Visually DW4: Empires is exactly what you have seen or expected from the series. Toss your character into an army of soldiers trying to take you out, fight off these enemies, which add up to over 30 at a time, and claim your territory for your victory. To say the action is not fast and frantic would just be flat out lying. Honestly, I can see why the legions of fans still buy the game. It is simply amazing how many characters are on the screen, dueling, slashing, and killing without the slightest hint of slowdown. It was impressive 4 years ago, and it is still impressive today. You have a character customization options that allows you to choose the look of your commander, which helps to diversify the game from others in the series. The lands in which you will attempt to conquer are huge and detailed, and based on ancient China. Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires does not make any huge technical leaps in its visuals, but I do not think the developers made a concentrated effort to do so either. Why change a good thing if it works right?

Where DW4 Empires makes its biggest advancement is in the Empires mode itself. This addition gives the series the oh, so, much needed depth that keeps it from being a monotonous hack and slash title. You begin by choosing your commander. Once you have your leader in place choose your generals and lieutenants. Make your decisions wisely, as whom you choose will greatly depend on how successful you are and how great of a leader you will become. Your commanders will also lay down the laws and policies that the townspeople must obey, which includes orders and taxes.

Once you have your master and commanders in order, you need to decide on your troops, item production, and managing your money wisely all in the process. Now that you have all your orders met, it is time to invade the lands around you. Your quest is to unify China, and those who do not bow to your wishes will meet your steel. Along the way, you may actually gain some allies to those who do not want to take on your mighty will. This will make your armies stronger and your victory almost at hand. Once your men and orders are in place, the game takes you into the all too familiar territory of the DW series, the battling. The A.I. is much smarter this time around, dodging, parrying, and thinking their attacks before performing them. At the end of battle, you can see how many men you have lost and gained, money you have spent, etc. This army management gives the series the extra shot in the arm it’s been needing for quite sometime. For an expansion to offer such innovation is unheard of and only give fans of the series, hope that this options stays in the series when DW 5 rolls around.

There is a two-player mode, but it is hardly worth mentioning since it is just see who can defeat the most enemies style of game play. Basic and fun, but what this series needs, like the other Koei franchises, is some serious online game play.

As I mentioned earlier, the game is really for die-hard fans of the series. Sure, new action fans that have not seen this series yet will definitely enjoy this game, and will find it actually harder to play any incarnation before it. Those looking for a completely new world will be disappointed as the formula for the most part stays true to form. The new Empire addition is fantastic and at only 30 dollars will be impossible for fanatics to pass up, if only to experience the new feature. Aficionados of the series will no doubt already have this game in their possession. If you are a fan and have not added this to your DW collection, the price is right and the game is a perfect fit in your compilation.