Samurai Warriors: State of War

Gaming Age

The redeeming fact is that the game is always there to be had at a moment's notice while on the go. There's so much content that there's always some new officer to unlock or new ability to acquire even if the basic gameplay remains the same throughout.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

An excellent action-strategy fix for the "Dynasty" and "Samurai Warriors" fan. [Apr 2006, p.94]

Worth Playing

With a large cast of warriors and a diverting map system, character-building and charm-casting effectively replace storytelling to encourage continued combat, even if a slow-to-react camera and under-decorated environments make it a less-than-perfect execution of the huge-clashing-armies formula.

Gamer's Hell

KOEI will doubtlessly continue to pump out these hack-and-slash titles into the polluted genre pool, but it remains to be seen whether they will ever venture into clearer, deeper water or rather remain where they are now, which is treading water in the oddly yellow tinted shallow end.

GameBrink

Offers gamers plenty of hours of gameplay. From the realtively short Campaign mode to the vastness that is the Sub-quest section. If you felt you were disappointed with "Dynasty Warriors" then you can get your fix here. [JPN Import]

Deeko

While so much has been improved over DW, it's not all roses and sunshine. SW still suffers from some fundamental problems handed down from the game's lineage.

GamePro

Even with these few legacy issues and the limited multiplayer functions, Samurai Warriors: State of War is a far better game than its previous Dynasty Warriors PSP brethren, and worthy of checking out for your portable gaming hack-and-slash tactical strategy pleasure.

Games Radar (in-house)

State of War doesn't offer much variety in terms of gameplay, but it does offer up a fun hack-and-slash game that can be picked up and played for a few minutes or a few hours.

GameSpy

Solid as a means to satisfy most players' desire for combat. It's not too complex, but the strategy of moving across the board requires just a bit of thought and enough combat skill that you'll actually lose more than a few fights.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

Tasty comat and fresh tactics system make this a rare beast indeed: a Samurai Warriors game that surprises and excites. [Apr 2006, p.100]

Game Informer

With the game's core of boring combat, however, these latest tactical additions aren't enough to make the game's transformation from a lump of coal to a diamond complete. [May 2006, p.111]

GameZone

Despite the intriguing strategy segments, its repetitive battles and very limited game modes might not win over any new fans.

GameSpot

State of War makes a couple of marked improvements to Koei's first PSP Warriors game, but the action remains just as tedious as ever.

Gamers Europe

Overall this game can’t really decide whether it’s strategy or arcade and consequently doesn’t really work as either, being too generic and limited as a fighting game and with not enough depth to be a really good turn-based strategy game.

Cheat Code Central

While the action is definitely fun you will experience too much of a good thing, and with such a lack of variety or depth you're bound to go out of your mind with the constant repetition.

Jolt Online Gaming UK

The concessions are noticeable enough to affect the game adversely, which means you’re only really going to consider buying this if you’re already a huge fan of the console games.

Eurogamer

While the gameplay is incredibly repetitive, the Strategy Phase introduces some depth and direction to the battles, breaking things into manageable chunks suited to gaming on the move.

DarkStation

Koei's less hectic hack and slasher brings PS2-standard gameplay to the small screens to the PSP, but hampered by the inadequate camera and drab graphics.

Modojo

Its new strategic elements and slightly cleaned up issues make it worth at least a look to the curious or the hack-n-slash fans. But those looking for a fully invested turn into the action scene may be a bit disappointed by the shortcomings at hand here, especially in the multiplayer.

PSW Magazine UK

If this wasn't a portable game it would get very dull, quickly. But it is, and developer Koei has taken advantage of that by producing a game that's very good at providing short, sharp bouts of mindless carnage.

PSM Magazine

State of War is still, at best, a mindless beat 'em up game, and it doesn't take very long at all before the repetitive missions lose their novelty. [Jun 2006, p.84]

IGN

State of War chops up the action of the console games into bite-sized pieces that are great for travel, but the crippled strategy system has too much randomness to tie it all together.

GameShark

At the end of the day, State of War does do its best to provide some unique gameplay, but as is the case with these games from KOEI, the gameplay still remains a mostly acquired taste.

Play Magazine

I don't mean to be Captain Bringdown, but even the thought of slaughtering hundreds of people using the same attack over and over again is losing its luster. [May 2006, p.59]

RewiredMind

A missed opportunity. Dynasty Warriors was a poor attempt at a launch title, and whilst this second title in the Warriors series is a fair bit better, it still leaves a great deal to be desired.

GameBiz

The poor A.I. and tired looking graphics are inexcusable. The addition of Multiplayer modes, while a nice addition to the series, wasn't enough to save this game.

PALGN

Any advancements made in terms of the games strategy phase, and improving the frame rate, have been negated by the appalling draw distance, the poor AI and resulting disappointing gameplay.

Digital Entertainment News

Repeating the same button-mashing gameplay of old and offering just about no other gametypes beyond ad hoc multiplayer, Samurai Warriors: State of War offers nothing new to the player to warrant any amount of time with the title.

G4 TV

The other issue introduced into the game thanks to the PSP hardware is a downright horrible camera.

AceGamez

Unfortunately, State of War is only in a state of war with itself and fails to battle convincingly with my time.