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''Dynasty Warriors'' ( 真・三國無双:'''''Shin Sangokumusou''''' in ; literally meaning "Real Three Kingdoms Hit and Miss/Unrivalled") is a series of Video Game s created by Koei based loosely around the '' Romance Of The Three Kingdoms '' epic, and is a spinoff series of another Koei game ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' ('' Sangokushi '' in Japan ). A spin-off of ''Dynasty Warriors'' is '' Dynasty Tactics ''. GAMES IN THE SERIES The games in this series (in chronological release order) are as follows:
GAME CHARACTERISTICS The first game was a , Nu Wa and Fu Xi , that are not playable in Musou Mode. Both ''Dynasty Warriors 3'' and ''Dynasty Warriors 5'' have individual Musou Modes for each character. ''Dynasty Warriors 4'' has a single Musou Mode for an entire Kingdom. For example, all characters aligned with Wu play through Wu's Musou Mode. This allows for characters to be interchangeable during level breaks. The stages themselves follow a Third-person beat-em-up format, where the camera is behind the player as they engage the enemy forces, while avoiding both the player's own death and one or more other loss scenarios (usually involving the death of the player's own superior, the loss of a critical ally or fortification, or the escape of an enemy leader). Unlike the more realistic Sangokushi series, the playable characters in ''Dynasty Warriors'' have superhuman abilities and can send enemy soldiers flying through the air with a single swipe from his or her weapon, if not killing them instantly. Certain generals can fire magical projectiles from their hands or pound the ground to create massive shockwaves. Thus, it is possible for one general to kill hundreds of enemy soldiers and defeat their commander without the aid of any AI controlled allies. The order of events in a full (Musou) game for ''Dynasty Warriors 3'' and ''4'' is as follows, with possible variations in order: # Put down the Yellow Turban Rebellion . # End the Dong Zhuo insurrection. # Defeat various 'other' warlords of the time period (i.e. not Wu , Shu or Wei , however, this varies depending on the Kingdom - may include Liu Zhang, Liu Biao, Xhang Xiu or others). # Defeat one of the other three kingdoms. # Defeat the last remaining other kingdom. Missions on smaller maps are intertwined between the levels, most often between the defeat of the second kingdom and the defeat of the third kingdom. Each of the main three kingdoms has additional levels that deal mainly with internal problems, or with small skirmish-like battles between kingdoms. Since Dong Zhuo , Yuan Shao , Lü Bu , Zhu Rong , Zhang Jiao and Meng Huo are all defeated in Romance Of The Three Kingdoms , and Diao Chan leaves the arena of war and politics shortly after Dong Zhuo's downfall, their Musou Modes do not follow the book nor history and are pure fiction. ''Dynasty Warriors 5'' introduced a relatively more realistic Musou mode. Instead of fighting in the above set of events, most of the generals will only participate in battles they would have been alive for. Because of this, generals start off at different points in time and some generals will never encounter one another. In between stages are drama scenes in which the general will discuss the battles and their feelings on what is happening. This has given the game more of a personal view as well as kept the player up to date with what has happened in the story. ''Dynasty Warriors 5'' also deviates from the goal of taking over China. Not all characters are interested in the conquest and a general's Musou mode may end just after their kingdom is established instead of after the last kingdom is defeated. However, Cao Cao , Liu Bei and Sun Jian 's Musou modes still vary from history. Although the characters die in other generals' Musou modes, if you choose them as the playable character, the gameplay would deviate from the original story and they would continue to participate in events taking place after their deaths. Due to the space restraints of the Gameboy Advance cartridge, ''Dynasty Warriors Advance'' only has 13 playable characters. The battle system has been reduced to basic moves and a power-up system added. The weapon system has also been overhauled with over 200 weapons. Each character can equip three different kinds of weapons adding for a unique experience. For instance, Zhen Ji can equip flutes, fans and swords while Sun Shang Xiang can equip a chakram, claws and maces. The maps are a tactical type system with characters moving between spots on the map in a turn-based manner while fighting real time battles on a small battle field. The plot is essentially the same however due to the limited number of maps and characters, several events have changed. For example, Sun Ce can show up at the battle of Yi Ling despite the fact he was dead before the battle was fought. Cao Cao is also present at the battle of Wu Zhang plains when again, he was long dead. Those characters who are not playable in ''Dynasty Warriors Advance'' but are in other ''Dynasty Warriors'' games are present as generic generals with their respective profile image. However, there are some generals such as Sun Quan, Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo who have unique sprites leading some fans to believe that there are more than 13 playable characters. Koei has not confirmed this. Dynasty Warriors DS