Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires is a neat spin-off that provides genre fans with the Musou they love, as well as some more strategic simulation gameplay to shake things up. It can get a bit dull if played for too long, but you could probably have anticipated that if you’ve ever played a Musou.
Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires
Developer: Koei Tecmo and Omega Force
Price: $60
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a PC code for review
You know, I often think to myself: “What if I could be a Chinese warlord?” I rarely have an answer, because until now I had never experienced this. Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires allowed me to be said warlord, and the result had a lot more starvation and executions than expected. If you’ve ever wanted to be a dictator while plowing through foes like in classic Musou games, you might just have a blast with Empires, you psycho.
My understanding is that Empires covers the early AD/CE period of Chinese history. I’m admittedly not well-versed in said history, so there could be tons of errors beyond the obvious “everyone was a stylish anime character who could mow down thousands of foes without a scratch.” I find the stories and characters on display to be rather interesting regardless, and like with Samurai Warriors 5, I ended up Googling a few characters to learn more about them. The little tidbits of info on the load screens serve as a good jumping-off point for players to learn more about these fascinating figures.
Empires is divided into two distinct types of gameplay. The first type is what you’ve likely come to expect from a Musou game, with a few little additions. You use your chosen character (which can also be a custom-made one, if you feel like having your own wacky warrior take part in the action,) to decimate crowds or enemy soldiers and take over bases. You use various combos, special moves, and this time around, Secret Plans that both provide you with advantages on the map when conditions are fulfilled (weakened enemy units, ballistae, etc.) or with special abilities, like the power of lightning bolts and explosions. These abilities add a bit of spice to the gameplay, which I appreciate. I do love turning my brain off and running through Warriors games, but a bit of a shake-up never goes unappreciated. You can also equip your characters with multiple gems to change their stats and the like, which provides a little depth to things.
“Like with pretty much all Warriors games, I recommend playing in bursts to keep the core gameplay loop fresh.“
The other gameplay type is more strategic, as longtime fans will themselves expect from the Empires spin-offs. As the leader of a nation, you manage your place’s rations, gold, armies, territories, and relationships in whatever way you see fit. I was a fairly benevolent ruler (other than executing every prisoner who wouldn’t join my army,) so I focused on ensuring we had enough rations and gold to stay happy and afloat. If you feel like being less kind, you can pillage your peasants and have banquets with the spoils, which has its own advantages for morale and resource acquisition. I like that you can be any kind of ruler, and the fact that how well you rule affects your army’s strength and numbers in battles makes it all feel essential.
While jumping between these two gameplay styles does make Empires feel less repetitive than other Musou games, playing for long periods at a time will likely make you burn out. You can only use the same combos and special moves or order your people to gather resources or gold, so many times in one sitting before you start to fidget. Like with pretty much all Warriors games, I recommend playing in bursts to keep the core gameplay loop fresh.
Visually, Empires looks crisp and runs well enough. I didn’t have any issues with performance when the screen was filled to the brim with soldiers and explosions. The voice acting is over-the-top with enthusiasm and it fits perfectly with the bombastic insanity unfolding on screen. The music is just as energetic, and it gets you in the mood to conquer.
The Final Word
Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires isn’t ground-breaking, but it is pretty dang fun. Obliterating hordes of foes is always a joy, and the strategic nation-building gameplay is a pleasant change of pace that gives you a bit of a power trip to boot. If you’re a fan of Musou games but want to mix it up a bit, Empires may be your game. Just know that it’s largely another Warriors game, and it may get old after a while.
MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
