Dynasty Warriors Next – New Platform, Same Action

The Dynasty Warriors franchise is back with Dynasty Warriors Next. The newest installment of the franchise has come to the PS Vita. All of your favorite officers return as you follow the story of the three returning dynasties, Wei, Wu, and Shu. Dynasty Warriors Next brings you back into all the same chopping action as you tear through hundreds and sometimes thousands of enemy soldiers and generals on the battlefield.

The action remains largely the same, pick your officer of choice, head out onto the battlefield and take out strategic locations, all the while dealing massive damage and casualties to the opposing army through combos, musou abilities and direct break attacks. Taking out strategic locations enable your army to advance on the enemy stronghold quicker and with less resistance.

The newest and most interesting addition to hit the Dynasty Warrior franchise is the Speed Musou ability. Once your Musou gauge is filled, tap both sides of the screen with your thumbs to initiate the attack. Now how each attack works after that depends on the officer you chose. Some officers have you swiping the screen to annihilate enemies and others have you tap your fingers across the back touchpad of the Vita, where you tap on the back, your officer attacks on screen.

Other new additions to DW Next is the new sudden encounter and duels. The sudden encounter can just happen upon you in the middle of battle. You’ll take a first-person view and try to either chop arrows out of the air as they are fired by archers at you, to taking out soldiers on horseback as they try to ride you down and many others. Duels have been in DW games for a long time but now you’ll use touch controls to to take down the opposing officer. As a interesting of an idea this was, the execution is not as great and it just ends up feeling like a very poor man’s Infinity Blade. Some duels quickly become an annoyance as you wait for the AI to stop spamming guard break, to the point when you win a duel it feels like luck and not skill.

Tons of items and weapons are present as always, also ranking up with experience points you get for victories and playing online earn you clothing items for customizing your own officer in Edit mode. Along with Campaign and Edit mode are Coalition, Conquest and Gala modes.

Conquest mode can be played over wi-fi or 3G as you battle solo or competitively to take control of all the present regions. You’ll take turns moving your armies and heading onto the different battlefields of the region. With each win you come closer and closer to unifying the region under your officer’s rule.

Coalition mode may only be played ad-hoc. You choose a barrack (lobby) for you and your friends, join and then play co-op on maps made specifically for Coalition mode. Coalition mode also allows you to revive fallen players until your revive count is zero.

There are still countless hours of sword-slashing gameplay in Dynasty Warriors Next.  The cutscenes are gorgeous, the combat sprites are just as beautiful as ever and the combat remains identical. If you’re a fan of the Dynasty Warrior Franchise, Next is everything you’d expect from a Dynasty Warrior game.