will use the same battle system and sprites from Dynasty Warriors Advance however it will have 3D backgrounds and 100 sprites will be visible at once. The ''Dynasty Warriors'' series is known for both portraying some of the characters with personalities that are far-fetched and eccentric, such as Zhang He and Wei Yan , and for portraying others with characteristics that are quite consistent with the novel, such as Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo . Also, some generals wield weapons that are rather Anachronistic , such as Ling Tong's Nunchaku , Zhou Tai's Katana , and Sun Ce's Tonfas , or speak in an anachronistic manner. Additionally, characters that were non-combatants in the stories or in history are included in the battles, as demonstrated by the inclusion of all the female characters (except Zhu Rong , who fought in the novel with throwing knives). Finally, the issue of Mysticism is touched upon with laser beam-like powers possessed by Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi , the Tornados unleashed by Pang Tong, and the mystical powers of the recently added Wizard Zuo Ci. PLAYABLE CHARACTERS There are 48 playable characters as of the release of ''Dynasty Warriors 5'' (not including Nu Wa and Fu Xi ). Most of the characters were real figures from the era of the Three Kingdoms, although some half-fictional characters from the novel were also included in the roster such as Xing Cai and Zuo Ci. Minor female characters from history has been placed on the battlefield by Koei, although aside from Zhu Rong they never fought in any of the historical battles. The characters below have been sorted by the kingdom they were serving. Each character has an Ultimate Weapon, which is the best possible weapon he or she can get in the games. Additional weapons (5th or 11th depending on the game) are only available in ''Xtreme Legends''. Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends does not contain 5th weapons. Wei (魏) , father of Cao Pi , who became the strongest warlord after defeating Yuan Shao and established the basis for the Kingdom of Wei. Died of a neurological disease.]]
:Cao Cao is the first ruler of Wei. Although he doesn't lead the alliance against Dong Zhuo, the games state (correctly) that he was the one who organized it. Although he commands most of the earlier Wei battles, he does not normally command the later Wei battles due to his death. Cao Cao is an active commander, who often charges right into the action, most notably at Chang Ban and Tong Gate. He also on some occasions allows minor generals to command battles for a short period of time before he arrives, as in the battles of Chang Ban and Mt. Ding Jun. The only Wei commander whose accomplishments were comparable to his own was Sima Yi, who, in the Wei storyline of the games, effectively unifies China by leading Wei in their final battles against Wu and Shu. :Cao Cao fights with a longsword in the games. He utilizes quick, powerful strikes, and steps into his attacks, giving him range greater than the other longswordsmen in the game. Although he is more of an all-around character, these advantages combined with his lack of real drawbacks make him a solid, effective character. As an NPC he is an avid horseman, riding one in every battle except Chi Bi. :Notable Battles: Wan Castle, Chang Ban, Chi Bi, Tong Gate Cao Pi (曹丕) ''Introduced in Dynasty Warriors 5''
:Cao Pi debuted as a playable character in the fifth installment of the game, two games after he was stuck as a generic NPC while his first wife Zhen Luo (known as Zhen Ji in the game) became playable at the third installment. He's potrayed as an ambitious, ruthless prince of Wei, striving to surpass Cao Cao. Although he claims that he's not continuing his father's conquest, but starting one on his own, he greatly respects him. He wields dual edged swords and he can detach them any time he wants. :Unlike the history or novel, Cao Pi loved Zhen Ji genuinely until the end. He states that during her ending. :Notable Battles: Battle Of He Fei Castle (Wei Commander, Dynasty Warriors 5 only)
:A capable strategist and commander, Sima Yi was the warlord who completed the late Cao Cao's quest to unify China. He was somewhat of a rival to Zhuge Liang, and was the only general in Wei who could counter his military genious. His patient, "big picture" strategy can be seen in the games; He declares at the battle of Fan Castle (which he commands in Dynasty Warriors 3 only) that he is willing to sacrifice the castle to defeat Guan Yu, and during the battle of Wu Zhang Plains, Sima Yi remains isolated in a strong defense, despite the urge to rush into an offensive against the Shu army. However, the games include a taunt event which causes Sima Yi to become more aggressive and vulnerable (contrary to the novel, in which Sima Yi endured the taunts, resulting in eventual victory). The main difference between his and Cao Cao's style of command is their aggressiveness; Cao Cao is a much more active commander, making him both more valuable as an ally and more difficult to protect. Sima Yi, however, rarely leaves his headquarters unless a full-scale offensive is launched to finish off the enemy forces or all other Wei units have been destroyed. :Sima Yi, like Zhuge Liang, fights with a feather fan, which he controls by hand and telepathically. He uses other magic as well, in the form of laser-like energy beams. He is somewhat lacking in brute strength, but has immense power in his musou attacks. His attacks are rather slow and akward on a horse, so he is often on foot when an NPC. This makes him a poor character as far as speed is concerned, since his slow running can only be overcome by riding a horse and sacrificing much fighting ability. :Notable Battles: Fan Castle, Wu Zhang Plains
