Samurai Warriors 2: Empires

Samurai Warriors 2: Empires (戦国無双2 Empires, Sengoku Musou 2 Empires) is an 'Empires' version of Samurai Warriors 2, in which you would try to rule Japan. It was the first 'Empires' game since Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires to be released before the Xtreme Legends version of the game.

Gameplay Changes
Samurai Warriors 2 Empires changes a few dynamics from the original Samurai Warriors 2 games, and differs in itself as it is not an expansion pack, but rather a different game, with bonuses if you have data from the original Samurai Warriors 2 game.

Bases
In Samurai Warriors 2 Empires, the main concern of the battlefield is not generals but rather bases. Bases are groups on the map that appear red(enemies), blue(allies), or gray(neutral) and effect the dynamics of the map. In the battlefield the ways to win are to either to kill the commander, or to take the enemies main camp. Neither option is available unless you take over the bases in a line from your main camp to theirs, then their commander shows up, and the main camp can be taken just as any other base. Bases are taken by taking out all generals and base captains in a given area, and stationing a general of your own their, rather you stick around or have someone else do it. You successfully do so when the base turns blue on the map.

Officers
Another change in the battle system is the general system. In Samurai Warriors 2 you just killed generals to win, not the case in Empires. They are their more to follow orders such as attacking or defending bases, you can give orders to the generals under you, and you can recognize patterns as orders on the enemies side. Generals also don't just die when you defeat them, they can return to the battlefield if the enemies have enough points for them(seen at the top of the screen, under a tetris like shape) or unless you capture them. After the battle you can keep the captured generals, and the other side can keep yours.

Generals are captured if they are defeated if they have a red "halo" around them, this halos appears depending on their remaining troops and the influence you have on the map. Influence is decided by the bases you have in the area, if the road is light blue, you have a better chance at capturing them at higher troop numbers, and if the map is dark blue you can almost certainly capture them, and vice versa for you troops in their area.

Formations
Another change to the battle field is the addition of formations. Formations are basically stat-boosts that you deploy to help your troops, they are divided into 3 different levels, and 3 different categories: Attack, Defense, and Speed. Additionally Formations cancel each other out on the higher leveled, and a triangle of weaknesses: Attack<Defense< Speed< Attack. If a Formation is of a weaker category it looses a level, and if it's at a weaker level is canceled out. If both formations are at a equal level both are canceled out.

Formations can only be used if you have enough points, and if have the formation. (by the icon that tells you how many time a general can reappear in the upper right)If you use a formation, it is used up out of your inventory. You get a point every second. The cost is determined by the level, Level 1 formations cost 60 points, Level 2 cost 120, and Level 3 cost the maximum you can hold, 180. Formations effects wear off after a while