This, the “Empires” version of the popular and ongoing series of Dynasty Warriors games, is slightly different from the regular version where you hack, slash and destroy hundreds of enemies on screen. In this version, you still have all the action of the earlier games, where you take on masses of enemies at once, and can choose from various different characters with varying abilities etc. However, in Empires, before you go into a battle you have to plan your strategy, sort your armed forces out, and work out how you will take over the 25 regions of each campaign, of which there are five in total.

From the start you choose the opening campaign, and you’re presented with a map of China, which is split into 25 different regions. These regions are typically ruled by different individuals who along with you, also want a piece of the ruling China action. So you choose an area where you want to start, and you invade it..

At the beginning you can only give one order out (such as one of the things listed above), but later you’ll be able to give out up to five orders between turns. Once you have done with that, now you begin the battle. Before you start you’re shown a map of the area with the conditions for winning and losing the event. Usually to win a battle you have to take over the main enemy camp and take out their leader, and you’ll lose by not completing it quickly enough (you have 30 minutes), or if the enemy takes over your base.

At any point during the battle you can re-enter the map screen and command your allies around the battlefield. You can tell them to assist yourself, go to a certain enemy camp and attack, or indeed (and very importantly) instruct them to guard your own base camp. They usually do what they been told, but are generally unable to complete the order you have given them, so you can send reinforcements, or better still go there yourself and help them out.

Along the way there are certain officers, who rule the enemy camps, which are located throughout each battlefield, and if you attack and beat these you capture them, and after the battle is over (you have to win each one to proceed) you can hire them to fight along side your army. Some of them will refuse to join for one reason or another, usually if you do not have enough money, or if you are too nice or too evil to the people of your land (which is controlled by an “order” in the main game mode). There are a few post-battle options too, so you can position officers at various places in your region, and even dismiss them if you no longer want them, or want to replace them with a better officer.

During the campaign, neighboring regions will ask you to form alliances with them, and you can then invade other regions together as a much stronger combined force, and there are all sorts of trades you can perform as well.

Needless to say, I was totally overwhelmed by all the options and events happening in the game – it came as a total shock because I was expecting a very basic action game. My review copy didn’t come with a manual, but I have read elsewhere that the manual itself doesn’t really explain the game very well, so you’re left to fend and work it out for yourself. Perhaps Koei presumed only life-long hardcore Dynasty Warriors gamers would buy the new game, so there was no need to create a tutorial…

Overall I enjoyed playing Dynasty Warriors 5, and will continue to play through the rest of the game to try and unlock everything. It’s quite simple and basic once you get past the brick wall pre-game options, but its really enjoyable to play and causing that much carnage on-screen is very satisfying. For the next in the series I’d like to see a more logical and better laid out menu system, a tutorial to explain it all (because seriously, we’re reviewers, not mind readers y’know), and the game be given a next generation lick of paint.