SAMURAI WARRIORS: Spirit of Sanada

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 364 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • optimization
SAMURAI WARRIORS: Spirit of Sanada Game Cover
The best story that Samurai Warriors has had to offer, as well as the addition of new mechanics to improve the experience, Spirit of Sanada is a great way to close the chapter on the Samurai Warriors 4 era.
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"Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada" is an action-packed game set in feudal Japan. Follow the journey of the Sanada clan, as you play through historical battles and clan struggles. Experience an in-depth look at the legendary hero Yukimura Sanada, in this immersive action title.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 364 reviews
story115 positive mentions
optimization18 negative mentions
  • The game features a great, faithful, and emotional story, focusing on the Sanada clan, which is considered the best in the Warriors series.
  • The gameplay is highly praised for its fun mechanics, character variety, and the introduction of new features like stratagems and exploration missions.
  • Many players found the character development and historical accuracy engaging, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, particularly on Nvidia graphics cards, leading to low frame rates and lag.
  • Some players found the story to be too long and filled with filler missions, making the pacing feel slow and repetitive.
  • The lack of English dubbing and poor optimization for mouse and keyboard controls were also noted as drawbacks.
  • story341 mentions

    The story of "Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada" is widely praised for its emotional depth and focus on the Sanada clan, providing a detailed narrative that spans multiple generations. Many reviewers highlight the game's character development and the immersive storytelling, making it one of the best in the Warriors series, despite some criticism regarding pacing and repetitive side missions. Overall, players appreciate the blend of historical elements and personal storytelling, which sets it apart from previous installments.

    • “It's got a much more focused story than any previous Dynasty or Warriors game, focusing on the campaign from the Sanada clan perspective.”
    • “The plot is so emotional to see the life of the last Sengoku samurai, Nobushige (Yukimura) Sanada and his father, Masayuki.”
    • “The execution of the story was perfect; one can feel the emotion of the characters as they each follow their own conviction.”
    • “Too long and has an extremely boring story.”
    • “I'd say the biggest letdown were some pacing issues in the story where side missions festered and made the story progression crawl... especially during the Osaka residency of Yukimura.”
    • “You finish the story mode and then... and then nothing, there's not a thing to do after clearing the story, it's kinda ridiculous. Samurai Warriors 4 has story mode and campaign mode where you can create your own character, and this game has nothing but story battles.”
  • gameplay84 mentions

    The gameplay in "Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada" is praised for its engaging mechanics, including the introduction of stratagems and a day-night cycle, which enhance the traditional musou experience. While some players find the gameplay repetitive over time, many appreciate the responsive combat, improved mechanics, and the integration of RPG elements like farming and exploration. Overall, it is considered one of the best entries in the Warriors series, balancing action with a compelling narrative.

    • “The gameplay is great, the soundtrack is awesome, and the story blew me away.”
    • “The stratagem mechanic was also a good incentive to do your best in each stage and made for a good gameplay loop.”
    • “Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada is an awesome installment, the way we can explore and see (a bit fictional) the point of view of the Sanada clan during the Sengoku period, gameplay is very hooking and I just love this game; sometimes I cannot stop.”
    • “The gameplay and levels become very repetitive, and after hours you have to do the same levels with different enemy looks.”
    • “I did not have new gameplay compared to previous series, but we could build or upgrade new weapons.”
    • “When you think of Samurai Warriors, the plot is usually secondary as the mindless gameplay and terrible voice acting have always been the main selling points.”
  • optimization69 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting performance issues such as lagging and stuttering, particularly on PC. While some users with high-end systems have not experienced these problems, the general consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized compared to previous titles, leading to frequent drops in frame rates and unresolved performance complaints. Overall, the optimization is seen as a major flaw, with many hoping for future patches to address these issues.

    • “Even with more and more people playing Warriors games on PC, they never get the optimization right... I just hope that DW9 won't have the same issues that the recent Koei titles have been getting.”
    • “I never once saw a dip in performance, but I'm also now using a GTX 1080 Ti, i7 7700K, and 18GB of RAM.”
    • “I have not had any performance issues with the game.”
    • “The only problems I have with this port is that its optimization is questionable, especially when the previous ports of DW8:XLCE and 4-II run smoothly, which is justifiable since they're both based off of the last-gen versions instead of the next-gen versions.”
    • “There are multiple times that it drops from a bearable 55-60 fps to 40-50 fps, which honestly reminds me of the poorly ported GTA IV and Saints Row, the latter which is more poorly optimized than this game.”
    • “Don't let the downvotes of all the negative reviews fool you - these optimization issues are severe and are affecting the majority of players.”
  • graphics47 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the visual fidelity and environments, especially on max settings, while others note that they are largely reused from previous titles in the series. Some players highlight the graphics as a significant improvement for Koei Tecmo, though technical issues like poor framerates have been reported, particularly on certain hardware. Overall, while the graphics are considered good, they may not meet the standards of more current games.

