Samurai Warriors 4 DX
- May 13, 2024
- KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
"Samurai Warriors 4 DX" is a deluxe edition of the hack and slash game set in the Warring States period of Japan. It features 55 officers, including Nobuyuki Sanada, Yoshitsugu Otani, Takatora Todo, Naotora Ii, and Munenori Yagyu, with revamped character designs and enhanced action elements. The game includes over 150 previously released DLC, such as costumes, weapons, customization parts, scenarios, and BGM.
Reviews
- Samurai Warriors 4 DX is considered one of the best entries in the series, offering a generous amount of content including all previous DLCs and engaging gameplay.
- The game runs smoothly on PC and Steam Deck, providing a nostalgic experience with improved graphics and performance compared to its predecessors.
- The inclusion of Chronicle Mode and character creation adds depth and replayability, making it a must-have for fans of the Musou genre.
- The lack of English voice acting makes it difficult to follow the story and character interactions, especially during intense gameplay moments.
- Some players have reported technical issues such as freezing during co-op play and limitations with resolution settings, including no support for ultrawide monitors.
- Despite its strengths, the game is criticized for being overpriced for a title that is over 10 years old, leading some to recommend waiting for a sale.
- story66 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered simple and not the main draw for players, with many reviewers noting that the lack of English dubs makes it difficult to follow the narrative amidst the action. While some appreciate the segmented character arcs and the depth of storytelling, particularly in the Sengoku era, others criticize the clan-based approach and repetitive missions. Overall, the game offers a variety of character storylines, but the emphasis remains on gameplay rather than a complex narrative.
“What truly elevates this game into greatness is the phenomenal storytelling and soundtrack, as for me those elements in games are always very important.”
“I have played previous SW games such as the first one and 2 Empires, but I believe that this was the peak of storytelling that the franchise reached, with segmented mini-stories for all characters who were easily likable, showcasing their side of the conflict within the Sengoku period.”
“With over 50 characters to choose from, each with their own storylines and missions, there's always something new to discover.”
“However, with no English dubs, it is almost impossible to follow the story or characters or what is going on because of the sheer amount of battle chatter in musou games.”
“Clans-based story is terrible and I don't want to see it in any Warriors games at all.”
“The story and interactions between characters can be ridiculous, and Koei needs to realize that most of their fan base are older by this point.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Samurai Warriors 4 DX is characterized by its exhilarating hack-and-slash mechanics, allowing players to control legendary samurai and engage in large-scale battles against hordes of enemies. While the core gameplay remains familiar and not significantly innovative compared to previous titles in the franchise, it features enjoyable elements like the hyper attack mechanic and a diverse character roster, making it a fun experience for both newcomers and series veterans. The game runs smoothly with high resolutions and framerates, enhancing the overall enjoyment despite some dated aspects.
“The core gameplay remains as exhilarating as ever, with players taking control of legendary samurai and battling through hordes of enemies.”
“One of the standout features is the hyper attack mechanic, which allows for rapid movement and chaining attacks across multiple enemies.”
“Gameplay is smooth and fun with every character feeling varied enough to try them out; the roster is great and one of the biggest in the samurai franchise, and personally, I had some surprise favorites who otherwise I would never have tried in an Orochi game or previous Samurai Warriors games.”
“The gameplay is old.”
“Framerate capped at 60 for gameplay, and looks like 30 for cut-scenes, and max 1440p.”
“The gameplay is simple hack and slash combat against large groups of enemies, with objectives and enemy officers to deal with; most of the difficulty comes from trying to complete every objective in a battle.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the enhancements from the PS4 version and describing it as beautiful, while others criticize the visuals as outdated or ugly. Overall, it is noted that while the graphics may not be stellar, they are adequate for gameplay and contribute to an enjoyable experience. The port is considered a significant improvement over previous versions, particularly in terms of visual quality.
“This game uses PS4 graphics, so for those wondering how this game might be, this game is beautiful.”
“Very nice gameplay, stories are good and beautiful graphics.”
“Sure they could have done something more with the graphics option, but still it's a gorgeous game with amazing designs, voice acting, and stories.”
“The graphics are ugly.”
“The graphics of the game are very, very, very bad.”
“Visuals are a little outdated, but more than adequate.”
- music6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers highlighting its role in enhancing the overall experience alongside the storytelling. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge due to the game's age, the soundtrack is considered phenomenal and a key element that contributes to the game's enjoyment.
“What truly elevates this game into greatness is the phenomenal storytelling and soundtrack; for me, those elements in games are always very important.”
“Don't expect stellar graphics or high frame rate support as this is just a port of a PS4 game made 10 years ago, but it still looks pretty, has great music, and is fun to play.”
“The overall warrior experience is pretty smooth, and the characters and music are great as well.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while it runs smoothly and beautifully in 4K for solo play and on the Steam Deck, users report frequent freezing issues during multiplayer sessions.
“Great port of one of my favorite musou games; it runs great and looks beautiful in 4K.”
“Runs great on the deck.”
“The game constantly freezes when playing with friends.”
“The game frequently crashes during multiplayer sessions.”
“I experience regular stability issues that ruin the gameplay experience.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's fun and lighthearted nature, emphasizing its infinite replayability, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging.
“It's a fun, lighthearted game with infinite replayability.”
“The content and replayability are impressive.”
“It's a fun, lighthearted game with infinite replayability.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, as powerful weapons can be obtained relatively easily through main story progression, particularly with the availability of DLC weapons early on. This design choice allows for a more enjoyable and relaxed gameplay experience without the need for extensive grinding.
“The weapons are really strong and remove any need for grinding in the end game, so you can just play and get the weapon by the end of a few main stories.”
“Insanely fun and grindy, and the DLC weapons being available at the very beginning of the game make the grind very chill.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized for the Steam Deck, requiring no additional tweaks to Proton or graphical settings, which sets it apart from other musou titles on PC. Overall, users report a smooth performance experience.
“Performance on Steam Deck is also really good, and you don't have to tweak Proton or fiddle around with graphical settings to get it working, unlike some other musou titles on PC.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a heartfelt appreciation for the game's arrival on Steam, highlighting its accessibility for newcomers to the Samurai Warriors series. While the game is not overly challenging, the emotional connection stems from the nostalgic and rewarding experience of grinding to achieve 100% completion.