors 7 Empires, but if you want to be able to focus on creating a character and living out their life in Japan you're better off just picking up a Dynasty Warriors Empires game. However if you want a clan of custom characters (or historical ones) who each develop relationships with each other and their enemies then this is the game for you.    … Expand
  2. BrunaSantos
    Sep 2, 2016
    10
    I love this game so much, i play, and this very fun

    I really think this game was meant to differentiate Dynasty Warriors Empires and Samurai Warriors Empires. While some elements are weak, such as the character creation, some things that seem to be gone or completely random you just have to dig for. This game, unlike just about ever other Empires game, has objectives that occur in    I love this game so much, i play, and this very fun

    I really think this game was meant to differentiate Dynasty Warriors Empires and Samurai Warriors Empires. While some elements are weak, such as the character creation, some things that seem to be gone or completely random you just have to dig for. This game, unlike just about ever other Empires game, has objectives that occur in battle that generally raise the friendship between two characters. If you choose to ignore these objectives these characters will not become closer. So basically, if you want your character to become friends with a specific person, and not other people, do the right in battle objectives. It's not like DW 8 Empires where you can just have two characters talk twenty times and they're in love.

    All in all I think the game is the best installment in the Empires series since Dynasty Warriors 7 Empires, but if you want to be able to focus on creating a character and living out their life in Japan you're better off just picking up a Dynasty Warriors Empires game. However if you want a clan of custom characters (or historical ones) who each develop relationships with each other and their enemies then this is the game for you. Collapse    … Expand
  3. MrMagicBrownies
    Mar 15, 2016
    2
    Really disappointing. I wasn't super thrilled with the last Empires title (Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires) because of how stripped-down it felt, and was hoping for something different, maybe something that felt like a more fleshed-out experience. Luckily for me, this game is very different from DW8:E, Unluckily for me, it's different in the worst possible way(s). Starting with Edit Mode,Really disappointing. I wasn't super thrilled with the last Empires title (Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires) because of how stripped-down it felt, and was hoping for something different, maybe something that felt like a more fleshed-out experience. Luckily for me, this game is very different from DW8:E, Unluckily for me, it's different in the worst possible way(s). Starting with Edit Mode, which should logically be expanded upon and improved in a sequel (direct or otherwise), is strangely empty, with a grand total of 6 facial hair options for male officers, 4 voices to pick from, hairstyles lifted directly out of Dynasty Warriors 8, a very limited static selection of banners, and a general lack of polish.

    Conquest and Genesis mode are absolutely awful. You pick a clan, as opposed to a soldier, and play out predetermined scenarios, playing as the historically accurate ruler. As somebody who likes to play these games with a focus on the character that they created, this is a huge piss-off. You can no longer begin as a Free Officer and work to build an army to unite the land, which was kind of the entire reason I bought this game in the first place. The pre-existing characters and lore are nowhere near strong enough to hold my interest, and that becomes even more glaringly obvious to me when I don't have a choice in whether or not I want to follow their halfway historically accurate scenarios.

    The other huge problem is the scenarios themselves. They take about 45 minutes apiece to complete, especially with the tragically easy combat in these games (I played for 13 hours and almost died once on Nightmare difficulty). Sometimes the ambition of the clan you've picked is to simply 'Unite these 4 provinces', or 'Reach the Capital, which is literally two provinces away'. The difficulty is nonexistent, which is basically par for the course, but I was hoping for some sort of new mechanic, or at least a political aspect with a steeper learning curve, but if you choose to listen to them, you can just mindlessly sit in front of the TV watching menus while your advisers make the "tough" decisions for you.

    To sum it up, if you're looking for a sandbox experience of any sort, steer clear of this game. Not worth the money they're asking for it. I'd struggle to give it a recommendation at $25, let alone $50.    … Expand
  4. rokit90
    Mar 18, 2016
    5
    They keep stream lining the empires iterations and they use to be the best versions. SW4E has a bit more meat, than DW8E, but these version continue to become lack luster, not having the charm of SWEmpires 2 or DW6E. This empires had a lot of potential, yeah you can get Nobunaga ambition if you want a more enriching experience, I just feel that this could have revived the empiresThey keep stream lining the empires iterations and they use to be the best versions. SW4E has a bit more meat, than DW8E, but these version continue to become lack luster, not having the charm of SWEmpires 2 or DW6E. This empires had a lot of potential, yeah you can get Nobunaga ambition if you want a more enriching experience, I just feel that this could have revived the empires iterations.

    *Not listing all here, only the things I felt was the best additions to the game and worst*

    GOOD: Each clan has an ambition, e.g. like uniting a certain region, or destroying another clan, meaning once those ambitions are met you don't have to conquer the whole map, you have a choice though. this was a much needed addition and I think all the empires should use this onward. also time is shorting which may seem bad, but it's actually a good thing and it works, it makes you think more strategically. more cut scenes and officers interactions.

