There are some changes for the better here, but this series continues to go to the well way too often.
The game also introduces a new Ambition mode, where you can build a city from scratch and build an army under your character. It's nice to see Tecmo Koei try something new here, though, again, you'll have to sift through hours upon hours of combat to get there. In other words, grinding – and a LOT of it.
Visually, DW8 does have some minor changes, but the general engine is the same, with hundreds of guys appearing on screen and falling to your blade. Some of the lighting effects are great, but the game still shows its age with slowdown. This is especially true on the 360, where it grinds so much to a halt that you begin to wonder if something's wrong with your system. Relax – it's just the game.
While I admire Tecmo Koei's small but sufficient attempts to make the series something remarkable, the fact it leans too heavily on the "let's do this a thousand times" mantra ultimately keeps it from reaching success. Fans will want to download Dynasty Warriors 8 – the PS3 version ONLY, I can't recommend the broken 360 one – if they can't get enough of mercilessly executing thousands of soldiers, alone or with a friend. However, if it's something unique you want here, well, it is the umpteenth Dynasty Warriors game.
Score: 6.5 / 10
