Pros:
-Carries through with traditional Dynasty Warriors storytelling and absurdity of battle
-Character development stands along the lines of normal Dynasty Warriors normality
-Graphics are beautiful, which compliments the RTS style rather well
-Synchro Gauge moves are amazing and a delight to use

Cons:
-Battlefield tutorials can be hard to play for beginners
-Dialogue can be too much at once, and can be tedious to the players.
-Almost all combat scenes immediately beg to be skipped over

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If you’ve ever played a Dynasty Warrior game, you already know about their absurd approach to story telling of real life events. You’re familiar with how well they also attempt to stay as historically accurate as possible. You would also know this is a series that is unwavering in its use of traditional gameplay mechanics. It’s a series that is rife with the ability to decimate entire armies with the use of two buttons. It is also one that emphasized on you working as part of a team in order to decimate your enemies.

Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers changes this mechanic and moves away from the rather fluid-like combat we’d all been used to. Instead, this new title takes us on a RTS style adventure, which will seem rather familiar to fans of games such as Fire Emblem or Advance Wars. The story is told through both an esteemed warrior Zhao Yun and his pal Lei Bin. This duo just happens to be accidental when they awaken an ancient God whom gives him (Lei Bin) the power to influence the minds of others and the ability to control them in battle. This, however, is not an accurate telling of the true real-life events, but instead is a rather unique telling of the game going from an action game to a turn-based strategy title.

If that is something that could be seen as a disgruntlement, I wouldn’t let it stop you from experiencing the title, if that’s something you like. Dynasty Warriors has done this before as a series, but not as a Warriors title thanks to Koei Tecmo’s other series – Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This game delves into those roots and follows forth quite well in doing so, however, it isn’t as hardcore as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but instead sits right in line with Fire Emblem, and will welcome those familiar with the series.

While it is fun in the other titles to sprint across China as a dedicated leader such as Cao Cao, Lu Bu, and even Zhao Yu. While that is something you may be quite used to of this franchise, which is a relief to some, with the release of Dynasty Warriors: Godseeker. Instead, now, you spend your time going through controlling the game with grids to complete each task, and fully move forward. As you do, you’ll find yourself seeing generals both come and go throughout the course of the game. You will see much of your experience focus around both Zhao Yun and Lei Bin, but also the God they awoke.

For fans who don’t mind this change, the game did a fine job of bringing the series to a main title, which is nice mainlining this as a title, and even bringing this game to the way it should be. Each character, as you would expect, and makes the movesets as natural as possible when selecting attacks. Thanks to Synchro and Musou, players can also move through the title as expected, and means you’ll find your way picking and choosing your battles. If you have a rather large queue of enemies infront of you; or entire armies; it’s best to use attacks to disperse entire crowds of enemies. However, a memorization of even character may help understanding each characters attacks, and understand the dinstances covered by each attack as key to higher-level play in the game.

This is something that reverberates through Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers, which follows quite well in other games, such as the Fire Emblem games, and many of the characters will use this similar grid. If you don’t throughout the game, it is extremely important to watch each characters formations, abilities, and movements. This will allow you to suitably position to take out an optimal amount of enemies as possible, but also setting up the most optimal way to keep your team alive. These damage bonuses that can be executed, are awarded handsomely, and will allow players to execute synchro attacks and musou attacks in order to devastate enemy forces.

While planning carefully could lead to entire enemies being devastated in one simple going. Of course that’s one of those that will also make enough ruckus that you could feel like you’re going Super Saiyan in real life. Just don’t burn yourself with special affects. While the game does push narrative to the front, it’s a game that does wish players to become emotionally invested with their characters, and unfortunately, it just won’t happen due to the need for players to pay attention to detail.

You’ll also, unfortunately, find yourself growing rather bored due to the fact you’ll need to watch your enemies and allies take their turns. While the ever-so-handy fast-forward button will get abused, but you will also find yourself annoyed with having to do this ever-so-constantly. It’d honestly have been a better practice to allow players choosing whether or not they wanted to see this happen at fast-speed movement instead of teleported enemies.

While combat is this games primary focus, you’ll find yourself sifting through an insane amount of dialogue, all of which is in Chinese unless you read the subtitles. While long-time fans of the franchise won’t be bothered by this, it’ll be rather tedious for anyone who is not, and they will find themselves growing enamored by this rather quickly. Veterans on the other hand; not so much.

While the game’s battles do offer a high point to the title, the idea that this is becoming one for fans to be invested in, will wear off rather quickly, but this isn’t a bad game. It’s a game that is seemingly aimed at drawing in fans of Fire Emblem among other games of the type. While you would expect Goodseekers to hold the depth of its competitor series, don’t expect it, as it does come up short in turn.

Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers – PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Cost: $59.99 | $39.99
Release Date: January 31st, 2017

While the game can be mildly entertaining, you’d find yourself scratching your head wondering why this game wasn’t made as a hack and slasher, or even a adventure game much like Assassin’s Creed. While that’s a lot to ask, it’d been interesting, and enjoyable for those wanting a console experience. However, God Seekers felt right at home on the PlayStation Vita, and operated great the way it did. It felt more at home on the hand-held device. While this game is one I found difficult to play, it’s a game that will fill that craving for a strategy game, and will keep you busy for hours to come. For now, however? I’ll probably stick with the Vita version to keep my cravings at bay.

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