Genre: Action
Publisher: Koei
Developer: Koei
Release Date: September 13, 2005

tl;dr: This is the same game as the PS2 version, but it's prettier.

Now that we've appeased the short attention span segment of the readership, let's move on.

The appearance of Dynasty Warriors 5 for the Xbox at E3 was a big surprise; Koei, like so many other Japanese developers, seemed uninterested in working with the hardware. So the presence of DW5 in not just PS2-perfect but admirably enhanced form for the Xbox is a very pleasant surprise indeed. Xbox owners who've never given the series a try will probably want to pick this one up, and folks who bought the PS2 version last year will probably end up wanting to trade that old version in toward this one.

Like all the other Dynasty Warriors games, DW5 is a loose adaptation of the ancient pseudo-historical Chinese epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. And by "loose", I mean that the wizards figure prominently into battles and you can play as a hot Chinese girl in a mini-skirt if you like. Virtually all of the historical figures from the novel have received some kind of anime-flavored design in that vein, although the story is still decently populated with dignified, bearded old guys to balance out the pretty boys and ladies in slinky evening gowns.

Each of the 48 characters has their own story mode to play through, and then can be used to play any battle level in Free Mode. You can also play some mini-game style optional modes like Rampage Mode, where you run around killing as many guys as you can, and Time Attack mode, where you try to clear a level with the best time possible. Nothing new has been added for the Xbox version, and even the game controls are basically unchanged. You tap one button to attack, another to jump, another for your special, and move around with the left analog stick. Keep tapping buttons until you've killing hundreds of opponents. It's simple and fun, which is probably why Koei is able to sell a new Dynasty Warriors game every year.

What's interesting about the Xbox version of DW5 is just how much bigger and more vibrant the battlefield levels are. A lot of much-needed detail has been added to the buildings and terrain, and the battle-maps are now crammed with nearly twice as many soldiers and bases to seize. I also think I've spotted some entirely new enemy types, as I don't recall being assault by generic combat wizard troops in the PS2 game. The jaggy texture graphics of the PS2 version have been replaced with smoother, richer textures that really bring out the complexity of the fabrics and weapons on the character designs. Lighting effects have been dramatically enhanced, making the giant laser show that is the special attack ("Musou") look all the more impressive. I probably sound like I'm harping on this, but for a game that's as reliant on eye candy as DW5, this is a big deal. The game is simply more fun to look at, which makes slogging through the many battles you'll have to fight to unlock all the characters and weapons a much more attractive prospect.

The bizarre yet catchy heavy metal soundtrack and English voice acting have been retained basically unchanged from the PS2 game. Voice acting for DW games is infamously cheesy, and you'll definitely get a chuckle out of the melodramatic performances. However, unlike the PS2 version, the Xbox game gives you a Japanese voice option with subtitles. Since much of the point of the DW series from the Japanese end of production is to stuff the cast with big-name voice actors, this option is a very welcome bonus. If you get tired of one set of voices, you can listen to the other, or just compare to the two to see which you like better. This is really a feature that should've been in the PS2 release, so it's good to see Koei finally giving it to us on Xbox.

If there's any fault to be found with DW5 so far, it's that it is so identical to the PS2 version, on top of how little changes from game to game in the DW series already. Someone who's already thoroughly conquered the PS2 version and isn't a diehard fan probably won't be much interested in doing pretty much the same things over again. Given the Xbox's strengths, it also seems strange that Koei didn't add in any kind of online multiplayer mode or expanded officer-creation system. It gives the impression that this port is something of an afterthought, with the new features coming off of the cutting-room floor of the PS2 version.

Ultimately, Dynasty Warriors 5 will probably best enjoyed by Xbox die-hards who've been starved for Eastern-style gaming, or just a good mindless beat 'em up. While DW5 will scratch that itch well, it's also probably not a feeling an overwhelming amount of gamers are going to share. Most people are either sick of the DW series by now, or play every game the first week it's out. Unless Dynasty Warriors 5 significantly grows the franchise, then it's probably going to get overlooked by the crowd Koei usually caters to. Still, going to Xbox is exactly the way Koei needs to go if they're going to grow what has turned into their flagship franchise.