Warriors Orochi 4 Reviews
Omega Force touts a fresh story, new mechanics, and a massive cast of characters but this is yet another Warriors title that succumbs to the series' repetitive hack 'n' slash formula despite signs of passion from its developers.
Sometimes a game comes along that completely splits your opinion in two. Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate is one of those games for me. It is the latest instalment in the Warriors Orochi crossover series; which fuses together the worlds and characters of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. I have always had a “love or hate” relationship with these games, as such I can see both sides of the argument. I’ve enjoyed time with some titles from this genre over the years but I’ve never really fallen hard for one. There’s a couple of things that really turn me off about this game. Firstly, it’s an almost perfect example of an adolescent power fantasy. I’m aware that many popular titles incorporate this theme and as a player, a part of us wants to live this fantasy (we’ve all taken to the streets of GTA with mayhem in mind), but Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate’s sole purpose is this yearning for power and destruction.
It is so difficult to recommend Warriors Orochi 4 right now when the series has made a name for itself through re-released games with added story content, characters and modes. Why would this title be any different? The main story is an enjoyable enough ride for hack and slash fans, but that's really all there is to it (unless you have an online subscription and want to battle with friends). Just wait for the inevitable ultimate edition in a year's time.
Only the hardest of hardcore Warriors fans should even look at this title. Otherwise, there’s better games of this type from the exact same people.
Warriors Orochi 4 is a disappointingly cheap sequel. Stripped back and basic, it feels like a quick and easy apology aimed at fans who were left disgruntled by the dire Dynasty Warriors 9. There's still enjoyment to be found here, with the series' trademark action holding strong, but poor presentation and unstable performance drag the experience down. Koei Tecmo really needs to get its Warriors games back on track, but until that happens, you're better off nabbing the far superior Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate.
There's so much potential with Warriors Orochi 4; unfortunately, the latest installment misses the mark on so many of the shots that it takes.
There's too much packed into Warriors Orochi 4 making it an over-complicated mess. It's fun at first, but you'll lose interest as the challenge wanes and you get burdened with micromanagement.
Perhaps the largest issue with Warriors Orochi 4 on Nintendo Switch is that it is on the Switch. With both Fire Emblem Warriors and Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition available on the console, choosing a lesser version of the game with less recognisable characters isn’t realistic. If you want a good hack-and-slash game then there are already two here, this just doesn’t come close.
Warriors Orochi 4 captures some of the nostalgic magic that’s made the Musou games a fun button mashing romp. But the game is painfully safe – doing very little that feels new or exciting.
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate chooses quantity over quality. While it includes tons of characters, the bland level and mission design lose their allure far too quickly, which is a shame. With a little more care and tweaks to mechanics, it could have been a strong entry in the series.
Warriors Orochi 4 suffers from lots of problems and issues, and if you are not familiar with the series, think twice before going for it, as there are far better options available on the market. But for the hardcore fans of the genre, Warriors Orochi 4 can be entertaining, especially for those who doesn’t like the open world setting of Dynasty Warriors 9
Review in Persian | Read full review
The story is take it or leave it and Warriors Orochi 4 isn't too welcoming to newcomers in general. If you are a fan of the Orochi games and have a need for this on the go, I guess the Nintendo Switch is the only way you can go. However, in every other instance, there would be other versions of the same game I would recommend more.
Warriors Orochi 4 doesn't do much to advance the Orochi spin-off, but it does bring a return to the old formula, something fans will no doubt enjoy after Dynasty Warriors 9‘s misstep.
Warriors Orochi 4 is not a particularly bad game, but it does feel like it's trying its best to innovate on a tired formula, but those new additions might not be enough. Compounded with finicky menus and performance issues, it leaves the game leaving a little bit more to be desired than what it offers currently. And no, that doesn't mean they should add more characters.
It's not for everyone, but Warriors Orochi 4's multitudinous hordes can be pleasurable to sweep through, despite the game feeling by-the-numbers in many ways. This is simply more, and while fans might be able to forgive the bland presentation, we'd wager that non-devotees would have a much better time with the Zelda or Fire Emblem spin-offs – with the characters, settings and accoutrement you know and love helping to temper the monotony when you're not quite ‘in the zone'.
If you enjoy the Warriors franchise this is a fantastic experience and a joy to get sucked into "just one more battle" but despite its new features it still feels stale.
It's a step in the right direction after Dynasty Warriors 9, but still needs a lot of work to match up to some of the other great titles in the series.
Mixes bland enemies and environments with spectacular bosses, playable characters and effects. Repetitive and sometimes a chore but the story is worth SOME of it.
More than 160 characters, standard arenas, and thousands of enemies to mow away: Warriors Orochi 4 remains faithful to the musou formula, but it's too easy and excessively repetitive.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Warriors Orochi 4 is a solid addition to the long history of the Warriors franchises, with more punch than you can shake a bo staff at. Fans of the series will find a lot to sink their teeth into and more than just a little bit to enjoy, but newcomers may have a hard time investing into the series especially after repeated recruitment missions kill the flow of the narrative. Even considering that, it's hard not to feel that a lot of corners have been cut with even some of the most simplistic bugs (such as looping sound at a held button) still making their presence apparent repeatedly in the final version. While flashy animations feel like the newest generation of gaming, the entire system still feels as if it were built on a console from the early 2000s. Fun comes first in this installment of the Warriors franchise titan, but it still feels as if the series is recovering from the blows laden at the feet of Dynasty Warriors 9.