Dynasty Warriors 6

The definitive hack-and-slasher is back, and this sixth iteration marks the first proper next-gen version of the seminal Dynasty Warriors. Set in feudal China, most of your favourite characters return, along with the much-loved, often atrocious voice-acting, and the awesomely anachronistic rawk soundtrack. Each character now has a new costume and, in some cases, a new weapon. This adds some much-needed variety to proceedings, as do some other new gameplay dynamics. Bases are now more important than ever, the kill count has been significantly increased, and allies can actually defeat enemy generals now, rather than flounder about the battlefield moaning for help before being inevitably routed. The addition of attack extending tomes, an RPG-lite Skill Tree and a new Renbu attack meter increases the ferocity and force of your strikes, boosting the satisfaction gained from slaughtering entire opposing armies with the mash of two buttons.

While these additions may not be a ground-breaking change in the way the game is played, they certainly add a refreshing twist to the traditional Warriors gameplay. It's not perfect though: the increased power of the consoles means there are a hell of a lot more models on screen than ever before, leading to occasional framerate issues and 'What's going on?' moments as you struggle to see through the swarm of literally hundreds of soldiers crowding the screen. No amount of fresh touches will eliminate, or disguise, the numerous imperfections found within, and the fact remains that this is classic Dynasty Warriors. Much like Marmite, you'll either love it or hate it, and you'll know which camp you're in by now. If it's the former, you'll find this to be an immensely satisfying slice of button-mashing action. If it's the latter, that's a shame, because you'll be missing out on a genuinely thrilling, if repetitive, experience. [Michael Slevin]