‘Samurai Warriors’ started life back in 2004. Many saw it as a cheap (Japanese) knock off of ‘Dynasty Warriors’, and yet Samurai Warriors has been proving itself to be a completely different gaming experience, showing independence and unique game play. The second Samurai Warriors game, ‘Samurai Warriors: Xtreme Legends’, proved itself worthy of it’s advisories by winning Game of the Month at http://www.newtype-usa.com. So, with this kind of positive history behind the series of games, you can expect ‘Samurai Warriors: State of War’ to live up to great expectations, and let me tell you, you won’t be disappointed.

The game play is much like Koei’s ‘Dynasty Warriors’ on PSP. You start in a single area on the map, and begin to fight your way though different areas on the map to complete certain objectives. This adds a more strategic feel to the game and tends to lean away from the repetitive mindless killing we have seen in its more respectable counter-parts.

The game basically uses the same controls as all the of the Samurai and Dynasty Warriors games, using either the D-pad or analogue stick depending on which the player prefers. The controls are quick and easy to use meaning simple, uncomplicated game play.

The AI in the game features the same properties of any other Koei game, basically meaning it goes from watching them standing around, waiting to get hit on easy, to being hacked to death while watching them kill anything and everything in sight on chaos difficulty.

The weapon system is great, as it features the ability to find weapons in a stage and add them to your inventory. You can get varying qualities and customisation (although not extensive) to the weapons by adding more attack or more defence. As the game develops, you are surely to acquire better (and usually bigger) weapons.

The story line follows different generals though the ‘warring states’ period, and can play through a number of stages with each different character to unlock more of the history (story line) in the game. There is an arsenal of characters to choose from, all offering their own unique fighting styles, weapons, and, err, grunts.

The graphics in the game are average, though it does support many characters on screen at once, but they do seem to appear and disappear at random. The game does make full use out of the PSP screen and pixels and gives a full screen view of the action rather than a smaller section of the screen like on Dynasty Warriors. There is an immediate realism to the enemies, as after you have destroyed your enemy you can watch in glee as they struggle to the ground in agony. You can even play keepy-uppies with them!

The music leaves something (as far as taste goes) to be desired, as it has a techno sound track (think Nobunaga Oda with glow-sticks). The music does not seem to be too aggravating nor too calm. Despite its techno leanings, the music fits in well with the general feel of the game. The music, however, changes depending on the circumstances, meaning if you are close to death, you will get fast paced music compared to having full health and having the normal music. The sound effects, no doubt due to koei’s now extensive experience with slashing games, have been perfected over the series and now has the most realistic slashing and slaughtering sounds yet! Much to the delight of sadists like me.

The game uses the main selling point of the PSP to good effect, which of course is how portable it is. The game, unlike many others, features the ability to save during the middle of a battle, meaning getting of the bus shouldn’t be too difficult, unless of course you live in an English city, where you’ll most likely be mugged by bored, brainless, yobs.

Unfortunately I was unable to try out the multiplayer features of this game due to lack of PSP’s, copies of the game and friends. But from what I have seen, the multiplayer will make for a good gaming experience, and if those yobs have stolen enough PSP’s, show them who the boss is now.

All in all, this is a great game. If you have been a fan of the ‘Samurai Warriors’ or ‘Dynasty Warriors’ series, or just looking for a different type of game to play then you will love this game. It has many stages to choose from making it a longer gaming experience. Also, you have to love the big fat guys who run at you shouting “Eh!” You wouldn’t want to miss fat (strangely American) guys getting slaughtered would you? Of course not.

Screenshots

Trailers

	Samurai Warriors: State of War Opening Intro Size: 20.39 MB Length: 1 minute 30 seconds Quality: DivX DOWNLOAD HERE

Wallpapers

Official Site Wallpaper 800x600 :: 1024x768	Official Site Wallpaper 800x600 :: 1024x768