:Xiahou Dun wields a large scimitar and wears either an eyepatch or a strip of cloth (depending on the game) to cover his lost eye. He is quite popular, as his moveset is both fast and powerful. His main drawback, his slow running speed, is not too significant; if the player finds or equips a horse this problem can be eliminated, since he is an effective horse fighter. He is also considered one of the most 'badass' characters due to his not only surviving being shot in the eye, but actually ripping the eye out and eating it. However, in the games where this event occur (Dynasty Warriors 4 and 5), his speech upon pulling out the arrow is changed from referring to his parents to his willingness to sacrifice an eye for Cao Cao's dream. Xiahou Dun is normally not found in the later levels once Cao Cao is dead. :Xiahou Dun supervises the advance force that initiated the attack on Liu Bei at Chang Ban. He also chases Guan Yu down when he tried to leave Cao Cao's service, but Guan Yu escapes (or is caught and released, if the battle is played from the Wei side). :Notable battles: Chang Ban, Guan Yu's Escape
:Xiahou Yuan fights in most of the earlier Wei battles alongside Cao Cao, who is his cousin. Yuan is also the brother of Xiahou Dun, and in Dynasty Warriors 2 and 3, has a scimitar weapon like Dun. He does have many significant roles or cutscenes in the battles, with a notable exception being at Mt. Ding Jun, where he originally commands the Wei forces along with Zhang He. In the games' canon, Xiahou Yuan loses the battle and is killed. He has a unique death cutscene when this happens. :In the games where he uses a sword, his fighting style and scimitar are nearly identical to those of Huang Zhong. He is powerful character, but slow. :Notable Battles: Mt. Ding Jun (dies)
:Zhang Liao is a friend of Guan Yu, and uses the same type of weapon as him. Zhang Liao originally served as on officer of Lü Bu, and continues to do so during the Xtreme Legends musou modes (he even remains with him when he decides to betray Dong Zhuo). He is quick to take his service to Cao Cao, appearing in the games on his side as early as the battle of Guan Du. Zhang Liao is somewhat of an important strategist; when not at the front lines as a commander or a special mission executor, he fights very close to the battle commander. He is an experimental commander, under Xiahou Dun's supervision along with Xu Zhu at Chang Ban before Cao Cao arrives. He also leads a team that ambushes and assassinates the Wu general Taishi Ci at He Fei. :Zhang Liao's fighting style, unlike his weapon, is actually more similar to Lü Meng's than Guan Yu's. His polearm weapon gives him high range and good power, both on foot and on horseback. Zhang Liao is an all-around character, without significant strengths or weaknesses. :Notable Battles: Hu Lao Gate (notable because he has not yet joined Wei), Chang Ban, He Fei
:Dian Wei serves as Cao Cao's bodyguard, along with Xu Zhu, with whom he develops a friendship in the games. He appears in the Battle of Wan Castle, and in some games in the battle against Dong Zhuo. At Wan Castle, he holds off the enemies led by Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu while Cao Cao escapes. Unless the player is controlling him or controlling another Wei character and chooses to save him, he dies at Wan Castle. In Dynasty Warriors 3, some characters replace others of the same kingdom in later battles once their musou mode is cleared, presumably to give the player more chances to encounter characters who die early on. Dian Wei is one such character, replacing Xu Huang at Chang Ban, Xiahou Dun at Chi Bi and He Fei, Zhen Ji at the Wu Zhang Plains, and Zhang He at He Fei Castle. Once his musou mode is cleared, this cannot be undone (although the original NPCs will still be in their spots on free mode). :Dian Wei's fighting style is slow, but powerful. He also has limited range and slow speed, making him a poor choice for beginners. :Notable Battles: Wan Castle (dies)
:Xu Chu is one of the first characters in Koei 's video game series Dynasty Warriors , where he's referred as Xu Zhu (and that's how he's called in the other Koei games). In Dynasty Warriors, he is depicted as a great big fat man who has a mind quite equal to a child and mostly acts like one, although in battle, he's a fierce warrior. Many fans of Xu Chu are angry about this, seeing that he is in general potrayed as just a simple minded man. He wields a huge mace. He also develops a great friendship bond with Dian Wei and is deeply saddened with his death in the Battle of Wan Castle. Xu Zhu is an experimental commander at Chang Ban, along with Zhang Liao. He also has a significant role at Tong Gate, where he is a very tough officer who follows Cao Cao, making it difficult to attack him without first defeating Xu Zhu. :Xu Zhu is the slowest character in the games, but quite strong. His weapons also have good range and unique effects, allowing and even forcing the player to take on new strategies in defeating enemies. Some of his attacks knock down the enemy without sending them flying, leaving them right in front of Xu Zhu. Others knock enemies back much further than average, leaving Xu Zhu alone, which is a defensive asset but an offensive hindrance. His musou mode, instead of hitting enemies multiple times, sends them flying far, and in some games ends with Xu Zhu rather stupidly falling on the ground. These small differences can be exploited by players or enemies to great effect. Notable Battles: Chang Ban, Tong Gate
