Dynasty Warrior 4

[The Man in Blak 0]

Damn. Where's Dutch when you need him?

[dutchse.cx 0]

Hi.

[Guest T®ITEC]

The book is called Romance of Three Kingdoms, and has been around since the Ming dynasty. You can buy it on Amazon. Or, you can flip through the encyclopedia portion of DW4 to get the basic story.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

There's a free online translation. Just google "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

[Guest T®ITEC]

Oh, right, I forgot about that one. Well, here it is. I'm just used to my paperback copy, which seems to be more detailed than that translation. But maybe "detailed" means "long-winded". Dunno.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, available here:

 

http://www.threekingdoms.com

 

And no, Tritec, Lu Bu's ironic personality change is not depicted within Empires at all.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Well, I was beaten to it.

[Guest T®ITEC]

Well, colour me disappointed. I enjoyed that idea so very much. But I guess that's just me; willing to disregard a man's entire life until his dying day, which I revel in.

 

Let's just say that my heart is broken.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

They really should extend the extra storylines for Dynasty Warriors 5, whenever it is released (if it is ever released), such as the death of Zhang Fei & Guan Yu. Liu Bei went APESHIT when this happend in history and blindly charged out several times with huge armies in an attempt to conquest Wu without listening to Zhuge Liang.

 

Of course, he had his ass whipped and his entire army was humiliated. It would be a great 'hard mission' for Shu, putting you in a situation where you are completely outplayed and need to find a way out of it.

[Guest T®ITEC]

That would be fantastic. I would like a little more in-game depiction of the events leading up to a battle. Musou mode got old kind of quickly for me, but.

 

There could just be so much more depth, as far as story. And there should be more heads displayed, y'know? Lately when I've been reading ROTK, it seems like Cao Cao's always getting someone's decapitated head. Let's see a little of that in the game.

 

...Or, not.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

The game needs more humiliation of various characters. I loved everything about that loser Ma Su in DW4...Sima Yi trapping him, then mocking him in another battle when he shows up as reinforcements. "Reinforcements?!?! Oh, it's just Ma Su." And Ma Su basically acted like a surly pussy. Wonderful.

 

I just read a chapter having to do with the Zhuge's invasion of Wei. Some famous Wei general has five famous sons, renowned in battle. 70 year old Zhao Yun leads the Shu vanguard, so the sons go to take him out. Zhao Yun wipes the floor with them, killing each and routing the Wei army. The dad cries for days about losing all of his children, then is part of a Wei counteroffensive. They encounter Zhao Yun, and he gives a quick speech saying how he has to go out and avenge his sons. In the translation I read, the duel took two lines: Famous general guy rides at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun stabs him in the face and famous general guy dies." That could make a great level, either as Grandpa Zhao Yun killing an entire family, or as Sima Yi watching and laughing at the whole thing.

[Guest T®ITEC]

"Grandpa Zhao Yun". I'm dying, esp. because of the "stabs him in the face part". That reminded me of Xiahou Dun losing his eyeball... which should also be in the game.

 

I mean, I know it's already there, but I liked the way it was in my translation. He bellowed out in pain, said something poetic, and ate his eye. Then he charged after the guy that did it and speared him in the face. Cao Xing fell dead off his horse. Everyone was watching in horror. That would be the best movie in the entire game.

[Guest Trivia247]

In a strange milestone, I of course am rerunnign each scerieo of each group, so at Hu Lao Gate I have defeated Lu Bu with Yuan Shao. he only had a level 8 sword but I manage to stick and move bob and weave because the Chinese Muhammid Ali. and down goes Lu Bu Down goes Lu Bu

[LaParkaMarka 0]

I mean, I know it's already there, but I liked the way it was in my translation. He bellowed out in pain, said something poetic, and ate his eye. Then he charged after the guy that did it and speared him in the face. Cao Xing fell dead off his horse. Everyone was watching in horror. That would be the best movie in the entire game.

That truly would be amazing. Didn't he have to pluck the arrow out of his head before eating it shishkabob-style? Man, Xiahou Dun is so great.

 

Man, if they added some of these scripted cut-scene events into the next version of Empires, I would be so happy. The only weak part is that the battles are all relatively similar since nothing unique or level-specific happens, like Sun Jian being caught behind enemy lines or Lu Bu's "daughter" trying to break through the lines to get reinforcements.

