how does this stack up the Dynasty Warriors 3?

[Leon kennedy]

I remember playing Dynasty Warriors way back and it just has a certain spirit to it, I wonder if this is just a casual dynasty warriors release, or does it actually improve in every aspect compare to that game? I loved the feel of dynasty warriors 3, the story, soundtrack.

[AllG]

On paper, it's a major improvement in almost every aspect. However, there are certain charms to the older games that some people actually prefer.

The story has gotten more accurate to the source material over the years as well as expanding towards the true end of the era with addition of the Jin story. This installment also gives each faction a hypothetical story branch that shows what might have happened if certain events occured or didn't occur.

The voice acting certainly has gotten better. It's still pretty hammy but not as ridiculously over the top as DW3's. That's one of those charms that people may or may not miss.

The soundtrack is still great, though, noticably different. I feel like music in 3 was heavier while also better fitting the scenes, but that's just me. That's not to say this game doesn't have some memorable tracks, too. Again, another nostalgia charm, maybe.

Personally, one of the biggest things I miss from 3 was the ability to interchange characters in many of the cutscenes which lead to some really silly and stupid bits. Now, all of the cutscenes and events are scripted and stick to a more serious plotline.

TL;DR: Yeah, it's better, but it might lack some of that "certain spirit". Also, DW9 is right around the corner with some ambitious innovations. Could be better to hold off and see how that turns out, but with this game at its current sale price, I don't think you'd regret the purchase.

[Leon kennedy]

you know what comes to mind is AI, at this point they should be a bit less retarded, and is the game more challenging? I remember playing the first dynasty warriors game for xbox 360 and in one way it looked cool, but one thing that made it less fun was the units although more numerous were one hit kills. They were just merely distractions at best... That is what would break my chances of purchasing this.

[C4RNIVOR3]

They're more challenging on higher difficulties but Warriors titles have never had a lot of emphasis on difficult battles with mooks, either.

[Milord]

DW3 had better AI. The peons in DW8 barely do anything and the officers are only dangerous because their musou can one-shot you.

I was in the exact same boat as you and I decided to get the game anyway. I am glad I did because the game is surprisingly enjoyable. I would rank it slightly higher than DW3.

[Leon kennedy]

that is... what I was afraid of, we have a case where video game technology has advanced, yet this game somehow manages to go backwards in ai? I do not get that. whatever I still have a ps2 lol. Why cant they just go up to you and immediately start slashing, or maybe have a bit more realism involved. Instead of being robots.. Unless the developer is trying to suggest something about chinese people.... 0_o o_0 For one, why can't their be like mongols, that would be kick ass. I want Ghengis Khan to just show up in the middle of the map and just start killing both sides.

[NAW]

Aside from the ass controls and the fact that there is no online co-op It's a very enjoyable game.

[C4RNIVOR3]

As I said, the warriors games have never had a lot of emphasis on difficult battles with what literally amounts to fodder. I don't know why you're letting it get you so upset though op, lmao.

[Bananarumpus]

I played a lot of DW3, so I can relate to you a little bit here. I stopped playing the games after 5 and decided to grab 8 once it was on sale. I've really been enjoying it for a lot of the same reasons people have already mentioned in the reviews. I typically play on normal or hard difficulty and I think that with hard mode specifically, the last few battles in each story mode can be challenging. To me it seems like you actually have to follow strategies in order to do exceedingly well in a battle and you can't solely rely on storming through and dominating (I mean I guess you can, but I enjoy the strategies). I love the addition of Jin and ambition mode. For the extra nostalgia, I bought the DW3 costume pack because why not. :D

[SynthDwarf]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmbzUE6UAY

Most of us started on DW3. It's great for nostalgic purposes and the voice acting is so bad it's hilarious, but 8XL is a far better game. As for the AI mentions getting easier? AI has never been difficult in the DW games.

That said, I personally would LOVE to see the old duels from 4 come back.

The story has gotten more accurate to the source material over the years as well as expanding towards the true end of the era with addition of the Jin story. This installment also gives each faction a hypothetical story branch that shows what might have happened if certain events occured or didn't occur.

This is one of the best features of 8. I like how closer it is to history/source material and I personally like how Cao Cao is no longer seen as a monstrous villain - Just a man with great ambition to unite the land. Though I do hope one day that KOEI will stop sucking Shus proverbial rod - They weren't all that B E N E V O L E N T afterall. The hypothetical stuff is really neat too.

