Koei have supplied many a beat-em up fan with their take on massive battles through Japans history for a good few years now. With every version of their Warriors series they up the ante with more moves and breathtaking battles.
With the arrival of the Xbox 360 they have stepped up to the mark again with Samurai Warriors 2. Seen in Japan as the pinnacle of the series, you have 26 characters to unlock and play, all heroes and villains from Japans feudal era. Each character has their own weapons and special moves available to them. These are very helpful in the battles as they can cut through hordes of enemy soldiers with a very easy combination of button pushes. The special moves are upgraded automatically whilst in play by levelling up and you are also able to learn further moves from enemy officers whilst in battle. As you play though the story, you also pick up additional weapons that have elemental abilities. The elemental attacks are at the end of combo moves, and depending on the weapon selected, hitting in the right order will cause enemies around you to freeze, and then you can unleash another combo to take out the enemy in a flurry of hits.
Each character has their own story compromising of around four to five battles each and each of the battles take place a huge play field. The play field’s compromise of outdoor battles across huge fields, ruins and rivers, and then into forts and castles. The transition between each one is seamless and brings a different element to the battle, as when outside you have full views of the enemy, but when in a castle you don’t know who is lurking around the corner.
At the beginning of each battle you are able to survey the land in which the battle will commence, the menus also advise you of what the conditions of battle are, for example defeat an oppressive enemy without your comrades falling in battle. You are also able to select which weapons you will take with you, which horse to use and also which guard will accompany you in battle. The guards follow you around the battlefield assisting you in the many fights ahead, when you special move gauge the Musou is levelled up and you can either use it to attack the surrounding foes, or if your guard is in close proximity, unleash a devastating team Musou attack.
The amount of enemies on screen is impressive; they will come at you in small groups and try to surround you. The impressive thing with the amount of enemies on screen is that they come in all shapes, sizes and styles, so you do not feel like you are battling the same old foe over and over again.
To keep things interesting, Koei have also included a survival mode, in where you take up a job and then must battle through as many floors of the castle as possible. The money can be used in the shop to purchase new items like horses and guards.
They have also put in Sugoroku, which is literally a game within a game. Sugoroku is a traditional Japanese board game, which seems to play like a cross between monopoly and Mario party. You will travel through Japan collecting flags and purchasing land. If someone lands on your property you will charge him or her rent, but they have the option to try and take over your land in the form of a mini game. These are quite fun and range from collecting the most gold and smashing boulders before your opponent.
Samurai Warriors 2 is a great tactical beat-em up with enough depth not to become tedious. A word of warning though, this game is hard, medium setting is a real challenge, practice the moves you gain in easy and then take on the challenge on the tougher levels. I like the way that no fight is the same, running around trying to help your fellow officers in need is a nice touch. The only problem with this game is the map. It is a very small square on the top corner of the screen and does not show enough information. There are moments in the game where an officer asks for assistance and they glow blue on the map, but only for a few seconds. If you have got sidetracked you may lose where they were on the map and this can cost you the game. That said, it is probably me just being critical and it does not really deter from what is a great all out action game.
