PixlBit

Have you ever wanted to hack and slash apart hundreds of enemies all at once? How about alongside a friend? That's exactly what Koei-Tecmo offers up to players in their latest Warriors title, Samurai Warriors 3. Though this particular entry doesn't provide a drastically different experience than what has been made available in the past, players will have a strong set of objectives throughout each of the levels to make for a more directed and smooth flowing experience.

As a continuation of a larger sub-series of titles, Samurai Warriors 3 offers up more stories loosely based on the Sengoku era of Japan. Of the game's 37 playable characters, 30 have a unique story and corresponding quest, providing for an unbelievable amount of content. Furthermore, players can level up each individual character to fifty, extending the quest even further beyond its standard boundaries.

Samurai Warriors 3 puts an interesting spin on the RPG leveling system; not only do higher levels provide for better stats, but they also unlock a variety of different combos, allowing players to more effectively dispense foes. I found this to be particularly interesting given the subject matter of the game. In most similar titles, players have become accustomed to simply pounding on the same button to win. Here, players must take use of the available combos or they'll find themselves being overcome by the hundreds of relentless foes.

Varying the controls also makes for a more engaging experience, which is absolutely critical given the shallow substance of the game as a whole. Players do little more than take on a nearly-unmanageable number of enemies in waves, which are usually bolstered by an impressive boss-like enemy that has a different look, an expanded set of moves, and a higher level of strength and health, making them tougher to defeat.

While mostly similar, Samurai Warriors 3 is separated from its predecessors by the structure of the levels within the game. Each mission is broken up into action points for players, which typically involve defeating a particular enemy, saving a friendly NPC on the map, or reaching a particular location. In past games, players would be dropped in a huge battlefield and forced to find their enemies and destroy them quickly and efficiently. With well-defined missions, players can make their way through the level with little to distract them outside of the constant onslaught of foes.

As enemies are defeated, they will randomly drop brand new weapons or gems, which can be used to upgrade existing weaponry at the blacksmith. It's not uncommon for players to pick-up weaponry they already possess, though these new drops tend to offer different associated effects, sometimes drastically differing the new weapon from the one already in inventory.

What's interesting, is that Samurai Warriors 3 often challenges players beyond their current ability set which will occasionally result in failure for a given quest. The concept is similar to what's found in the Dead Rising series. While death returns players to the beginning of the level, all drops and levels collected while in the mission will stick with the player, making their next foray into the level a more successful one thanks to the upgraded stats and abilities.

For those who are easily frustrated by the occasionally overwhelming difficulty, co-operative play really makes the game itself more accessible and enjoyable. All co-op missions in the main story mode place players at different points on the map, and given the differing abilities of each character in the game, both players will have to make their way through the level differently. While traversing the landscape, players will often cross paths and work together for much of the mission.

Co-op mode is particularly nice here because it's both available locally and online, meaning all parties are accounted for. Hack 'n' slash games like this are almost a natural evolution of the classic 2D beat 'em up, making them perfect for two players. Being able to play together in the same room is a fantastic option given that it seems to be excised from more and more games these days. Playing in this capacity changes the dynamic, encouraging open communication and teamwork. It's undoubted that the game would've been lacking without any sort of co-operative ability.

Players can opt to play any of the game's modes in this capacity, not just the main story mode. The game also offers a History Mode which offers a more accurate recounting of the historical events that are covered more extraordinarily within the game. Aside from History Mode, players can take on the Mystery of Murasame Castle, which is loosely based on Nintendo's Nazo no Murasame Jo - a Famicom Disk System game, released only in Japan. Regardless of the mode, the game's objectives and gameplay are consistent.

Herein lies the one major downfall of Samurai Warriors 3. While the game is enjoyable, it does grow tedious over time given the unchanging, similar gameplay that spans all facets of the game. Most players will probably enjoy the hack 'n' slash gameplay for a while, but eventually it will wear thin. People's affinity for the game will undoubtedly stem from how long they can tolerate the unchanging gameplay.

There are also some other minor complaints regarding the controls. While players can use any controller compatible with the Wii, orienting and moving the camera can be a bit frustrating regardless of the controller in use. For some reason, moving the camera just doesn't seem to work right when using either the Classic or GameCube Controller and there don't appear to be any options to turn camera inversion off. Aside from camera issues, the game's challenge level can occasionally produce frustration, but as mentioned earlier, experience points and weaponry persist, limiting the frustration.

If hack 'n' slash gameplay is your thing, you'll be right at home with Samurai Warriors 3, especially with the inclusion of online and local co-op. Those who enjoy that type of gameplay in small doses should probably investigate renting the title, as their enjoyment will be limited.