Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires

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DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Empires Deluxe Edition offers an immersive feudal Chinese empire-building experience with the game and additional content. This edition includes 6 gems, 10 custom officers, 3 campaign scenarios, a season pass for future DLCs until Feb 2022, 14 custom parts sets, 5 additional palaces, and 4 additional military units. Players can engage in strategic conquest, diplomacy, and tactical battles while customizing their characters and narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 402 reviews

gameplay15 positive mentions

optimization5 negative mentions

The game features improved graphics and character models compared to previous entries.
The combat system has been refined, making battles feel more dynamic and engaging.
The character creation system allows for detailed customization of faces and hairstyles.

The game lacks significant content compared to previous Empires titles, with many features removed or simplified.
The open world feels empty and serves little purpose, with no meaningful activities to engage in.
Customization options for outfits and armor are severely limited, with many previous options locked behind paid DLC.

gameplay
74 mentions
20 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a steep learning curve, repetitive mechanics, and a lack of depth in certain systems, particularly compared to previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the new siege mechanics and the overall combat fluidity, others criticize the game for feeling unfinished and for its simplistic open-world design that detracts from the core gameplay experience. Overall, it seems to cater primarily to fans of the series, but many feel it falls short of its potential.
- “The only thing this game has going for it is the castle siege mechanic that adds some dynamic to the battle instead of just scaling walls with a grappling hook from the beginning.”
- “Super fluid combat system/gameplay.”
- “This game has a lot of cut corners, but despite all of that, if you enjoy the core gameplay loop of the empires series, and do not mind 9's combat, then you will enjoy this game.”
- “So the steep learning curve, lack of tutorials, annoying gameplay, and irritating music means this is a trash game in my opinion.”
- “Honestly, this is a pretty bad game which is sad because it has the potential to be good with more optimization and better empire mechanics. Plus, the AI needs to actually win fights in a battle and not just hold out until you get there.”
- “However, a lot of the mechanics are severely lacking (open world, officer interaction, children, etc.) so much so that I don't think calling them half-baked would truly capture how underutilized and lacking in depth they are-- it's more like they cracked some eggs in a bowl and are trying to call it cake.”
graphics
58 mentions
21 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the visual enhancements and character detail, while others criticize the overall quality as underwhelming and reminiscent of older titles. Many users note that despite some improvements, the graphics still suffer from issues like low textures, inconsistent frame rates, and graphical glitches, leading to a perception that the game is a step back from its predecessor. Overall, while the graphics may be a highlight for some, they are not enough to elevate the game beyond its shortcomings in other areas.
- “Yes, the graphics are nice; water reflection, wetness, sands, etc., are good.”
- “Top-notch graphics and music, with hundreds of amazing characters and addictive gameplay, put it a sure win for the Game of the Year awards this year.”
- “The graphics are more polished than before.”
- “The graphics of the game are not pretty.”
- “Graphics-wise, it's the same old rubbish, nothing changed.”
- “Soldiers randomly wander around doing nothing, there are weird graphical issues in battles where soldiers in the distance run like a slideshow, the graphics are all blurry on the terrain (like anti-aliasing wasn't used or any edge smoothing).”
story
53 mentions
15 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of engaging quests and missions that were present in previous titles. While some appreciate the open-world elements and the ability to create unique characters, the absence of a structured story mode and meaningful interactions with other officers has left many feeling that the narrative experience is shallow and unfulfilling. Overall, the game seems to prioritize gameplay mechanics over a compelling storyline, leading to a less immersive experience for fans of the series.
- “I like the secret plans in the game, since it gives a mission objective for nearly every battle and gives you the ability to thwart your opponent's plans as well.”
- “The political and challenge of missions is quite varied.”
- “Throws a curveball into a lot of missions, and I enjoy it, though at times the enemy mission fires too late to matter.”
- “The story, interactions, and cutscenes also have mixed qualities.”
- “It is completely empty; there is no storytelling, nothing, just the scenery.”
- “The lack of quests in the campaign like we had in 8 is sad.”
music
16 mentions
69 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise, with many reviewers highlighting its high quality and nostalgic ties to previous installments in the franchise. The soundtrack is described as epic and addictive, enhancing the overall gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding other game mechanics. Overall, the music stands out as a consistent highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Top notch graphics and music, with hundreds of amazing characters and addictive gameplay put it a sure win for the GOTY awards this year.”
- “The soundtrack in this game is so good, but I expect that because in my opinion the Dynasty Warriors franchise has always had good music.”
- “Sound - 10/10 the music, as always, is epic as is the voice acting, shockingly enough.”
- “So the steep learning curve, lack of tutorials, annoying gameplay, and irritating music means this is a trash game in my opinion.”
- “The soundtrack is just alright.”
