Dynasty Warriors Next
- December 17, 2011
- Omega Force
A great rendition of an old IP by using the functionality of the PS Vita in the best ways
Dynasty Warriors Next is a historical hack and slash game that can be played in both single-player and multiplayer modes, supporting up to 2 players in co-op. The game offers good visuals and brings the epic action franchise to the PlayStation Vita, allowing you to experience the thrill of ancient China's battles on-the-go.
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- The graphics are impressive and one of the best on the PSVita, with beautiful cutscenes and character models.
- The game offers a fun button-mashing experience with a lot of content, including a character creation system and various gameplay modes.
- Utilizes the PSVita's features well, incorporating touchscreen controls and mini-games that add variety to the traditional hack-and-slash gameplay.
- The duel system is frustrating and mandatory, disrupting gameplay and lacking the depth of previous titles.
- The game suffers from poor draw distance, causing enemies to pop in unexpectedly, which can lead to unprepared encounters.
- Some controls feel forced and gimmicky, detracting from the overall experience, especially for players who prefer traditional button controls.
- graphics16 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised as some of the best seen on the PS Vita, with impressive visuals in cut-scenes and duels, though some textures in the environment fall short. The art design and user interface are also highlighted for their sleekness and style, contributing to an overall stunning presentation. Despite minor issues with ground textures, the game successfully showcases the capabilities of the handheld, providing a visually captivating experience.
“Presentation: by far one of the most graphically stunning games on the PS Vita and this generation of gaming in general. I never thought I'd play such a beautiful game on a handheld ever; simply amazing.”
“The graphics are amazing for a portable game. The music is surprisingly good, and I haven't had any frame rate issues so far.”
“The game has amazing graphics; I was blown away by the graphics for the PS Vita as it is, but Dynasty Warriors showed off the Vita's amazing ability.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Dynasty Warriors: Next" is characterized by its hack-and-slash mechanics, familiar to fans of the series, with an emphasis on button-mashing and tactical elements. While it incorporates various features of the PS Vita, such as touchscreen and motion controls, the core experience remains engaging and innovative, offering new surprises that prevent monotony. Despite some minor frustrations, the overall gameplay is fun and well-executed, complemented by impressive graphics and solid controls.
“The story campaign cut-scenes are really good, the visuals are impressive (besides the textures on the ground and the environment sometimes), and the gameplay is button-mashing fun.”
“The graphics are impressive, the controls are excellent, and the gameplay is fun.”
“Gameplay is basically the same as every other Dynasty Warriors game; you and your generals take on massive amounts of enemy troops and cut them down.”
“Although some characters take on a different look, if you've played previous Dynasty Warriors games, you will understand the gameplay. Me just button-mashing square and triangle with the additional R has gotten me through every level so far.”
“Next also includes some quick-time elements and has a few other gameplay additions that inject some new blood into the series.”
- story9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story campaign features impressive cut-scenes and visuals, although some environmental textures fall short. Players appreciate the intriguing narrative, with each empire presenting a unique storyline, despite some criticism of the acting quality. Overall, the engaging gameplay and graphics help to elevate the experience, making the story a notable aspect of the game.
“The story campaign cut-scenes are really good, the visuals are impressive, and the gameplay is button-mashing fun.”
“Intriguing storyline, each empire has its own story of how it would be if they won and conquered the other two kingdoms.”
“I enjoyed all the gameplay, smooth graphics, and storyline.”
“The story is okay and the acting is laughable, but the gameplay and graphics themselves offset that.”
“The other modes are campaign mode (story mode) and edit mode (DW6 Empires style) where you can create a character.”
“It comes with a campaign (story) mode and a conquest mode for single players, as well as a coalition mode which uses the Vita's ad-hoc feature to set up games between other Vita players.”
- music4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many finding it surprisingly good, though some players note it can become irritating over time. A recent patch allows players to customize their experience by adding their own music, which has been a highly requested feature. Overall, the sound effects and music contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
“The music is surprisingly good and I haven't had any frame rate issues so far.”
“The graphics are amazing for a portable game, and the music is surprisingly good.”
“Due to a new patch, you can now for the first time play your own custom music in the background, which is awesome!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be intense and immersive, as they experience moments of vulnerability when facing ambushes and the need to physically engage with enemy soldiers and incoming threats. This hands-on interaction heightens the emotional stakes, making each encounter feel personal and impactful.
“The emotional weight of the story left me in tears, as I connected deeply with the characters' struggles and triumphs.”
“Every decision I made felt significant, and the consequences of my actions truly impacted the emotional journey of the game.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complemented the narrative, enhancing the emotional moments and making me feel every high and low.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while campaign mode restricts character selection, once characters are introduced, they become available for use in most other game modes, enhancing the game's replayability.
“While you can't always choose who to play as in the campaign, once they've appeared in your party, they are playable in most other game modes.”
“The variety of characters and their unique abilities make each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and branching storylines, every decision you make can lead to a different experience.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in the campaign makes replaying it feel tedious and unexciting.”
“Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back and play through it again.”
“The game offers very little variation in gameplay mechanics, which significantly reduces its replay value.”
