Samurai Warriors 4 DX

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 200 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Samurai Warriors 4 DX is a fun and engaging hack-and-slash game with a large roster of over 50 characters, each offering unique combat styles and abilities.
The game includes all previously released DLCs, providing a wealth of content and customization options, including a Chronicle Mode that allows for character creation and exploration.
The PC port runs smoothly, with good performance on Steam Deck, and features enjoyable gameplay mechanics like Hyper Attacks and character switching.

The game suffers from frequent freezing issues during co-op play, making it nearly unplayable in that mode for some users.
There is no English voice acting, which can make it difficult for players to follow the story and character interactions, especially during intense gameplay.
The graphics and overall presentation feel dated, and the game is criticized for being overpriced given its age and the limitations in resolution and frame rate.

story
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
82%
6%
The story in Samurai Warriors 4 is generally viewed as lacking depth, with many players criticizing it for being poorly organized and lacking a cohesive narrative. While the game attempts to present historical events through the perspectives of various clans, the execution often feels repetitive and underwhelming, especially compared to its successor, Samurai Warriors 5, which is praised for its more focused storytelling. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the character-driven mini-stories and the overall charm of the narrative, particularly in the context of the Sengoku period.
- “The story campaign is organized by clans and it tells the stories from their angle, with the Sanada clan (which Yukimura, the series' poster boy, belongs to) being somewhat of a focus.”
- “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, segmented mini stories for all characters who were easily likable with some exceptions and showcasing their side of the conflict within the Sengoku period.”
- “Its story is terrible, if not non-existent.”
- “The story largely sticks to the historical records of events, albeit with the usual exaggerations, whitewashing, and gameplay concessions we've come to expect.”
- “The story doesn't have to be well written or complex; no one is playing these games for the story.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
12%
The gameplay of Samurai Warriors 4 is characterized by fast-paced, hack-and-slash combat that incorporates a unique hyper attack mechanic, allowing players to chain strong attacks and clear crowds effectively. While the game may not introduce groundbreaking changes to the franchise, it offers a polished experience with a diverse roster of characters and smooth performance, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and series veterans. Despite some limitations in content and a reliance on historical narratives, the overall fun factor and mechanics are well-received, particularly on higher difficulty levels.
- “In terms of gameplay, its combat is clearly differentiated from the Dynasty Warriors series with the addition of hyper attacks where you can string together strong attacks for combos - it starts with a dash and is used primarily for crowd clearing; due to this addition, the combat action is a lot more fast-paced.”
- “The core gameplay remains as exhilarating as ever, with players taking control of legendary samurai and battling through hordes of 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 had some surprise favorites who otherwise I would never have tried in an Orochi game or previous Samurai Warriors games.”
- “In terms of gameplay offerings, it may be somewhat limited; but it does very well in most of what it offers.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is old.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the enhancements from the PS4 version, describing it as beautiful and visually appealing, while others criticize it as outdated or ugly. Overall, it is noted that while the graphics may not be stellar, they are adequate and contribute positively to the gameplay experience. The port is seen as 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.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is widely praised, with standout tracks like "beginning," "petals in the wind," and "whirlwind" being highlighted as favorites. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as phenomenal and integral to the overall experience, enhancing both storytelling and gameplay. Despite the game's age, the music remains a significant draw, contributing to its enjoyment.
- “It's still a solid OST with my favorites being 'Beginning' (especially this one), 'Petals in the Wind' (both versions), 'Whirlwind', 'Raging Waves', and 'Twin Cherry Blossoms'.”
- “Onto the game itself, the soundtrack is phenomenal, easily one of my favorite game OSTs of all time.”
- “What truly elevates this game into greatness is the phenomenal storytelling and soundtrack, as for me those elements in games are always very important.”
- “The soundtrack has a couple of songs that go like this: 'aaah aaah aaah aah aaah aah aah aah aah aah aah' and they will be engraved into your brain.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to enjoy for long periods.”
- “While there are some solid tracks, many songs feel forgettable and fail to leave a lasting impression.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's stability is a significant concern for players, particularly in cooperative mode, where frequent freezes make it nearly unplayable. While some users report that it runs well on certain platforms, the persistent issues during multiplayer sessions detract from the overall experience. Many hope for future fixes to address these stability problems.
- “Runs great on the deck.”
- “Great port of one of my favorite musou games, runs great and is beautiful in 4K.”
- “The reason for my negative review on this game is due to the main appeal that this game had on me and my friend over its 'ii' version for being one of the few warrior games that have a coop feature on Steam, but it is sadly unplayable due to constant freezes on almost (if not most) stages when playing coop, including chronicle mode.”
- “If the freezes and issues in coop ever get fixed, I will change the review. Honestly, my friend and I are hoping for this, since it was the main appeal over the 'ii' version, and we are too late to ask for a refund.”
- “The game constantly freezes when playing with a friend.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with quick loading times and smooth performance on high settings for most users. However, there are notable issues with online lag, particularly in multiplayer scenarios, which can significantly impact gameplay. The performance on the Steam Deck is commendable, requiring no additional tweaks for optimal play.
- “It loads up quickly on HDD and runs smoothly for the most part during gameplay (on my R7 2700X + GTX 1060 6GB at highest settings) with some occasional frame rate drops which are quite trivial.”
- “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.”
- “Performance-wise, it's mostly good.”
- “The lag between two systems online is so bad that when you do Nobunaga's early quest to fight through the forces, circle up the mountain, and come down on top of their commander, if you are playing multiplayer, it will be delayed for so long that my friend literally completed the map before I was let out of the gates because of how poorly they optimized the game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable and relaxed, especially with the availability of powerful DLC weapons early on, which reduces the need for extensive grinding in the end game. This allows for a more streamlined experience, enabling players to focus on the main story rather than repetitive tasks.
- “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, but the DLC weapons being available at the very beginning of the game make the grind feel very chill.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be enjoyable and lighthearted, highlighting its infinite replayability due to the variety of content available. This aspect encourages repeated playthroughs, making it a game that can be revisited multiple times without losing its charm.
- “It's a fun, lighthearted game with infinite replayability.”
- “The content and replayability are impressive, keeping the experience fresh.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally rewarding, particularly appreciating its heartwarming presence on Steam after its 2014 release. It serves as an accessible entry point for newcomers to the Samurai Warriors series, offering a blend of enjoyable gameplay and the satisfaction of completing challenges through dedicated effort.
- “It is really heartwarming to finally see this game on Steam. Since its official release in 2014, this has been the only Samurai Warriors game that is perfect for newcomers to the series. While it's not a challenging game, achieving 100% completion requires quite a bit of grinding.”