- “The game re-uses a lot of assets, including music, weapons, and movesets.”
optimization
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players noting poor performance, particularly in cutscenes that are locked at 30 fps and suffer from frame pacing issues. While some improvements have been made compared to previous titles, such as better overall stability, the game still feels unoptimized, especially on PC, with low-resolution textures and a console port-like experience that limits performance even on high-end machines. Overall, the optimization issues detract from the enjoyment of the game, leaving it feeling like a poorly executed product.
- “You can also set the enemy count to max since I find that it doesn't affect performance too much.”
- “Better optimization compared to DW9 due to limited space.”
- “Overall performance is more stable (in highest settings without monster spec), unfortunately some technical issues from DW9 still persist here.”
- “For some reason, cutscenes are locked at 30 fps and feel very choppy (probably frame pacing problems), so looking at low-res assets with such bad performance isn't enjoyable at all.”
- “The empires series are a lot of fun to play, still don't understand why they ruined it with terrible optimization and a limited amount of features.”
- “Wrap this all together in a pop-in heavy, unoptimized, poorly textured, badly animated mess and you're chugging along at sub 60 fps on all but the highest-end machines.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with limited content and overly compact battle maps contributing to a lack of engagement. While some enjoy the character roster and the ability to farm for resources, many feel that the open world is sparse and filled with bugs, making the grind feel less rewarding and more like a chore. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as excessive and luck-based, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
- “You can farm for cash, but the campaign is not long enough to justify farming.”
- “Battles are way too repetitive and tedious.”
- “This makes it very grindy and luck-based.”
stability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably compromised by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly with asset loading issues that detract from the overall experience. While some players find it enjoyable if their hardware can handle it, many express frustration over the game's performance and the missed potential of its open-world design. Overall, stability remains a significant concern, with hopes for future patches to address these issues.
- “All in all, the game runs great if you have the hardware to run it, and it's a lot of fun.”
- “The new engine is buggy as hell with assets loading in well after scenes or battles start and sometimes not loading in at all.”
- “I will say as a long fan of the DW series, this game is like a better version of 9, but there are still some glitches and I hope they will patch them up in future updates.”
- “With the open world setting not even being used properly, it's infuriating they had the chance to make DW9 Empires the best. They stripped the open world, put it on a god awful graphics engine, and made it a brain dead siege simulator with buggy/janky character movements, poor AI, and more.”
humor
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of outdated jokes and unintentional comedy, with some players finding amusement in the poor translations and limited customization options. While some aspects are seen as laughable, others feel the humor falls flat and is out of touch with current gaming standards. Overall, the humor elicits a range of reactions, from genuine laughter to criticism of its execution.
- “That sounds hilarious, sign me up!”
- “Some of the translations are pretty funny though.”
- “They have hilariously little armor parts (less than 20 helmets and 13 armor pieces, lmao) and completely butchered body edit; it's as if edit mode was never finished before they decided to ship it.”
- “But here in 2022, this is such an outdated and out-of-touch game that it's not funny.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with reviewers noting a lack of effort in various game elements and the presence of microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. Many feel that the game fails to meet the standards set by its predecessors, further exacerbating dissatisfaction with its monetization strategy.
- “I can honestly say this was just a cash grab due to the lack of effort put into character customization, UI, the menus, voices, etc.”
- “This game was a cash grab; there is no easy way to put it. If anyone has played the original Empire games, they would know that this is an abomination.”
- “Microtransactions suck with any game, and this one is no different.”
character development
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its advanced character design and customization options, allowing players to create highly detailed and personalized characters. However, some users express frustration over additional costs for extra customization parts, despite the impressive features like realistic hair physics. Overall, the character design is considered a strong point of the game.
- “The character designer is really good; you can create basically any face for your custom character, and the hair has fully programmed jiggle physics, so it flows in the wind.”
- “The graphics are like DW9, meaning the characters are reasonably detailed, and the character design is really good.”
- “Character design is a great advancement in the right direction.”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game is significantly impacted by the absence of scenario editing, which some players find limiting. However, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires offers substantial replay value through a wealth of collectibles to discover, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires has loads of replay value with a lot of collectibles to find.”
- “I can live without banner, horse, and soldier customization, but no scenario editing highly limits replayability.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as heartbreaking, indicating a strong impact on players' feelings; however, this sentiment is tempered by a lack of overall recommendation.