Samurai Warriors 2 review

I had played the demo for Ninety Nine Nights and came away with the impression that I would tire of the game even before my thumb and for anyone who has played it, that’s quite a statement.

I’ve not played a Dynasty Warriors game since the original, but that doesn’t count as it was a straight up one on one beat ‘em up (and not a bad one if memory serves me correctly). For some reason Samurai Warriors 2 called out to me from across the void of space and time and beckoned me to give it a go. Alright I’ll come clean, it has the world Samurai in the title, is that reason enough?

Tonight you sleep in hell

Samurai Warriors 2 is pretty much an action game laced with bits of real time strategy throughout. The story mode concerns many different characters and you can choose which story arc you would like to play at any given point. There are actually 5 main modes of play to choose from but I’ll concentrate on the story campaign for the moment.

With 26 differing characters to choose from you won’t be short of options when beginning the game. Set in feudal Japan, you are set an objective on beginning the game (something like "Escort Nobunaga to the Exit!") and you then join battle in an isometric 3-D perspective to deal death with your overly large weapon. Each character has different weapons and skills and the game has an RPG style level up system that increases your statistics making you more powerful and earning you new moves.

You only have one life! If you value it, go home!

Your army will have various units scattered across the battlefield and you will be alerted any time they are in trouble. It’s up to you to decide whether or not to leave your current position to go help. A mini-map indicates such points of interest. Wade into the enemy mashing buttons and cutting to shreds all and sundry and it’s hard not to enjoy your weapon wielding power. It’s actually pretty good fun. Even if you fail you can replay the area but keep the stats that you have been building up thus making each attempt a little easier.

There’s probably not as much strategy as you think in all of this and it’s nowhere near as glitzy as Ninety Nine Nights but I did find myself enjoying this just that little bit more. I wasn’t too impressed with the camera though as you are unable to alter it in any way whatsoever. I would have dearly loved to have raised it just a tad for a wider view of the action but a trawl of the forums reveals there is no such option in Samurai Warriors 2.

You can't defeat me, Ramirez! I am the strongest!

Enemies drop helpful items and gold on the battlefield and this can be used to buy new abilities in the shop between levels. The graphics are pretty good and the cut-scenes very atmospheric with some great characterisations but the game still comes across as something that is actually quite basic to play. On some of the missions you’ll get frustrated as the person you are supposed to protect gets killed half way across the map and it’s game over simply because you couldn’t get there on time.

The extra modes do bring some longevity with a Free mode allowing you to play any stage you have cleared and Survival allowing you to tackle an endless castle where you get to keep any treasure and gold to use in the other modes. There is even a board game for up to 4 players called Sugoroku where the goal is to return home with the three battle flags. KOEI has certainly thrown plenty of stuff on the disc to keep you playing.

Nice to see you Kurgan. Who cuts your hair?

Contrary to what I had originally thought I have actually enjoyed playing Samurai Warriors 2. It’s a fun, if basic hack and slash game and it certainly looks nice enough and plays well enough. Whether that’s enough to completely grab you and hook is all down to how much button mashing you can stand. If you have any form of arthritis you will certainly wish to stay well away or risk a digit dropping off. There are some token Xbox Live bits and bobs chucked in but nothing so great that it will keep dragging you back time after time, though it’s still nice that the options are there if you and a friend wish to tackle a level together.

I guess if you have played this type of game before and enjoyed it then Samurai Warriors 2 ought to tickle you in all the right places. I found it a fun, if simplistic battle game that is certainly well above average and worth giving it a spin if you find it at the right price. What other type of game gives one the chance to use dodgy Highlander quotes throughout the review? For that KOEI deserves all the credit.