Dynasty Warriors is a portable version of Dynasty Warriors 4 with tactical elements differentiating it from the Empires spin-off. It was one of the first games to be released during the handheld console's launch.
Gameplay
While gameplay mechanics and controls remain intact, battlefields are now segmented into small and separate squares due to the PSP's limitations. Unlike mainstream titles, characters do not retain stat growth and weapon levels after each fight. Instead, their stats are derived from the officer bodyguards serving under them.
Entering a hostile square means fighting enemy troops until their morale or fighting spirit (which can span up to 8 gauges) gradually wears down; the process can be hastened by eliminating as many enemies as possible or utilizing certain skills. Likewise, the player's fighting spirit dwindles if they lose allies or remain idle. Should it plummet completely, the battle will end in failure and all deployed officers will be lost. The arrival of reinforcements is essential to keep morale high enough for the player to survive, especially in higher difficulty settings.
When taking a square from an enemy officer, the player must lower the opposing side's morale to a specific amount before they can appear; if their subordinates have been defeated beforehand, they will respawn together with the officer leading them. This rule does not apply to officers invading the player's squares as they will always be present during the attack. Defeated officers spawn in forts periodically which may help or hinder the player depending on how much territory they currently have. If the player has accumulated over 400 KOs, they may be pursued by a powered-up enemy officer. Defeating their assailant yields a weapon box that automatically raises the player's level by 1.
Unlike in past titles, enemy commanders can be defeated by officers controlled by the AI, though they alone cannot get them to show up at their main camp unless the player personally dwindles the opposing army's fighting spirit within that square.
Time limit is determined by the amount of supplies on hand. Indicated by a blue-colored gauge below the enemy information window, it increases by taking enemy supply depots scattered throughout the map. Due to the game utilizing the more aggressive AI from Empires, it is recommended to clear nearby areas first and ensure that no other enemy officers are present. If the player recuperates in a depot or the main camp, supplies will decrease in proportion to the amount of damage sustained. An alternative to using up supplies is deploying officers that have healing abilities.
Fighting raises the player's levels which in turn provide stat boosts and better weapons. Using charge attacks to finish off foes earns a good amount of experience points for leveling up; chaining 10 or more hits together yields additional experience. The amount of levels needed to use more charge attacks is analogous to weapon levels from the base game. Reaching level 10 allows the player to reach their full potential and perform a True Musou attack regardless of their current health. Since levels always reset to 1 per battle, claiming enemy territory will often be a top priority before attacking the main camp. If defeated in combat, players will still gain points earned but lose their deployed bodyguards as a result.
Modes
Musou Mode
This mode is completely straightforward with 5 stages available per faction, though the choice of battles varies between unaffiliated characters.
Free Mode
Functions the same like in the base game, though stages are no longer categorized into different regions.
Officer Camp
Contains biographies of collected officers and enables players to exchange them with one another.
Options
- Settings - Modifies various options to accommodate the player.
- Difficulty - Provides the following difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Chaos.
- Enemy Strength - Displays enemy's health gauge over their heads.
- Controls - Changes button configuration according to the player's needs.
- Control Input - Enables players to decide on either analog stick or directional buttons to control movement. If one of them is selected, the other will be used to instruct officer bodyguards instead.
- Bow Control - Sets targeting method of bow aiming to either normal or reverse.
- Setup - Reassigns buttons on the game controller.
- Sound - Adjusts music and sound effects.
- BGM Volume - Adjusts music volume level from 1 to 15.
- SE Volume - Adjusts sound volume level from 1 to 15.
- Memory Stick Duo - Allows the player to save their progress or load an old saved file.
Related Media
A comprehensive strategy guide for the game was released by the company.
Allusions
- Portraits for NPC officers are taken directly from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games.
- Character from Bandit Kings of Ancient China and Samurai Warriors appear as bodyguard officers in this title.
Gallery
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Japanese cover
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English ad flyer
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Japanese ad flyer
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Wallpaper 1
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Wallpaper 2
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External Links
- Official North American Website (English)
- Official Japanese Website (Japanese)
- Official Taiwanese Website (Traditional Chinese)
- Official Korean Page (Korean)
- Official PlayStation Page (Japanese)
- Koei Information Page (Japanese)
- Official Game Manual (English)
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