• Review: Warriors Orochi 3 (360)

    by
    Emily "Darkcamllama" Hatcher
    Published on 05-30-2012 09:29 PM
    0 Comments Comments


    Warrior's Orochi 3

    Developer: Omega Force
    Publisher: Tecmo-Koei
    Platform: Xbox 360
    Genre: Action, Hack and Slash
    Rating: Teen
    Release Date: March 27th, 2012

    Presentation
    Warriors from ancient China and Japan must come together once more to protect the world. Orochi has been defeated, yet now a fierce hydra threatens to devour the world. Many great warriors and heroes have already fallen, yet thanks to the mysterious Kaguya, our heroes are able to travel back in time in order to save their allies and change the course of the future in order to defeat the hydra. Along the way, they must discover the truth about the horrible creature’s origin, along with who truly masterminds Earth’s destruction.

    Graphics
    Though the graphics are smooth and flow well, there lingers a subpar feel to the overall graphical look. Some levels are incredibly dark. Even after cranking up the brightness, I found myself using the map to find my way around. The character artwork, copied straight from the other Dynasty/Samurai Warriors games, is also darker than versions on the PS3. The text also presents a problem. Even on higher definition televisions, the game’s text is almost too small. Set against the backdrop of an almost constantly flowing scenery, reading text while in battle is a distracting annoyance. The HUD clutters up a good portion of the screen in a very unflattering fashion.

    Sound/Music
    All of the spoken dialogue for the game remains in Japanese. While the authenticity remains, the lack of any English dialogue is a bit disappointing. Given the size of the cast, however, it’s not entirely surprising that Tecmo-Koei decided to opt out of having to supply an English track for the substantial amount of dialogue. Having to read unstoppable conversations in the heat of battle is distracting. Some speech has no subtitles at all, leaving those with no understanding of the Japanese language to guess at what is being said. Much of the game’s audio has been recycled from previous games; music has been remixed and the same sounds for weapons clashes and the vocals for peons. Overall the music is largely forgettable and later blurs together.

    Gameplay
    Little has changed for this hack and slash series. Combos are executed with a variation of two buttons, and a powerful attack is unleashed with a third. One of the small tweaks added is the ability to instant switch characters during battle, allowing for the player to maintain a destructive, uninterrupted assault on the oncoming enemy forces if timed correctly. Despite having three characters to select from, if one unit falls in battle, you’ll receive a game over rather than be allowed to continue with only two characters. As characters level up, more combos become available to use during combat, but little else changes aside from weapons. Weapons are given a base power level, but through infusion can become more lethal on the battlefield. Stats such as an attack bonus or elemental property can level up the more you keep combining with weapons of with the same traits.

    The game revolves around time travel and what events could be altered. Certain generals may die in battle, yet if you obtain the right characters, you may be able to travel back in time and change the past. This opens up the range of battlefields with different objectives, and saving generals adds to the multitude of soldiers to battle with. Any soldiers added to your ranks will be set to level one. Late in the game this makes the unit practically useless against the stronger foes, however throughout the course of the game points are automatically saved up. Using these points can level up your soldiers. How many unlockable characters are there? Tecmo-Koei has gone all out and placed over 120 characters on the roster. Naturally only a few are playable at first, but that list quickly grows through progression.

    Lasting Appeal
    The game features over 120 characters. Each characters has their own unique weapons to obtain, gallery art and costumes to unlock, and bonds with other officers to max out. This certainly gives the game a long lifespan for dedicated players. However, much of these tasks will become tedious. Using the online Musou mode, players can create their own battlefields, customizing their favorite fights into hellish warzones or very simple one on one duels. The longevity of Warriors Orochi 3 lies in the player’s ability to put it down and come back to it a few months later to continue the drudge of unlocking/mastering all there is for each general.

    Conclusion
    That game has its flaws, the largest being that it can become repetitive quickly. The text and Japanese language can also deter players, but because levels will be replayed often they won’t miss out on many story details. It is fun to mix and match teams, but finding a niche with some units can easily cause you to limit yourself. Aside from early in the game there is never any real reason to swap characters once you find a favorite. It’s great that the creators of the game wanted to include all the fan favorites, and even those that aren’t as popular, but I can’t help but feel that sometimes more is not always a good thing.

    SCORE
    6.5/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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