Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tactical action offers more customization, weak graphics.
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Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires
What's It About?
Koei Tecmo's DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 EMPIRES is a third-person tactical action-adventure that revolves around fighting to gain control over ancient China. Along with creating your own unique character, you can assume the role of 83 warriors, including many fan favorites from previous games. Playable on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as a digital download for PlayStation 3 and Windows PC, this latest game includes new features such as deep customization (fighters, horses, banners, and armies), the ability to import characters from previous saves, battlefields that evolve with environmental changes, and a "custom scenario" mode that lets you tweak virtually every detail in the world.
Is It Any Good?
Though this is not quite a mainstream game in the western world -- mainly because of its historical premise and heavy tactics -- fans of the series likely will appreciate Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires for its many customization options, such as an unprecedented number of warriors to choose from, dozens of battlefields, and the return of the awesome Empire mode. Here, gamers can choose from one of many unique roles, warfare methodology, and locations to fight through. Not that it's a bad thing, but the core gameplay hasn't changed much over the years. You'll hack-'n'-slash your way through armies, swapping weapons and utilizing combo attacks for extra damage, along with conquering bases, claiming territory, and defending your land against relentless intruders. Along with the action, there's some diplomatic decisions to be made. Players have a Risk-like map of territories to conquer and stats to wade through, if you like.
Improved this time around are the "stratagems" load-out before battles, where you can equip yourself with life-saving special attacks and self-healing abilities, summon new officers, change the weather, and more. Unfortunately, the visuals aren't breathtaking; the graphics are simply OK on next-generation consoles, and the awkward English voice-overs likely will cause you to roll your eyes every so often. Worse, there's no online multiplayer. Although it delivers more of the same as previous installments, Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires adds a ton of customization and other features for fans of this franchise.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in games such as Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires. Is the violence justified because it mirrors history? Since ancient Chinese battles were well-documented, could it be argued there's some pretext here for these battles, or is it plain wrong to present war as entertainment?
Talk about strategy. Is it better to charge into battle or diplomatically negotiate conflicts? Are there moments when one of these options is stronger than the other?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : KOEI
- Release date : March 16, 2015
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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