    BAD: unimpressive edit mode. DW8E excelled at this aspect, giving you waaaay more customization option and edit DLC, SW4E sadly enough lacks in this department, and always had compared to it's counter-part. And alliances once again isn't fleshed out, it's more beneficial towards you, and not for your Ai buddy, he does request your help at all. and also once again he battle field is barren and so base focused to based focused, they could have added a lot of variety, more battlefield objectives

    all and all. this series just needs to be fleshed out a bit more. and I've been a devoted warriors fan since the first iteration of the warriors series.    … Expand
  5. Schuback
    Mar 24, 2016
    6
    If you are a die hard fan of the Warriors series, then this will quench your thirst, cos it offers more of the same. I've played all of the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors games to date and this new Empires iteration is... well for a full-priced game, underwhelming to say the least =( I'll tell you why.

    1. Same cr@ppy graphics. Not even any slight improvement. It looks like a PS3    If you are a die hard fan of the Warriors series, then this will quench your thirst, cos it offers more of the same. I've played all of the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors games to date and this new Empires iteration is... well for a full-priced game, underwhelming to say the least =( I'll tell you why.

    1. Same cr@ppy graphics. Not even any slight improvement. It looks like a PS3 game.
    2. Character creation is lame. For the facial options it's exactly the same from the PS3 Empires games. They just ported it over without any addition. Come on!! All your created characters will somehow look the same. Teckmo Koei, this is pure laziness!!!
    3. You cannot choose a character and craft his story and ambitions. You can't rebel and create your own clan... Instead, you choose a clan with a pool of officers you have no direct control of. You can't choose who to marry or who to be sworn sibling with. In SW4E, it's mostly random, or first come first serve and you don't have a say in it.
    4. Lots of cutscenes, Most of them short and lame. Make no sense.
    5. Diplomacy is bare boned. You often don't need it.
    6. Cosmetic / campaign dlcs. This is mostly the same game as Samurai Warirors 4. Tecmo Koei just trying to nickel and dime us. What's up with Samurai Wariors 4-II??? This isn't Dead or Alive 5.
    6. Repetitive as you'll be doing the same thing for all battles all the way from start to end. There's no different objectives, just capture the bases and eliminate enemy commander. In Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires, there were variations... So why remove them? Should have improved on them.
    7. Horses are retarded. You hold the left trigger to summon them and they'll come running from behind from left to right, from right to left towards you. It doesn't know how to run straight towards you. All mounts look so similar and act retarded you just can't be bothered with them.

    So aside from these negatives, the good are as expected in a Warriors game.

    1. So many characters, all individually voiced acted and have individual unique move sets. It's so amazing to look at them as you hack your way pass thousands of enemy soldiers. So this what makes the Warriors games amazing.
    2. The new castle system. I like it. I like just looking and seeing my officers in their quarters, It's like the ant farm view in Xcom 2. Okay, maybe not as elaborate as Xcom 2. Please expand on this in the next Empires game and add more castle customisation.
    3. The Politics side though very simple, can be rather addictive as you try to build up Troop Strength, increase commerce / rice yield and most importantly, level up your officers.
    4. In-game battle stratagems and tactics are nicely implemented.
    5. Game has more content than new AAA games ie Street Fighter 5.

    Overall, as I owned a copy of Samurai Warriors 4 (not 4-II), I feel the additions in SW4E does not warrant a full price tag. It feels more like a dlc really. But still, I'm enjoying the game and will totally recommend this if it was half price. Or, if you're a super die hard fan like myself =)    … Expand
  6. Kamarr
    Mar 26, 2016
    3
    If you happen to read this and your a die hard fan do not buy this. This was a disgrace even though its not as buggy as DW8E which I'm thankful for Koei Tecmo is by far the worst company now. They push out **** games expecting a miracle and what little fans they have there killing them with these half assed games from there top franchise aka the DW & SW Empires franchise. Even SamuraiIf you happen to read this and your a die hard fan do not buy this. This was a disgrace even though its not as buggy as DW8E which I'm thankful for Koei Tecmo is by far the worst company now. They push out **** games expecting a miracle and what little fans they have there killing them with these half assed games from there top franchise aka the DW & SW Empires franchise. Even Samurai Warriors 2 Empires was better than this one. I really felt I bought a PS2 game or PS3 game that was dubbed down.... This was the last chance I gave Koei to redeem themselves from there other fault DW8E.
    Now let me break this down into the pros and cons.Oh also look at there DLC which NOBODY is buying because they **** us again and I hope nobody buys them period sick of them dropping so many Payed for DLC to for there game I mean look at DW8E to and add up all there DLC costs thats like 4 PS4 games you could buy so please avoid buying there DLC so they can stop **** us.