    • “The visuals and graphical fidelity of Samurai Warriors has never looked better, and the environments are absolutely stunning on max settings.”
    • “- for a port, the graphics are top notch.”
    • “Informative, nice graphics, fluid and fun combat.”
    • “Be warned, at present, technical issues are still a factor; poor framerates seem rife with most rigs, apparently nvidia graphics card-based ones specifically.”
    • “The only major downsides with this game are the graphics and cinematic animations, which weren't spectacular compared to current-level games, but a definite improvement for Koei Tecmo games.”
    • “That's if you can get past the graphics and engine that—much like the story—are remnants of an era gone by.”
  • music28 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting the outstanding soundtrack as a major highlight of the series. The blend of new tracks and reused favorites from previous installments, particularly those related to the Sanada clan, enhances the gameplay experience and effectively complements the story. Overall, the music is described as exciting and impactful, earning high praise and a perfect score from several players.

    • “The gameplay is great, the soundtrack is awesome, and the story blew me away.”
    • “Soundtrack has to be one of the high points in the series and doesn't miss a story beat.”
    • “Especially for the Sanada theme, they're standing as the best OST Koei has ever offered.”
    • “The defeat and victory cut scenes were taken out; I really liked it since they still used the same music for it.”
    • “Graphics and music design are still Koei standard, not wonderful but definitely exciting and working well with the gameplay.”
    • “Several new original soundtracks for the game, mainly for the Sanada clan and Sanada characters.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while it offers opportunities for leveling up and enhancing weapons through farming and fishing mechanics, many players find it tedious and repetitive, especially after taking breaks. Some reviews highlight that grinding can test patience more than skill, and while acquiring legendary weapons has been made easier compared to previous installments, the overall experience can feel overly grindy for those aiming to complete everything.

    • “Grinding can also get boring, especially if you take a small hiatus and come back to the game.”
    • “So an already long and tedious game becomes even more repetitive through endlessly re-doing stages.”
    • “Only things I kind of disliked in this is how grindy it is if you want to do everything (I didn't bother in the end) and not having alternative endings, like quite a few of these types of games have.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, particularly the poignant story of Yukimura Sanada and his father, which resonates strongly with players. Many reviewers highlight the impactful foreshadowing and heartfelt moments that evoke tears, especially towards the end, making it an immersive emotional experience that stands out in the Warriors series. Overall, players recommend it for those seeking a profound connection to the historical era depicted.

    • “The plot is so emotional to see the life of the last Sengoku samurai, Nobushige (Yukimura) Sanada and his father, Masayuki.”
    • “I've gotten so emotional in the end; it's so awesome to be able to follow Yukimura's story from his birth to his very end.”
    • “Having played a lot of these games, all of the foreshadowing and heartbreaking comments feel like they're laser-guided at my heart, and this game has already made me cry a few times.”
  • character development9 mentions

    The game excels in character development, offering deep storytelling and engaging dialogue that fosters personal connections with the cast. Players appreciate the well-crafted character arcs and the balance between character progression and gameplay mechanics, making it both accessible and impactful. Overall, the character development is a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.

    • “It is unrivaled in its storytelling, dialogue, and character development, not to mention it still does combat/gameplay well too.”
    • “Great character development that drew players in to connect with them personally.”
    • “Weapon, leveling, and character development are not that complicated.”
    • “I must give huge props for the accuracy of events and the character development much of the cast had.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, users express a notable concern regarding the lack of replayability in the game, despite mentioning some features like the town vault. The general sentiment indicates that while there are elements that could enhance replay value, they ultimately feel insufficient.

    • “The replayability feature from the town vault adds a whole new layer to the game.”
    • “The replay value is impressive, keeping me engaged for hours.”
    • “The replayability aspect really enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The only complaint I have is the lack of replayability.”
    • “Replay value, of course.”
    • “Replayability feature from the town vault.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily derived from the exaggerated animosity between characters, particularly Masayuki's intense hatred for Ieyasu, which users find to be highly entertaining and amusing.

    • “Masayuki hates Ieyasu so much, and it's hilarious.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users consistently report that the game runs smoothly without any issues, indicating a high level of stability.

    • “It runs great!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy SAMURAI WARRIORS: Spirit of Sanada

Play time

33hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
10-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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