Whoever put the terms Dynasty Warriors and Advance together either had a sick sense of
humor, or wasn't paying attention at all.
Don't they know that the Koei and Omega Force-conceived hack-and-slash series that has gained quite
the cult following never changes?
It's a franchise that has beaten the search and destroy horse to the grave and back.
But dammit, I can't get over it.
Even though Nintendo published this combination piece movement and beat-em-up featuring a
slew of Chinese generals from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era, the consummate
Dynasty Warriors fan knows that Nintendo probably had very little to do with it and probably
only published it because they were out of Pokemon or Final Fantasy rehash deals.
So here we are with this barely and probably unnecessarily tactical version of the semi-beloved
Dynasty Warriors series.
What stands out the most?
I'd have to say it's the super deformed character sprites that will make fans of Lu Bu and Zhang
Fei go “aww, look at the cute widdle generals and their toothpick weapons!”
Kind of like any Puzzle Fighter game where the characters look like toddlers.
The cuteness, however, gives way to the familiar weapon-based action on which the Dynasty Warriors
series builds its foundation.
It's much of the same: regular attacks, musou and charge attacks, special abilities, but
dammit if I can't jump up and pound the ground, stunning an entire battalion of Yellow Turbans.
Unfortunately, the turn-based, boardgame-like structure of Dynasty Warriors Advance takes
away from what the second up until modern-day versions have to offer.
Instead of going up against the entire army or at the very least a group of two hundred
soldiers all at once, DW Advance feeds you small bite by small bite, as you attack groups
of archers, swordsmen, and go face to face with generals of the Wei, Wu, or Shu.
The quicker you wipe out your opponents, the better of a result you will get.
A Triumph is achieved when you win the battle before the clock on the top right runs out,
as opposed to a regular victory when the numbers are red, or worse, a Close Call when the clock
has run out completely and is colored purple.
The element that I love most about Dynasty Warriors that goes beyond gameplay is the
driving heavy metal soundtrack.
Of course, you aren't playing on a DVD disc and instead are on a GBA cart, but I still
say the unification of China is best achieved with better musical production.
Let me tell you something folks.
Even though Dynasty Warriors is poorly received by most, those people are missing the point.
Anyone who seriously tries to look for something deeper than contrived dialogue or repetitive,
button-mashing action is seriously delusional.
If you think anything is gonna change, forget about it.
Koei knows what their fans want, and as long as those loyal consumers keep buying up the
next title and the next title and the next title, nothing needs to be changed.
So, if you are one of those fans, give Dynasty Warriors Advance a try.
You'll definitely appreciate cute sprite animations, small groups of equally cute opponents to
fight, and the fact that Lu Bu is still the baddest mother**** in the entire history of
China.