    Pros: An ok CaW but very dubbed down from DW8Empires being you can't edit troops or anything beyond your own CaW. The art style and the Castle concept is ok. Also there are some ok scenes between officers.

    Cons:I felt like I was playing a PS2 game, Very lack luster it may offer a one time play through for some, the graphics are meh even though I like the troop designs on the field, No general mode you have to be a ruler. So many pay wall dlc for a TERRIBLE washed down game. Also the officer cut scenes are meh.

    There are so many other negatives I want to list but I'm so pissed at Koei atm to the point that I will boy cot them till they stop making these terrible games.
    If you can get this game for 19.99$ then I'd say buy it it but do not get any of the DLC unless its free I'm dead serious this is a PS2 game with minor graphics haul.    … Expand
  7. zogrecrush
    Mar 29, 2016
    10
    great stress reliever, and the strategy gave me a reason to keep coming back unlike in dw8 empires where it seemed that nothing you did in the menus mattered in the slightest
  8. Xelion
    Jun 1, 2018
    9
    It's a fun game if you like just creating dozens of characters and make your own armies to fight with or against. Game looks better than DW8:E as it's using the SW4 visuals, some new things were implemented and others were removed. For example you control the full clan here (which is the same as SW2:E) while on DW8:E you only used your character.

    Good things: - Create a Warrior. -    It's a fun game if you like just creating dozens of characters and make your own armies to fight with or against. Game looks better than DW8:E as it's using the SW4 visuals, some new things were implemented and others were removed. For example you control the full clan here (which is the same as SW2:E) while on DW8:E you only used your character.

    Good things:
    - Create a Warrior.
    - Looks nice and fluid (for a Warriors game).
    - More cutscenes than other Empires games (though most are static and short)
    - You can switch characters like in SW4/4-II and give them orders.

    Bad things:
    - Create a Warrior has preset stats and isn't that customizable as it could be.
    - Still feels like you have to do everything.
    - AI characters are usually not very helpful most of the time so in the highest difficulties it all depends on you.
    - It gets quickly repetitive after some playthroughs    … Expand
  9. LuizM2
    Sep 2, 2016
    10
    SW4E is the best Empires game in the series yet. Fighting on the battlefield is fast and fluid. You have the option to play whatever background music you like during battle. The music soundtrack is excellent. Cannot say that for a lot of games these days. The strategy phase is innovative, intuitive, and very streamlined. Koei should definitely move in this direction with the castle modelSW4E is the best Empires game in the series yet. Fighting on the battlefield is fast and fluid. You have the option to play whatever background music you like during battle. The music soundtrack is excellent. Cannot say that for a lot of games these days. The strategy phase is innovative, intuitive, and very streamlined. Koei should definitely move in this direction with the castle model strategy phase for it's future Empires games.

    Overall a great solid entry into the Warriors series. 9/10

    Would of given this game a 10/10 if it had a English dub. It's tedious to look at subtitles and fight in a intense battle at the same time. Still a solid game otherwise    … Expand
  10. ArianLight
    Apr 24, 2017
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. It's so good I can wait to start playing and always skip the story cut senses. Addictive gameplay at it's best. Insane difficulty on higher difficulty for a challenge. Some of the recent games I have played are Far Cry 4, The witcher 3 and bloodborne. Samurai Warriors 4 empires beats them all for the fun factor. I'm new the dynasty warriors styleOne of the best games I've ever played. It's so good I can wait to start playing and always skip the story cut senses. Addictive gameplay at it's best. Insane difficulty on higher difficulty for a challenge. Some of the recent games I have played are Far Cry 4, The witcher 3 and bloodborne. Samurai Warriors 4 empires beats them all for the fun factor. I'm new the dynasty warriors style games and I can't recommend this game more, especially if you have never played one of these games.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. GameSpew
    May 9, 2016
    70
    It’s undeniable though that if you’re after some solid strategy action to exercise both the brain and the thumbs that Samurai Warriors 4: Empires will satiate your desires; just don’t expect it to blow you away.
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  2. GameCritics
    Apr 22, 2016
    60
    While it seems like Omega Force should have this formula locked down tight, the truth is that Samurai Warriors 4: Empires doesn't quite gel.
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  3. High-Def Digest
    Apr 10, 2016
    80
    Both a great action game and a really fun strategy game, 'Empires' might not appeal to most 'Warriors' fans, as the new elements can seem intimidating and almost jarring when put next to the combat, but for those who put the time in, there's a lot of complexity and fantastic ideas to be found here, making this one of the best 'Warriors' games to date.
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