Template:Game info Dynasty Warriors 3 (真・三國無双2, Shin Sangoku Musou 2) is the third title in the Dynasty Warriors series and acclaimed by fans of the earlier titles to be one of the most difficult due to the enemies' AI. This title introduces the Nanman tribe and also set the standards for many of its following titles.
The game's Chinese version is narrated by Liu Mingxun.
Gameplay
- If they have a high ranked weapon, characters can now perform six hit combos. The four previous charge attack properties remain the same but add two more to the mix.
, , , , 
: Sends the opponent high into the air with a special type of new launch different from the C2; continuing to press triggers a synchronized follow up. This additional combo is called a Charge Drive.- , , , , , : Triggers a unique combo or a entirely different unique attack; some officers can also extend it by tapping .
- The new combo system now also applies to mounted attacks.
- By the aforementioned new combo system proxy, all playable characters now have a total of 4 weapons they can equip, with all playable characters via their AI versions wielding their 3rd weapons as their signatures (as a large number of characters share the same set of first and second weapons, despite having different movesets on some degree). All characters can only have one copy of each weapon.
- All 4th weapons instead must be unlocked through special conditions on Hard/Very Hard mode on specific stages for each character, thus the tradition of unlocking rare fourth weapons also began with this title.
- For the first time in the series, players can collect and equip various items before each battle, along with equipping weapons as well. Specific items, can affect the playable characters' stats but others can be unlocked after fulfilling certain requirements (much like the aforementioned fourth weapons).
- Tying into both weapons and items, a number of them can now have variable stats which makes each of them diverse, and new stats such as jumping power, movement speed and weapon reach become available for even more expansive upgrading, which better items/weapons being obtainable on more difficult stages/higher difficulties. Only certain special unlockable items do not have any variable stats at all (and may have more radical effects) and all 4th weapons are static in the stat bonuses they provide.
- Stat boosting remains similar to the previous title except Dynasty Warriors 3 offers different stat boosts when the game is on harder difficulties.
- Enemy AI is much more aggressive and clearing crowds takes more effort. Even the most common soldier will actively run up to the player to attack, especially on higher difficulties.
- Mounted attacks -as in, when the horse slays an enemy- can now affect the KO count for the player. Elephant mounts have also been added. Riding a specific steed, however, demands the player to be at certain level. For example, if the character is at a low level and tries to ride Red Hare, they'll likely be thrown off its back. To counter this setback, the player can level up their characters or equip saddles.
- Saving during battle can be done by choosing to quit from the pause menu. Only one game can be counted at one time and choosing to not continue it makes it invalid.
- For the first time, players are able to have personal bodyguards with them in battle. The player will start with 2 peons and when maxed out will be able to have up to 8 elite bodyguards. Playable characters can be assigned to be the player's bodyguard as well, along with their equipped items sets and current weapon.
- Enemy and allied officers can replenish their health, and increase their attack and defense in a similar way as the player would charge their Musou (and they may also charge up their Musou normally as well). They will now often do so when their main target of aggression is knocked down near them, regardless of somersault recovery. Enemy and allied officers will also always counter back with their Musou Attack if they happen to get hit with a six-hit max combo while still grounded/without a knockdown.
- It is due to this indicator that if one is quick enough, it is possible to interrupt their power-up-period, where they may only heal/power themselves up for a fraction of the usual amount. And only on occasion to they actually charge up their actual Musou gauge this way.
- Musou Attacks no longer knockback on all hits (save for Xu Zhu's), and a majority of them no longer inflict a form of knockdown barring the final hit(s). True Musou Attacks as of this game now always juggle targets on their initial hits but always apply a fire elemental effect. Overall, most Musou Attacks can now connect fully on targets, and are now invincible to arrows (though certain hazards will still damage the user and will cancel them).
- Characters can now use Musou Attacks while mounted on their horse.
- When two players work together on a stage, they can perform an attack called a Double Musou. If they are close to one another and have their Musou gauges filled, they can press
together to unleash a powerful assault, where they automatically perform their True Musou Attack, but both attacks will have a lightning element property. - The brand new Very Hard difficulty can now be unlocked.
Aesthetic changes
Compared to the last game, this installment features the least outfit changes for a notable number of characters, with most of their outfits being directly-revamped versions of the ones in the previous installment (while some have not gained any outfit changes at all or very few actually have even more radically changed outfits). Due to this, the game is not as radically different from Dynasty Warriors 2 in terms of certain aspects.
Aside from that and with several new stages added, a number of aesthetic changes have been done:
- Characters are more vocal than before and will talk during in-game cutscenes. New English voice overs have been done as well, which are different from the English voices from the previous installment.
