Samurai Warriors 2: Empires

by Koei

Product Features

• Five new Game Modes - Besides the main Story and Free modes, you can try modes like Vault & Survival
• 26 playable characters in all -- including 10 new warriors ready for battle, including the legendary Musashi Miyamoto, the unifier of Japan Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the enigmatic ninja Kotaro Fuma
• Forbidden secret techniques for each warrior are revealed - Set traps, summon ninja decoys, link Charge attacks and for the first time power up to three Musou gauges!
• Castle warfare blends seamlessly with field combat - Take control of castles on the battlefield to gain a significant morale advantage
• Experience new tales in Story, Free, and Survival modes

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000MAFXTG
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches ; 6.1 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: February 27, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,056 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Samurai Warriors 2: Empires brings back tactical action with a new look! Long before the twilight of the samurai, Japan was ruled by powerful leaders hungry to unite the land under one banner. The samurai and ninja who defended their land and honor became legends. In Samurai Warriors 2: Empires, you'll live out their incredible stories. Team up with friends for Two-player Co-op play or compete with them at Sugoroku, a bonus party game for up to 4 players Challenge an opponent in two-player Vs. play exclusively through Xbox Live Over 70 cinematic sequences and new Music from fusion artist Minoru Mukaiya

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Koei adds strategy to a stagnant franchise, March 6, 2007

By 

Richard O. Hicks "bboypr" (Pennsylvanina, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Samurai Warriors 2: Empires (Video Game)

KOEI is back with yet another Dynasty/Samurai Warrior hackenslash game. This genre is now infamous for its simplistic run around aimlessly killing dumb soldiers until you reach a slightly more difficult to defeat general. The franchise hasn't changed much over the past few years. This is both good and bad. From year to year we are subjected to sequels which are more along the lines of touch up packages. A few added characters, a few added features, and just barely updated graphics. However, recently with there new "Empires" series they seem to be hoping to add an element of strategy to a franchise that as of late has been becoming quite stale.

The game has 2 modes of play. The usual "free" mode which is essentially the pickup and play mode where you select a section of the map then pick your generals and lieutenants (up to 3 of each) then go to battle. Then there's "empire" mode where you become a Japanese feudal lord. You are assigned a fief and from here it is your job to expand your territory. The fun part is that how you do it is up to you. You can use force, diplomacy or trickery as you build your army recruiting new generals, lieutenants, and boosting your number of troops.

During battle you can order your soldiers to protect a base, attack individual bases or generals, and defend another general or even yourself. The best part about this game is that your generals now level up with you and are no longer the sissy's whining for help that they were in the other games. On one occasion my round ended while I was off fighting a rival general my troops had already captured the main camp. Keep in mind that your opponents are no longer slouches either. You'll have to work a little to defeat them as the strength of the characters and AI has been revamped slightly. Formations are used in a rock paper scissors fashion. When they are employed they give you a stat boost however the army using the stronger formation is the only one to receive it.

The game does a good job making you feel like you are in charge of a powerful army. You can trade with China or Western nations; tax the people, train your generals and lieutenants, there are so many options as far as what you can do it would take forever to name them all.
So in summing up this game, SW2 Empires is still an upgrade package. Don't be fooled. It does however improve vastly with a strategy element and AI. So here's a comparison list so that you can make the decision

PROS:
- essentially still running off of the Dynasty warriors engine
- create a character feature
- added strategy element
- slightly tougher AI, your army now fights for themselves
CONS:
- essentially still running off of the Dynasty warriors engine
- not much variety in the battlefield maps
- slightly tougher AI, you may have a little difficulty fighting your opponents in the beginning

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Samurai Warriors to its best!!, April 2, 2007

By 

Robert Blount - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Samurai Warriors 2: Empires (Video Game)

I'm a big fan of the Dynasty Warriors series ever since my cousins introduced me to Romance of the 3 Kingdoms on nintendo and Dynasty Warriors 2. I love strategy games as well as some basic hack and slash games myself. Samurai Warriors actually was the first of the series to actually add some strategy to its basic hack and slash (Dynasty Warriors had pretty much none). Then they came out with the Empires series. I love this game. I love the fact that battles have to be fought with battle bases rather than just defeat the leader. I also love the fact that I can play with any of the minor Generals as well as create my own. I like the History lesson involved in this game. The game itself is still a basic hack and slash but with better elements such as setting up ambushes, winning over other generals in battle, taking particular bases that have certain effects working for you, formations during battle that give you either a advantage or disadvantage depending on which formation you and your oppenent has, better computer allies, and tougher opponents. Those who get bored with hack and slash elements could miss some of the finer points in this game when it comes to strategy. I look forward to more of the series with new characters and even more strategy while keeping the graphics up to date.. The graphics portion of this game is slightly better than those before but overal it hasn't changed. The sound and voice overs have gotten better(I havent heard Okuni's yet, Her last voice over was horrible!!). This game is great! I think it just keeps getting better. I recomend buying this game to fans of the 3 kingdoms series and Dynasty series as well as someone who wants to try a new game where the every battle isn't predetermined because of its replayability. This is a great game for a time burner as well as trying to achieve total conquest.

This is the best game in the series so far. Lets see what they add next.

5.0 out of 5 stars SW Fun, November 10, 2011

By 

Pete - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Samurai Warriors 2: Empires (Video Game)

I love this game, worth every penny. I tweaked on this game for hours...staying up long nights to finish the game. The senerios are endless in empire mode. The game came ontime and quality of the disk was good, very few scratches.