Dynasty Warriors Next

Dynasty Warriors Next was the second title that I got to experience on the Vita and I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with this mobile offering. At its heart is the same old combat that fans love, but there is enough added Vita supported functions to make Dynasty Warriors Next the new evolution in large scale combat on the small screen.

The PS Vita features have been implemented so well that this is a must have title.

For purists, newbies or even those just looking to try a Warriors title again, Next is definitely worthy of being the next game booted up in your Vita.

It works as both a cathartically satisfying hack-and-slash on the easier difficulties, and a surprisingly thoughtful action-based strategy game on the higher levels.

Dynasty Warriors Next is an exclusive that convinces for its completeness and longevity. The older fans will find again all the features they loved from the first chapter; the newcomers will discover more than an interesting hack n' slash game.

It won't change the opinions of those who despise the series or adore it, but for those on the fence, don't be surprised if you are hooked after a rental.

Those who have never bought into the series will not be blown away by the new additions. Those who love the games will enjoy this one as well, even with some touchscreen missteps.

The addition of various Vita technology adds to gameplay, rather than detracting and feeling forced on you. Yes, the combat is mostly repetitive, and yes, the graphics are nothing to write home about. But with plenty of items to collect and various strategies to try before going into battle, Omega Force has made some significant changes that change up the monotony of battle.

Although the game is very similar to other Dynasty Warriors titles, Next surprises with a touch control that works quite well and a remarkable number of enemies in screen without losing graphic quality. If you like the series this is a good acquisition for the PSVITA.

The high-quality presentation, touch features, and substantial cache of content that includes ad-hock co-op and an addictive Conquest mode should please repeat customers and perhaps even bring a few newcomers to the battlefield.

Dynasty Warriors Next introduces some minor changes using the touch controls, but the whole experience remains the same everyone knows.

A very good Dynasty Warriors entry, if a somewhat traditional one. Its Vita-specific additions are somewhat lacking, and the core action will get repetitive over time, but it makes for a killer diversion and provides a wholly satisfying, console-quality Dynasty Warriors experience for the player on the go.

Its title suggests big changes to the formula that just aren't here, but Dynasty Warriors NEXT will appease series veterans who just want to have a copy of their favourite franchise anywhere they go.

Next comes across as a game that's embracing the Vita wholeheartedly on a surface level while being much more reserved in terms of Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity.

By scaling back the epic-scale battle sizes and weaving in nifty mini-games, NEXT is the first title in the series that doesn't feel like a chore, an element that has plagued the franchise for years now.

It's mindless to a fault, where eventually, you just want the mission over with. At the same time, this is exactly the type of experience hardcore DW fans want, and for these people, NEXT delivers.

Some neat touches shake things up, but it's still the same old hack'n'slash formula. [May 2012, p.103]

Dynasty Warriors Next is a good Dynasty Warriors entry on PSVITA. It's a game that will keep you busy for a long time.

Even though Tecmo Koei didn't make any technical sacrifices compared to previous outings in the series, they shun any form of innovation. The result is a very traditional hack & slash game in which the touch controls are only used in annoying mini games. [April 2012, p.100]

Dynasty Warriors Next is a solid entry into the series that combines the gameplay of a typical Dynasty Warriors experience with the exclusive controls and features the Vita hardware offers. If you enjoy the series, there's a lot to like about Next.

Does Dynasty Warriors Next deliver a new gaming experience? Not at all. But with all the added Vita-elements the arcade character of the infamous mass brawler reaches new heights, which might just be what this franchise needs.

I found myself enjoying Dynasty Warriors NEXT, and it managed to get its hooks in me more than part 7 did on home consoles. In the DW series it still doesn't command my interest in the way Gundam 3 did, but it's definitely the best portable DW game I've come across. It won't be the game to draw in non-Dynasty Warriors fans, but if you're riding the fence on picking this up, I don't think it's a bad way to drop $40.

You're still mindlessly hacking 'n' slashing your way through clones, but now you'll also engage in mini-games that use the gyro and touchscreen in very inelegant ways. [April 2012, p80]

The restrictive and repetitious combat is too simplistic to keep your attention for dynastic periods. [Apr 2012, p.113]

The same old song, even though in a flashy new dress. Still not enough to gain more than a sufficiency.

Just another chapter of the long-lasting Koei series, with some poor new features exclusive to PlayStation Vita.

Mashing the buttons is done with more style and pomp but continues to be the same mashing of buttons.

Dynasty Warriors certainly has a specific and rabid fanbase, and those folks will certainly enjoy Next if they've maintained their interest in the series after so many entries. If you're a member of the gaming population that scratches their head at the popularity of this repetitive franchise, this Vita entry will do nothing to change your opinion.

Poor touch controls and a lack of dedicated online multiplayer drag down an otherwise serviceable portable Dynasty Warriors game. Fans of the series will find things to like in Next, but the offering is mediocre at best.

Awful obligatory minigames aside, there's a solid game to enjoy at the core. You'll just have to be a really big fan to suffer through the dire moments.

More of the same, but not better. Dynasty Warriors Next doesn't boost the strategy elements and insists on its boring and tedious action.

Fans of the series know what they're in for, but everyone else can rest their fingers for deeper games. [Apr 2012, p.60]

This is virtually identical to previous Dynasty Warriors games. If you're new to the series and thinking of picking it up with your system on launch day, Dynasty Warriors Next is a game that will keep you busy for a long time. So long as its action-packed gameplay doesn't bore you to death first.