[Guest T®ITEC]

Yeah, he ripped the arrow out, and the eye came along with it. Dunno if that's what he was expecting, or what. Either way, you're right, he is freakin' great. One of my top favourites, aside from Zhang Liao.

 

Oh, and go Trivia. That's freakin' crazy. But I've never used Yuan Shao, for some reason... I'll always start out saying, "OK! I'm gonna play someone from Shu this time" or whatever; at the end of the night, I've got someone from Wei totally maxed out. I'm drawn to those guys or something.

 

I just hope the next version of Empires comes out for Xbox. I so want to play Zhang He's level in the first one.

[Guest Trivia247]

Ok, I just got DW Empires, and I guess that you Don't Have Bodyguards anymore right? And evidently can't find any items as easily as you did last time. Nor food for that matter.

 

think I maybe playing Dynasty Warrior 4 more then that.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

You do have body guards. If you have a look around, there will always be, somewhere, ten swordsmen following you around and fighting with you. However, like all body guards, they have trouble keeping up with some players/characters and they often wiped out accidentally by you, without you knowing, when you send other units flying and they crash into them.

 

Items are bought/traded depending on the provinces you own. Food spawns within strongholds and is left by all defeated enemy officers (not sub-officers, they usually drop enhancers like the battle ax and defense armour etc.).

[Guest Trivia247]

You also don't seem to keep any items you acquire and can't personally assign any items for long duration of time..

 

they appear and disappear...

 

and There isn't a convient save anymore only during actual battles and not during the planning stage of where to invade.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Items are "used up" for 5 turns if you use them once. Just so you don't run around with your Vorpal Orb level 4 and Tiger Amulet level 20 every battle. It forces you to use bizarro items and strange characters, which is quite cool.

 

UYI, that Liu Bei going apeshit on Wu stuff should totally be in game. I always thought a branching Musou based on victories or defeats would be cool...so maybe the old Ambush Guan Yu level you have to make sure he doesn't die against almost impossible odds. Then if he does die, it branches to the Liu Bei going crazy stuff. That would be pretty neat.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Absolutely. It would be a great front for developing a whole host of new strategic elements that could be implemented. While there is strategy present within both DW4 and Empires, it leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, the only really sneaky strategy I can think of for Empires is the 'cutting off' tatic that involves building a line of strongholds along the side of the battlefield and suddenly taking an enemy stronghold close to their main camp, thus slitting the throats of all their other establishments and sending their armies into panic mode.

 

Zhou Yu becoming erratic and gradually losing his mind thanks to the brilliance of Zhuge Liang would also be a very entertaining addition. Historically, Zhou Yu admired Zhuge Liang and was quite in awe of the man. However, since it is based on the novel, it would work in just fine.

 

I also dig the fact that Empires makes you use guys you don't usually. I've actually come to like Xiahou Yuan thanks to that game. I never, ever used him in DW4 because I thought he had the most painfully generic moveset. However, now the 'lock-on' is gone (thank Christ), he is much more versatile.

[Guest T®ITEC]

Xiahou Yuan? Seriously. I've played everyone in DW4 and I won't even touch the big dumb dolt. Uh, heh.

 

Oh, and I have a question. How are you supposed to get the lvl10 edit spear? Because I've read two or three different directions and neither worked. It has absolutely haunted me.

[Guest Trivia247]

Xiahou Yuan? Seriously. I've played everyone in DW4 and I won't even touch the big dumb dolt. Uh, heh.

 

Oh, and I have a question. How are you supposed to get the lvl10 edit spear? Because I've read two or three different directions and neither worked. It has absolutely haunted me.

the one guy I had trouble with is Huang ....

 

he moves so stiffly he is slow, his motion swinging the Mace is like two or three shots, his Grenades you can't quite aim them. And he starts with one item. Its taking forever to up him to make him decent enough to move past the Yellow Turbans.

[Guest T®ITEC]

Oh yeah. Huang Gai's on my bad list, too. Can't stand him at all. Still, he's better than Xu Zhu.

 

The best character, I think, is Zhou Tai. He's tall, but not too slow. Fantastic in duels, and just tears through crowds. I've won duels with him that were beyond my ability. He's even better than Xiao Qiao, whom I love.

 

Then there's Liu Bei. I got 1798 kills with him at Chang Ban on hard. For that, I will always love playing him.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

I actually like Huang Gai in Empires. His grenades never seem to work, but he hits quite hard and has a good square-square-triangle attack.

