Warriors Orochi 4

Warriors Orochi 4 has an incredible character diversity, easy to understand gameplay, good mechanics and an intriguing story. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version has performance issues, affecting the whole package.

The Warriors franchise has gotten a reputation for being button mashers, Warriors Orochi 4 won’t change people’s minds. For fans, this game is the biggest gathering of characters from two series and it’ll be a joy to see them all interacting together. For new or less invested fans into Warriors games, there’s less to draw you in. There can be a relaxing, zen-like quality to hacking through large numbers of enemies, but ultimately it feels like there is little substance outside of the oversized roster. Warriors Orochi 4 and the Warriors series itself aren’t bad games. Between the story campaign and leveling up your warriors and camp, you could be busy for a while.

Warriors Orochi 4 is a celebration of Koei Tecmo’s Warriors series, and it’s a great game to pick up for those interested in some good old hack-and-slash goodness. With its record-breaking roster of characters and some new gameplay mechanics, this is one adventure that is divinely entertaining.

Having 170 playable characters is a nice selling point but lack of depth in the gameplay and poor visual quality leaves Warriors Orochi 4 being a disappointing title rather than a grand epic.

Warriors Orochi 4 is ambitious and it's directed at fans of the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series. This is where Warriors Orochi 4 stands out the most, as it gives fans an enjoyable and competent gameplay and an immense amount of content to explore. Pity for the visual disappointment, as the game is not living up to its full potential on the Nintendo Switch and it's also not very beginner-friendly, as it can put off those who do not follow the series.

While the massive roster will please fans, the similarities between characters, the convoluted story, the barebones RPG elements, and the technical issues make Warriors Orochi 4 a low point in an otherwise fun series. There’s so much potential with Warriors Orochi 4; unfortunately, the latest installment misses the mark on so many of the shots that it takes.

The gameplay is neat and the flow from battle to battle is rather solid, but the problems drag the experience down harshly. The story is take it or leave it and Warriors Orochi 4 isn't too welcoming to newcomers in general. If you are a fan of the Orochi games and have a need for this on the go, I guess the Nintendo Switch is the only way you can go. However, in every other instance, there would be other versions of the same game I would recommend more.

It is so difficult to recommend Warriors Orochi 4 right now when the series has made a name for itself through re-released games with added story content, characters and modes. Why would this title be any different? The main story is an enjoyable enough ride for hack and slash fans, but that's really all there is to it (unless you have an online subscription and want to battle with friends). Just wait for the inevitable ultimate edition in a year's time.

Warriors Orochi 4 offers a lot of playable characters and spectacular battles that contrast with some problems with the framerate and the scarcity of new features.

A disappointing entry that proves itself incapable of overcoming the issues of its forebears - Warriors Orochi 4 is, simply put, a relic.

Warriors Orochi 4 is a pleasantly familiar experience in the long-standing Warriors franchise, offering 170 playable characters across the Dynasty and Samurai Warriors series as well as introducing new support team mechanics and magic-based attacks. While the core hack and slash gameplay is just as fun and simple as you remember, the narrative feels more repetitive than the gameplay, and the dated graphics feel out of place. If you enjoy the Warriors franchise this is a fantastic experience and a joy to get sucked into “just one more battle” but despite its new features it still feels stale.

It’s not for everyone, but Warriors Orochi 4’s multitudinous hordes can be pleasurable to sweep through, despite the game feeling by-the-numbers in many ways. This is simply more, and while fans might be able to forgive the bland presentation, we’d wager that non-devotees would have a much better time with the Zelda or Fire Emblem spin-offs – with the characters, settings and accoutrement you know and love helping to temper the monotony when you’re not quite ‘in the zone’.

With thrilling, classic Musou gameplay, new systems, and a fun story, Warriors Orochi 4 is a really great game that both fans of the series and newcomers can enjoy.

I cannot recommend this version of the game in its current state. Warriors Orochi 4 has some interesting mechanics added to an already fun gameplay but the performance and visual issues that persist almost across the board on Switch make it a version you should skip for now until patches arrive.