Dynasty Warriors 7 : Xtreme Legends

Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends Review

The Dynasty Warriors series is one of gaming's most misunderstood franchises. It's adored in Japan, where its combination of hack-and-slash action and Eastern history proves a compellingly cathartic release for hard-working salarymen. At the end of a tough day, there's no series quite like Dynasty Warriors to take your frustrations out on. In what other game can you take apart 1000 enemies within a few minutes? In the west, meanwhile, it enjoys cult success among fans that vigorously defend it against accusations that it's nothing more than a simplistic, repetitive button-masher. To a degree that's true – assuming you only play the game for a few levels on Easy mode. But such criticisms ignore the tactical depth of the higher difficulties, where split-second decisions can significantly alter the course of battle. Save a character in trouble and he'll fight alongside you. But leave him struggling while you protect a carriage and he might abandon the battlefield. Convince a powerful warrior to join you and his very presence can lower enemy morale, but if doing so means you let a messenger inform a rival captain of your presence, they'll have a stronger garrison by the time you arrive.