 

I didn't play as all the characters in DW4, so Empires really opens up your eyes to some of the characters. I like Taishi Ci a bunch now, same with Pang Tong. And SSX! All the characters are interesting to try, and Empires makes it so that your character usually isn't too overpowered.

 

I agree with UYI, tho, about the lack of strategy in the game. All you have to do is hit some specific chokepoint strongholds and you've pretty much won the map. I haven't had a lot of battles where I've really been on the defensive. I'm considered trying to beat the game with just a single officer...that could be tough.

 

Tritec: You really think Zhou Tai is better than Lu Bu?

[Guest Trivia247]

Some of these guys is just a Bitch to pump them up to even a 4th level weapon, much less the extra item slots. Zhang Jiao, the Qiao sisters, Pang Tong, Huang, Tasci are a few others are my problem children within my game.

[Guest T®ITEC]

Well, La Parka, I'm not sure. Lu Bu's fun to play but I really, really don't like him. I never did well in duels with Lu Bu, but that was a while ago... Hm. Now I'm not really sure. I just have more fun with Zhou Tai.

 

And I have really hit a wall with some characters, mostly Guan Yu and SSX. For some reason I can't get Tricky any higher than rank 5. I breezed right through with Xiao Qiao, but Da was a little harder. Taishi Ci bored me and I never even tried with him. I hated levelling Sima Yi for a long time... he had no defense.

 

Pang Tong is hard to level up. I don't even have his 2nd costume yet.

 

Both DW4 and Empires really need more strategy. If you play long enough everything gets mindless and boring. You have to make it hard on yourself... Play on hard with no items or anything. Eh, still...

[Use Your Illusion 0]

The only time I've ever been on the defensive is through playing as the Ma family in historical hard mode. The computer cheats its ass off, levelling up and recruiting officers at a ludicrous pace that couldn't be even remotely possible. I was stuck in Xi Liang's main camp for the entire fifteen minutes of battle until the enemy retreated from exhaustion. Barely made it.

 

Thank God for Ma Chao on horseback.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that calls SSX "Tricky".

 

Played as one of the Qiao's for the first time today. That was pretty fun...she has a bizarre moveset, but the idea of a little girl managing to capture or defeat Zhang Fei, Zhou Yu, Ma Chao, and Liu Bei in one battle is quite amusing. I think I'll send her by herself against the last area on the map. Maybe Ma Su if I can find him.

 

The thing with DW is, even if you make it hard, it's not hard in a good way...I mean, you just die by getting bounced around for a minute by some uber-general instead of killing him with a few combos.

 

Hmm...I bet the game would be a lot tougher without radar, and without handy-dandy "please help me!" messages from the other generals. Implement messengers or something, so you would get a message but it would be delayed. Plus you wouldn't know about officers respawning, using their abilities, etc, unless you're right there. Could be cool.

[Guest T®ITEC]

What else are you going to call her?

 

Xiao is freaking awesome. She's adorable and has a killer Musou. And there really isn't anything better than an eight-year-old girl taking down Wei's whole army in fifteen minutes. Da is the lesser of the two, I think, but that still makes her better than a lot of characters.

 

And you are right. I wish you could turn off that radar, at the least. Playing the way I suggested does suck, but it's... kind of a fun challenge? I don't know. Until the game is improved in and released, you kind of have to make it up on your own.

 

I guess you could always tape a piece of paper over your map and turn off the volume.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Well, I took Xiao Qiao and Ma Su and invaded the last map (the Ma familiy). It was pretty funny, Ma Su tried to take on Ma Chao and Ma Dai, and decided to run away. Then Ma Chao was all "I'm not letting you get away!" and chased after him to the side of the map. Very amusing. I had a good time ignoring Ma Su's desperate pleas for help.

 

Another fun series of messages:

You have won the duel!

Ma Chao has been defeated!

You have won the duel!

Ma Dai has been defeated.

Ma Su's unit is struggling.

I love useless Ma Su. Fleeing like a retard while a little girl outduels the other Ma boys. Xiao is pretty fun to play as...her charge attack with the massive fan barrage is quite good.

 

Oh, and if anyone hasn't done this, play as Meng Huo's 6th costume. No Grandpa Zhao Yun in the game, but it does have some kind of crazy half-naked Southeast-Asian Santa Claus.