- As a result, in-game cutscenes also feature more vocalized moments where characters actually speak in them (but some may be out of sync depending on the dub). Subtitles for these, in-game and CGI-rendered alike can be turned on and off in the options menu.
- However, in-game battle cries are the same as in the previous game if not completely recycled and thus are only in Japanese.
- Regarding this, it is also now possible to switch between the respective language one is playing the game from and the original Japanese audio.
- Character portraits are also redone, and also appear whenever a character speaks through a battlefield message in order to distinguish it from normal messages.
- All characters now have an alternate outfit that can be selected by using the other button used to select a character. Enemy AI mirrored versions of any playable characters will resort to using such colors to differentiate.
- All Battlefield Items now have a distinctive rising blue-light effect on them, making them easier to spot.
- Several maps from the previous installment if not all of them have been radically changed up.
- All enemy soldiers are affected by the new weapon changes:
- Lowest ranking peons such as privates and corporals now wield the universal first weapons. They are only limited to the original 4 attack chain.
- Mid ranking common troops, high ranking common troops and any NPC generals (both allied and enemy) however, use the universal second weapons, and can all perform the standard 5 attack chains. This has since become a staple for nearly all NPC units.
- New music tracks have been included, but a majority of previous tracks are re-rendered with a few extra instrumentals via higher resolution. As a result, recycled tracks from the previous installment are now named via the "Ver. 2" naming.
Modes
Musou Mode
Characters' modes are extended as they can participate in more battles than before. Many of their new scenarios involve the Southern Campaign to suppress the Nanman rebellion.
Free Mode
Similar as before, more stages and characters can be unlocked when the player completes Musou Mode. This is where the Other characters can be played.
Versus Mode
A mode that gives two players 90 minutes to compete with one another. They can chose to participate in the following challenges.
- 3 vs 3 Elimination - set at Hu Lao Gate's front, three fighters can duel with one another on horseback in a barricaded arena.
- Struggle for the Imperial Seal - search for the Imperial Seal in the one of the Wu Territory bases and earn more warriors. However, one can have said warriors betray one another if an opposing player also finds another Imperial Seal.
- Skirmish at Chang Ban Bridge - pave a clear path through the wall of enemies on the bridge.
- Battle at Sea - defeat all your opposition's soldiers on one of the ships at Chi Bi.
- Team Battle - defeat the three officers atop Fan Castle's walls as they enter into the fray one by one.
- 4 vs 4 Elimination - be the first to climb Mt. Ding Jun's highest slope and meet the commander at the top.
- Valley of Stone Soldiers - a thick fog clouds the field and obstructs vision. Find any enemy officers and/or the opposing player inside Yi Ling's Stone Sentinel Maze under these conditions.
- Duel - have a one-on-one battle with a barricaded spiked arena at Mt. Jie Ting's highest summit.
Challenge Mode
Within a 90 minute time limit, do one of the following.
- Endurance - At Tong Gate's map, defeat as many officers as possible without being defeated.
- Time Attack - Similar as endurance except it expects the player to meet a set time limit. Takes place at the Raid on the Rogue Fortress.
Data Base
Includes an encyclopedia for various officers and showcases collected weapons and items.
Characters
Those with bolded names are unlocked right from the start. Characters with an asterisk next to their names are new in this title.
| Shu | Wei | Wu | Other |
Expansions/Spin-Offs
- Koei 2002 Spring Pack Shin Sangoku Musou 2/Shin Sangoku Musou - repackaged as a part of Koei's 2002 Spring Sale set. Received a 2002 clear file with purchase.
- Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends
- Mobile Shin Sangoku Musou
- CR Shin Sangoku Musou - pachinko machine
- Pachislot Shin Sangoku Musou - pachislot machine
Related Media
Kamaya released ten figurines of the cast.
Aside from the official guide books and character illustration book, Koei officially funded the following publications for this game:
- Comic Shin Sangoku Musou 2 ~ Extra Stage Vol. 1 - collection of four panel parody comics created and illustrated by fans. ISBN: 4-87719-999-3
- Comic Shin Sangoku Musou 2 ~ Extra Stage Vol. 2 - ISBN: 4-7758-0029-9
- Comic Shin Sangoku Musou 2 ~ Extra Stage Vol. 3 - ISBN: 4-7758-0036-1
Image Song
- Performed by Yō Hitoto
Allusions
- Several tracks from this game later appear in Warriors Orochi 2 and 3. Some were also given a unique remix in Dynasty Warriors: Online.
- Kiniro no Corda 2 includes a short loop of ENDLESS FIGHT in an event.
Gallery
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Japanese package art
External Links
- Dynasty Warriors 3 informational site
- Official American site
- Official European description
- Official Japanese site
- Official Chinese site
- Official Taiwanese description
- Official Korean description
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