[Leon kennedy]

Originally posted by Bananarumpus:

Yeah I am just concerned it will be an easy game, but one thing I read that it is only hard because of generals with super mousous that can wipe you out instantly? I have also watched that this incorporates somes of Dynasty warrior 3 elements. But yes you nailed it, after 5 this game felt so rediculously watered down. Thus why I display the emotion. It pisses me off because they want the same money for basically the same game that is not even made well. Laziness pisses me off.

[Leon kennedy]

Originally posted by LewiBoJangles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmbzUE6UAY

Originally posted by Mad Max:

Originally posted by Bananarumpus:

Yeah I am just concerned it will be an easy game, but one thing I read that it is only hard because of generals with super mousous that can wipe you out instantly? I have also watched that this incorporates somes of Dynasty warrior 3 elements. But yes you nailed it, after 5 this game felt so rediculously watered down. Thus why I display the emotion. It pisses me off because they want the same money for basically the same game that is not even made well. Laziness pisses me off.

Originally posted by LewiBoJangles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmbzUE6UAY

I loled, I forgot how dramatic it was, maybe that is why it was so memorable, would not mind a more serious version of it this tim earound. It was never super hard, but there were those momments were you felt like you were fighting to the death, but you did not want to start over because you already invested all that time! Sometimes it felt like you were living off dead soldiers food, like the ultimate survival situation! That is why it concerns me if the troops are just there but not really active.. Just there for you to beat up on.

[SynthDwarf]

If it's any consolation; in DW8XL at the very least on Hard/Chaos mode there are times when you will be fighting for your life against officers, particulary the playable ones. But I fear you're focusing far too much on the nature of the soliders. Their role is to charge your musou and raise your hit counter. It's always been this way, even in DW3. Thats just the nature of a Musou game. The real battle is the officers, and they do pose a good challenge on the harder difficulties.

But the appeal of Musou games has always been slaughtering endless, mindless AI mobs and feeling like a god doing so. The challenge is there if you want it, but the formula isn't going to change, just tweaks here and there. (However DW9 does look set to shake the formula up quite a bit.)

[AllG]

Originally posted by LewiBoJangles:

Their role is to charge your musou and raise your hit counter. It's always been this way, even in DW3.

I don't think that was entirely true for DW3. There were times where you actually had to take out the peons, otherwise they would continuously sucker punch you while you're trying to fight a boss. Also, don't forget the archers that would group up and potentially wipe out all your health with an arrow volley.

Nowadays, it's more about quantity over quality with the soldiers. They can fill up your screen, but you can either ignore them or just watch them die in the crossfire of your massive AoE attacks.

[Leon kennedy]

Originally posted by Quagora:

Originally posted by LewiBoJangles:

Their role is to charge your musou and raise your hit counter. It's always been this way, even in DW3.

I don't think that was entirely true for DW3. There were times where you actually had to take out the peons, otherwise they would continuously sucker punch you while you're trying to fight a boss. Also, don't forget the archers that would group up and potentially wipe out all your health with an arrow volley.

Nowadays, it's more about quantity over quality with the soldiers. They can fill up your screen, but you can either ignore them or just watch them die in the crossfire of your massive AoE attacks.

Well I think that is /thread right there, that is the problem... They are literally not your enemy in this.. And you are right, yeah they were not hard to kill by themselves, but they could become a potent distraction by hitting you at a bad time. Sounds like I should wait for DW9 instead if it will shake up the over easy troops. So as I was typing this I researched this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_L326Gb-o 0_o not sure how that will translate, that does not mean it will be a super demanding game cpu and gpu wise right?

[SynthDwarf]

You can't just call /thread beacuse somebody agrees with you, thats not how it works. In Chaos/Ultimate mode in DW8, what Quagora is referring to still happens. I didn't realise the troops occasionally hitting you was what you were referring to in regards to difficulty. You also have the base captains, which take a bit more of a beating, as well as Unit captains scattered around. But my point still stands - The generic soldiers have done what they always have; they are Musou fillers between the Officers. They also fill that 'potent distraction' you're looking for on Chaos/Ultimate (And arguably Hard if your officer is still leveling) mode.

You're not going to find a challenge in the generic soldiers, no DW3 game has ever offered a challenge in regards to basic troops.

But sounds like you're probably better waiting for DW9.