Dynasty Warriors 5

Siliconera

Dynasty Warriors 5 fixes the [slowdown] problem by using a smoother game engine. Not only does the game look sharper, but slowdown is reduced to almost nil.

1UP

While ancient China seems forever destined to bust apart at the seams, and Koei seems forever destined to remind us of this, DW5 rejuvenates the series with a series of subtle changes that make it worth taking the plunge yet again.

Computer Games Magazine

What's truly satisfying is these games make history entertaining. [June 2005, p.90]

Play.tm

Any hardcore DW fan will be ecstatic to find another billion hours of gameplay to wade through.

GameCritics

The critic in me tells me this series needs to innovate, but as a gamer I'm once again completely satisfied by the experience. Defying conventional wisdom, Dynasty Warriors is unique in that the gameplay achieves a near perfect harmonious balanced and change would only upset that.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

With the fog finally pushed back to a manageable horizon and smooth gameplay, this is the version to get. [May 2005, p.134]

IGN

Just be warned that this is one long, long fight and even though the game may be epic it would be nicer if it was not quite such a gigantic tale to slowly read through.

PSM Magazine

After seven games in 4 1/2 years, we simply need more evolution in the next iteration. [May 2005, p.74]

GameZone

The game is no way lacking button mashing. If you have a little pent up anger, or are just tired of thinking and want to take a break from what’s going on around you, Dynasty Warriors 5 will be just what you’re looking for.

PALGN

Improves on its predecessors in the right ways, and removes a lot of the useless features. That said, the core gameplay is still the same, and may strike some as being either repetitive or milking a series to near death.

GameBiz

A good solid game, as it should be considering it’s the fifth in the series. Being released around the same time as "Tekken 5" though, it’s incredibly noticeable how one series can progress and develop new modes of gameplay, while another can simply try to release the same old.

games(TM)

There’s nothing here that would draw in gamers who can’t stand the genre, but if you do have a soft spot for mass slaughter, Dynasty Warriors 5 is as good a place to get your fix as any. [July 2005, p.116]

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

The action might draw fighting-game fans, but Dynasty Warriors has no real back-and-forth. [May 2005, p.89]

Game Informer

The Dynasty Warriors games are brain-dead fun, but each new title is no more or less fun than the one that cam before or the 30 that will come after. [May 2005, p.116]

My Gamer

For even a huge fan of the series like myself, you can't consider Dynasty Warriors 5 anything more than a letdown.

GamerFeed

Falls too often into the trap where it just feels like an add-on to the series, instead of a brave new sequel.

PSX Nation

The improved graphics make this the best-looking DW installment to date. Too bad the tweaks to the time-tested gameplay (smarter bodyguards, more balanced weaponry, etc.) and handful of new gameplay modes (Bridge Melee) are beginning to show more desperation than innovation or creativity.

GamePro

As the most challenging Dynasty Warriors to date, 5 is also the most satisfying - but with so little changes over the years this latest installment may feel like a rehash to most. [May 2005, p.96]

Cheat Code Central

While I admit this is undoubtedly the best version so far, it's far from original. It's built on the foundation of past games and smells suspiciously of a "best of."

GameSpot

Odds are you'll simply grow tired of grinding through the same battles yet again, with only a half-baked storyline to keep you interested. Ultimately, you're probably better off waiting until Koei announces the inevitable first Dynasty Warriors 5 spin-off, rather than picking up this game.

Play Magazine

There's still no significant camera control, and the fighting certainly still gets repetitive, but series fans probably won't mind one bit. [Apr 2005, p.61]

G4 TV

It is disappointing that only two people can play simultaneously, especially when so many other games feature online support. The camera is also far from perfect--you’ll routinely have your view blocked by troops--and enemy AI has evolved little from previous versions.

AceGamez

If you gave "Dynasty Warriors 4" to the average gamer and told him that it was Dynasty Warriors 5, I'm sure they wouldn't notice.

Pelaaja (Finland)

You simply can’t offer more of the same when being the fifth game in a long running series. Dynasty Warriors 5 actually manages to take few steps backwards when compared to Dynasty "Warriors 4: Empires," mainly by dropping the excellent Empire-game mode. The button mashing action is still fun, but after five games and their extended editions, you kind of hope for something new to spice up the series. [August 2005, p.70]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Add 20 to the score if you absolutely love this stuff. But for casual hack 'n' slash fans, DW5 is unremarkable, slightly lasy and a grave missed opportunity. Sorry. [PSM2]

Edge Magazine

Ironically, this series is unlikely to blossom until its popularity wanes and Koei stops being afraid to change it. [July 2005, p.95]

Eurogamer

The dictionary definition of the average hackandslasher. It's a brand well and truly stuck in a rut of its own making and deserves no more than average marks.

GameShark

Wait until next year when "Dynasty Warriors 6" comes out, buy Dynasty Warriors 5 then at the Greatest Hits price of $20, and then comfort yourself realizing that you’ll still be playing the same game the jokers who just shelled out another $50 for "Dynasty Warriors 6" are.

GameSpy

Those of you who haven't experienced Dynasty Warriors before are better off picking up a cheaper, older version for your introduction. Trust me: you won't be missing much.