SAMURAI WARRIORS 4 DX
Last updated: 2025-05-10
- Satisfying combat, authentic Warriors experience with all DLC.
- Extensive character customization options for personalized gameplay.
- Mindless fun and stress relief in Sengoku period setting.
- Well-executed PC port with good performance.
- Missing language options, inferior to previous entries.
- Dated graphics, high price, and game-breaking Oda bug.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 79% · Negative 21%. Score: 21 / 100
Positives:
- The game delivers satisfying, fast-paced combat with strategic depth, allowing players to feel like a one-person army mowing down hordes of enemies. The core gameplay loop is enjoyable and exhilarating, with satisfying feedback and a mix of button-mashing fun and strategic elements. Many reviewers consider it one of the best Musou experiences.
- The game maintains the classic Warriors formula while balancing elements of newer and older titles. It is considered a solid and authentic Warriors experience, better than some recent entries in the Dynasty Warriors series.
- Samurai Warriors 4 DX includes all previously released DLC content, offering a generous amount of content and modes. This complete package provides good value, especially for newcomers or those returning to the series after a long time.
- The game features extensive character customization options, including a create-a-character mode with a unique storyline. Each character has unique skills, handling, and gameplay, maintaining freshness and replayability. The Chronicle mode enhances this by allowing custom characters to interact with historical figures.
- The PC port is well-executed, with good performance and graphics, and is considered one of the best Musou PC ports. It runs well on Steam Deck and includes features like keyboard and mouse support and the A/B button swap.
Negatives:
- The game lacks language options, most notably Chinese, which is a significant drawback for many players. Additionally, the absence of English voice acting detracts from the experience for some, making it harder to follow the story. This is especially problematic given the game's focus on narrative and character relationships.
- Reviewers felt that this game was inferior to previous entries in the series, such as Samurai Warriors 4 and Dynasty Warriors 8. Criticisms include a downsized character roster, less interesting maps, a more arcade-like feel, and a less engaging story with homogenized character arcs.
- Many reviewers noted that the game's dated graphics and limited settings options reflect its age. The high price point is also a concern, considering the game's older visuals and gameplay.
- The game's story is criticized for being rushed, nonsensical, and lacking emotional depth. Reviewers also found the mission structure monotonous and the character selection in story mode limited.
- A game-breaking bug occurs at the end of the Oda Nobunaga campaign, causing a black screen and preventing further progression. This issue prevents players from completing the game and unlocking subsequent stages.
Gameplay:
- The game employs classic Musou-style gameplay, emphasizing hack-and-slash combat against large groups of enemies. It retains familiar mechanics like character progression, weapon enhancements, and special attacks, with some reviews noting that it doesn't introduce significant innovations to the Warriors formula.
- The game is set in Japan's Sengoku period and features a story mode divided into 'Legends' or clan-based campaigns, often focusing on the Sanada clan. The narrative covers events from Nobunaga's rise to the Siege of Osaka Castle, with some overlap between different versions or DLC.
- The game incorporates battlefield tactics such as morale levels, flag bearers, and troop commands, but some reviewers find these elements heavily scripted, reducing strategic depth. The core action gameplay remains largely unchanged from previous entries.
- The game features a dual character system, allowing players to switch between two characters on the battlefield, with the AI controlling the other. This system is intended to reduce repetitive gameplay and travel time, and supports both single-player and multiplayer modes.
- The game includes multiple game modes, such as Story Mode, Free Mode, and Chronicle Mode, offering different ways to experience the game. Chronicle Mode allows players to create custom characters and complete officer biographies, but some find it repetitive.
Performance:
- The game generally runs well on PC, Steam Deck, and ROG Ally, with many users reporting stable performance at 60 FPS even on high settings. Some users specifically praise the optimization, noting that the game doesn't require significant GPU usage to maintain 4K resolution at 60 FPS.
- The game has some resolution and refresh rate limitations, including a 60 FPS cap and initial resolution setting issues. Some users have reported workarounds, such as restarting the game to unlock higher resolutions, but others have experienced display issues or difficulty configuring the desired resolution.
- The PC port is based on the PS4 version, with similar system requirements to Warriors Orochi 4. The graphics are similar to the PS4 version, with only slightly improved resolution, reflections, and shadows.
- Some reviewers have noted strange lighting, particularly on character faces, which appears pasted on and unnatural. This issue seems to persist despite patches that addressed other initial porting problems.
- The game experiences constant freezes on almost all stages when playing in cooperative mode. This makes the game unplayable in cooperative mode.
Recommendations:
- Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale due to the game's age, high price, or the availability of better options. Some find the full price acceptable given the included DLC and content, while others feel it's overpriced, especially for newcomers or those without nostalgia for the series.
- The game is highly recommended, especially for existing fans of the Warriors/Musou series. Reviewers praise its fun combat, engaging gameplay, and the amount of content it offers. Some consider it the best in the series or a must-have for fans.
- Several reviewers compare this title to others in the series, often recommending it as a good starting point or highlighting specific installments (like Samurai Warriors 4 or Spirit of Sanada) as superior. Some suggest this game over newer entries like SW5 or DW9.
- Some reviewers express a desire for more older titles to be ported to PC, emphasizing the importance of preserving these games and making them accessible to new audiences. They appreciate surprise releases and hope for continued support for the series on PC.
- One reviewer recommends the game for those interested in Japanese history as a warm-up for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Another suggests playing this instead of Ghost of Tsushima, which they strongly dislike. These are niche comparisons.
Miscellaneous:
- Samurai Warriors 4 DX is a comprehensive edition of SW4, bundling all previously released DLC, including cosmetic items, music, armor parts and some new stages. However, content from Samurai Warriors 4-2 is excluded from this compilation.
- The game is a port of a 10-year-old title originally released on PS3, later upgraded for PS4. This information provides context for the game's graphics and gameplay, which may feel dated to some players.
- The game takes historical liberties, featuring embellished character designs and a loose interpretation of historical events. While not strictly accurate, it provides a general sense of the historical period.
- Information on unlocking DLC weapons is subtly mentioned in the web manual on the official website. This lack of clear in-game guidance may frustrate players seeking to acquire these items.
- Some players are experiencing issues with 4K resolution, and the initial fix of restarting the game is not working for them. This technical issue detracts from the visual experience for affected players.
