The Warriors sequence might need taken its time taking off within the West, however over the previous few years there’s been a mainstream Musou explosion, with extra players than ever earlier than discovering the delights of hacking-and-slashing a whole lot of foes directly, slicing your manner round a map controlling crowds whereas capturing and holding forts, and usually commanding the playfield whereas dealing colossal quantities of ache to wave upon wave of grunts.
Developer Omega Drive’s birthed the Musou style with the Warriors franchise — comprised not solely of the unique Dynasty Warriors line (itself a spin-off from Koei’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms) with its Xtreme Legends and Empires expansions, but additionally Samurai Warriors and Warriors Orochi (the latter a Dynasty X Samurai crossover sequence), plus the numerous ‘visitor’ IPs which have loved Warriors ‘crossover’ outings and ushered in a brand new period of mainstream reputation for the style. The One Piece: Pirate Warriors sequence, for example, has 4 entries on the time of writing (two on Change), and Nintendo-wise we have seen two Zelda-based Hyrule Warriors video games and a superb Hearth Emblem too, with a sequel — Hearth Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes — due on twenty fourth June 2022.
We lately requested Nintendo Life customers to price the Warriors video games they’d performed, and the rating beneath is the consequence. Keep in mind: this checklist will not be set in stone. Registered Nintendo Life customers can nonetheless click on on the celebrities beneath and price the video games out of 10, and watch because the rating alters in real-time in response to every sport’s rating in our video games database — so even if you happen to missed the ‘voting’ stage, your scores will nonetheless depend and may doubtlessly affect the order beneath.
Different studios moreover Omega Drive have taken on the Musou mantle, too, and we determined so as to add Marvelous’ Destiny/Extella: The Umbral Star and Destiny/Extella Hyperlink into the combo beneath; they might not be Omega Drive-developed Warriors video games — very like Persona 5 Strikers — however they’re each positive exemplars of the Musou expertise. Do not assume they need to be there? Simply mentally take away them from the checklist and the order stays simply as legitimate.
Okay, able to go? Let the battle start!
Observe. We have solely included Musou video games launched within the West, so no Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada, Samurai Warriors 4 DX, Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires, Warriors Orochi 3 Final, or the Japanese Change launch sport Dragon Quest Heroes.
Writer: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Omega Drive
Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires is a poor Change port of a disappointing entry within the long-running spin-off sequence. It is a massively downgraded model of the sport, with severely dialled-back visuals failing to place a cease to constant body price points throughout the warmth of battle. With an absence of gameplay modes, zero multiplayer choices, horrible AI and beauty customisation choices gone AWOL at launch — Koei Tecmo selecting as a substitute to go the DLC route — this can be a really lacklustre bundle, a cut price bin affair with a premium price ticket, and a Dynasty Warriors sport you possibly can really feel fairly comfy skipping fully.
Writer: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Omega Drive
Touken Ranbu Warriors is a sport greatest fitted to gamers with little expertise with the Dynasty Warriors sequence basically. If that is meant to attraction primarily to followers of the free-to-play video games – with far decrease expectations in terms of motion video games – as a terrific huge slice of Touken Danshi fan service, this shall be a terrific addition to their assortment. For gamers much less versed on the planet of Touken Ranbu, this can be a a lot more durable promote, providing a rote, repetitive sport loop that does little to slake your thirst for a extra significant, evolving sport expertise. This criticism may arguably apply to all of the Warriors video games, in fact, however the place the larger license-based video games add to the system, Touken Ranbu Warriors looks like a distillation. In plenty of methods and for sure audiences that is completely positive. The Dynasty Warriors machine churns out a well-oiled, refined and well mannered product; the online game equal of a Honda Civic. However even with a well-loved product as dependable as that, there comes a degree when it is simply time to get with the occasions.
Writer: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Omega Drive
It’s not for everybody, however Warriors Orochi 4’s multitudinous hordes could be pleasurable to brush by way of, regardless of the sport feeling by-the-numbers in some ways. That is merely extra, and whereas followers may have the ability to forgive the tasteless presentation, we’d wager that non-devotees would have a significantly better time with the Zelda or Hearth Emblem spin-offs – with the characters, settings and accoutrement and love serving to to mood the monotony while you’re not fairly ‘within the zone’.
Writer: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Omega Drive
Warriors Orochi 4 was a stable, if uninspired, Musou sport and this ‘Final’ version fleshes issues out with some new characters and modes, considerably beefs up the story and tweaks the central gameplay right here and there. Nonetheless, the additions which have been made generally really feel just like the least quantity of effort that was potential. The brand new playable characters, though enjoyable, are just about slapped in with none fanfare, new weapons do not even have distinctive skins and Infinity Mode looks like a little bit of a missed alternative. Warriors Orochi 4 Final is unquestionably an enchancment over the vanilla model of the sport – and completely the way in which to go if you happen to’re eager however have but to select it up – however it’s additionally a slightly disappointingly small one which comes at a fairly steep value for loyal followers who’re forking out to improve from the bottom model.
Writer: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Koei Tecmo
Samurai Warriors 5 takes the long-running franchise, offers it a splendidly vibrant lick of paint, throws in some glorious new fight mechanics and fills its story mode with well-directed cutscenes, leading to a slick and classy addition to the sequence that is positive to please followers and newcomers alike. Sure, it makes just a few fumbles right here and there – we aren’t keen on its grindy system of upgrading your Dojo and Blacksmith, it limits your character selections at occasions within the marketing campaign and that stripped again roster is certain to irk some – however, general, what’s here’s a positive addition to the Change’s line-up of Musou titles. It is a fast-paced, flashy hack and slash effort that appears and performs fantastically effectively and, most significantly, performs virtually completely while doing so.
Writer: Bandai Namco / Developer: Bandai Namco
In the event you’ve performed a Warriors sport earlier than, then you definately’ve principally performed One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. Skinny story, okay graphics, and considerably shallow however satisfying motion gameplay are all par for the course right here, to not point out a lion’s share of content material to work by way of. In the event you’ve ever been curious what this sub-genre is all about, this can be a excellent place to leap in with its simply approachable gameplay and that lovably goofy One Piece aesthetic. In the event you’re a very long time fan, we’d encourage you to ask your self how a lot you need extra of the identical and determine based mostly on that. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is the furthest factor from reinventing the wheel, however it positive has its distinctive and addictive gameplay loop right down to a science.
Writer: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Koei Tecmo
Whereas it may appear odd that in 2018 Omega Drive opted to port the then five-year-old Dynasty Warriors 8 over Dynasty Warriors 9, it was the correct determination for Nintendo Change house owners. Not solely was Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends Definitive Version one of the best model since Dynasty Warriors 5, it got here to the hybrid platform providing extra secure efficiency than the variations that after graced PS3 and Xbox 360. Even when its body price takes a knock when enjoying co-op, it’s a remarkably sturdy port boasting an obscene quantity of content material contemporary out of the field.
