Dynasty Warriors Advance is a Dynasty Warriors title released for the Game Boy Advance. It is a port of Dynasty Warriors 4 featuring the same cast, but with numerous gameplay differences due to having been released when the fourth title was still in development. Its catchphrase in Japan is "Wherever we go, there won't be anymore enemies!".
Gameplay
Preparations
Due to the hardware's limitations, this portable installment reduced the number of playable characters to 13 while turning much of the male cast into NPC officers and omitting other female officers entirely. To counteract this, a new weapon system had been implemented. There are over a hundred different weapons to choose from that each fall under a certain category of weaponry taken from the series. Every playable character can use 3 out of 22 different weapon types. Though unique in appearance, most of them only vary from one another in terms of stat bonuses and special abilities while preserving the user's innate moveset.
Mechanics
The game's fighting mechanics has been simplified to feature only four-hit combos like in Dynasty Warriors 2. However, the usage of certain charge attacks vary slightly from those in the base titles. Power-ups and weapon traits can also enhance their effects.
- A: Referred to as an Assault. It is mainly used to pierce through enemy lines or instantly defeat weak foes. Works best against archers.
- B A: Referred to as a Confuse Attack. Dizzies nearby foes to stop their movements briefly and make them easier to combo against.
- B B A: Referred to as a Continuous Attack. Launches a continuous string of hits, making it ideal for combo building. Works best against spearmen.
- B B B A: Referred to as a Range Attack. Performs a crowd-clearing maneuver to knock enemies away. Works best against swordsmen.
Musou Attacks and True Musou Attacks return for this title. Unlike in the base games, players cannot recharge their Musou through button holding. Using them at the right time and place can mean the difference between victory or defeat. Characters have one of three different types of Musou Attacks: Power, Speed, or Balance. Those with Power-type Musou Attacks benefit from higher damage output, but lose out on movement distance. Users of Speed-type Musou Attacks have the advantage in mobility, though they must constantly hit foes repeatedly to be effective due to their lower attack power. Characters that have Balance-type Musou Attacks are in the middle of the aforementioned types.
The game also features a new power-up system that enables characters to become stronger at a gradual pace throughout each stage. These abilities are unlocked by defeating more enemies and shift clockwise from one power-up to the next. Note that every character has different power-up priorities. If the player sustains continuous damage from foes, they may end up losing any power-ups acquired.
| Icon | Ability | Effects |
|---|---|---|
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Storm | Strengthens effectiveness of Assaults. |
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Stun | Strengthens effectiveness of Confuse Attacks. |
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Chain | Strengthens effectiveness of Continuous Assaults. |
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Reach | Strengthens effectiveness of Range Attacks. |
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Valor | Activates a weapon's attributes. |
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Reach | Increases movement speed. |
Battle
Just like in the main entries, players are given an objective they must fulfill for each battle. The game ends in defeat if their character's health is fully depleted or the conditions for defeat have been met. Morale continues to play a role in how effective AI-controlled officers are in fighting on their own.
Another notable difference this game has is the implementation of a grid battlefield system similar to Dynasty Warriors PSP, with a timer running on each mini-battle. This timer changes color as time passes with white indicating a potential triumph and orange a potential victory. The goal is defeat a specified amount of enemies within the time limited allotted. When a battle is won, it is ranked as either a triumph which rewards the player with an extra move, a victory which has no other effect, or a close call which costs the player a turn. It largely depends on how fast the player is in defeating enemies within an area.
Outside of battles is the movement phase where both allies and enemies move from one area to another. Players must be able to effectively use their turns and anticipate what the enemy will do as ambushes or surprise attacks can happen unexpectedly. Cleared areas may be revisited in order to scavenge for recovery items.
Modes
Musou Mode
Functions the same like in the fourth game, though character interactions are more personalized. Each faction has its own set of six different battles.
Free Mode
Functions the same like in the fourth game.
Challenge Mode
Functions the same like in the fourth game. Developed characters can be used for this mode.
- Endurance (斬合; Clash) - Defeat as many enemies as possible. Recovery items are also available for players to pick up.
- Time Attack (神速; Godspeed) - Quickly defeat one hundred enemies in the shortest amount of time possible. It is highly recommended to gather targets in one spot before decimating them with powerful combos.
- Battle Luck (連覇; Consecutive Conquest) - Placing emphasis on probability, the player is given a choice of opening two treasure chests that spawn after defeating hordes of enemies within one area. They can proceed to the next battlefield if the correct chest is opened. Otherwise, they will be brought back to the previous area in order to start over. The overall goal is to clear every area within the shortest amount of time possible.
Encyclopedia
Provides information on unlocked officers, weapons, items, and stages.
Tutorial
Provides beginners with tutorials on the game's mechanics and tips on how to improve.
Game Settings
Features options to adjust the game's settings. Also includes various language options for the European port.
Characters
Starter playable characters are bolded with some retaining their Dynasty Warriors 3 outfits. Other officers have been reduced into NPCs; those that have unique sprites and movesets are marked with a star next to them whereas characters with only unique portraits get labeled with a circle. Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian are unlocked by completing their respective faction story once while Lu Bu becomes available if the player clears Musou Mode with any of the aforementioned three lords.
| Wu | Shu | Wei | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Ce | Guan Yu | Xiahou Dun | Lu Bu |
| Sun Shang Xiang | Zhang Fei | Xu Zhu | Dong Zhuo ★ |
| Zhou Yu | Zhao Yun | Zhen Ji | Yuan Shao ★ |
| Sun Jian | Liu Bei | Cao Cao | Zhang Jiao ★ |
| Sun Quan ★ | Zhuge Liang ★ | Sima Yi ★ | |
| Gan Ning ● | Huang Zhong ● | Cao Ren ● | |
| Huang Gai ● | Jiang Wei ● | Dian Wei ● | |
| Lu Meng ● | Ma Chao ● | Xu Huang ● | |
| Lu Xun ● | Pang Tong ● | Zhang He ● | |
| Taishi Ci ● | Wei Yan ● | Zhang Liao ● | |
| Zhou Tai ● |
Related Media
A comprehensive strategy guide for the game was released by the company.
Trivia
- A finished portrait of Diao Chan was left unused within the game's files, implying she might have been planned to appear as a character only to be scrapped by the time the game had been completed.
Gallery
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English logo
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Japanese cover
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English ad flyer
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External Links
- Official North American Page (English)
- Official Japanese Website (Japanese)
- Official Taiwanese Website (Traditional Chinese)
- Official Game Manual (English)
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