:Zhang He is depicted as a Narcissist who takes joy in aesthetically appealing things and has excessively effeminate mannerisms, with the frequent use of the words "beautiful" and "graceful". He is also prone to being posing during cutscenes, occasionally surrounded by a number of butterflies. His weapon of choice is a set of slashing claws called Phoenix Claw. His moveset consists of graceful flips and tumbles, quick slashes and rolling jumps. He originally fights on the side of Yuan Shao, doing so at the battle of Guan Du, but later joins Cao Cao. In Yuan Shao's musou mode in the Xtreme Legends games, he continues to fight alongside Yuan Shao until the end. His only significant role under Cao Cao was at Mt. Ding Jun, where he co-commands the Wei forces with Xiahou Yuan before Cao Cao arrives. Once Sima Yi becomes Wei's leader, Zhang He has more significant positions; he leads the offensive against Ma Su at Jie Ting, is a leading attacking general against Shu at Wu Zhang Plains, and co-commands the defenses of the Main South Gate at He Fei Castle with Xu Huang. This increase in position, also seen in the novel, is probably a result of Zhang He's tactical style. He excelled at taking advantage of opportunities and aggressively pursuing openings in battle; this skill was not so useful to Cao Cao, who had the same talent already, but the calculated and patient Sima Yi used Zhang He's skills to much greater effect. :Zhang He's primary advantage in the game is his somewhat unpredictable fighting style and his incredible mobility. He is likely the fastest character in the game, actually capable of catching up with generals fleeing on horseback when equipped with the right items. He is also easily one of the most entertaining generals in the game, as his cutscenes are marked with the aforementioned tendency to use "beautiful" and "graceful" as well as excessive posing. He has high attack power, good range, high attack speed and above average defense. Some of his moves, especially his musou attack, are ideal for hit-and-run situations, since they stun or hurt the enemy and allow Zhang He to dart away. On a horse, he has high mounted attack, very quick attacks with extended range, and a sweeping musou attack. Despite all of these strengths, Zhang He has no real weaknesses, making him one of the best characters in the game if used by someone with experience. :Because of his appearance and mannerisms, many casual gamers believe he is homosexual, though fans of the Dynasty Warriors series furiously counter that his portrayal is simply Koei's method of making Zhang He stand out among the other characters. Some say that Zhang He's Dynasty Warriors incarnation is based on Vega , a narcisstic claw-wielding character from Capcom 's main franchises, Street Fighter . Notable Battles: Guan Du (notable for his not being on Wei's side), Mt. Ding Jun, Jie Ting, He Fei Castle
:Xu Huang is a Wei general. He is notable in that he fights for justice and peace, unlike most Wei characters, who fight for conquest and/or loyalty to Cao Cao. He, like Zhang Liao, was a close friend of Guan Yu, and if the two meet each other at Fan Castle, a unique encounter cutscene can be seen. Also like Zhang Liao, he was close with Cao Cao as well. He leads the ambush against Ma Chao at Tong Gate, after failing to convince Cao Cao of the battle's injustice. He also assists the Wei forces at Fan Castle in repelling Guan Yu. Like Zhang He, Xu Huang is given great responsibility under the command of Sima Yi. He co-commands, with Zhang He, the defenses of the Main South Gate at He Fei Castle, and is a leading general at the Wu Zhang Plains as well. :Xu Huang's fighting style is quite effective. Although he has slow attack speed, his axes feature great range and high power. His sweeping attacks often go around in a complete circle, so it is difficult to sneak attack him from behind while he's attacking. He features a ground stomp move with high power, and his musou attack is fairly basic, involving him swing his axe around and around. He is quite effective on a horse, with high mounted attack and range. Notable Battles: Tong Gate, Fan Castle, He Fei Castle
: Cao Ren is unique in the Wei Kingdom for being the only officer concerned with 'peace' not conquest. His voice in cut scenes and interstials is often calm. It's interesting to note that his move sets and alternate costumes bear a striking resemblance to American football. Notable Battles: Fan Castle (Later games)
:Pang De was originally an officer under Ma Teng and Ma Chao before submitting to Cao Cao. Unlike Han Sui, he did not defect, but was forced to surrender and served Wei rather than be executed. He is a particularly difficult officer of Ma Chao's at the Battle of Tong Gate, along with Ma Dai before he joins Wei. He serves them dutifully, most notably at Fan Castle. :Pang De was designed wearing an armor similar to an European Knight. His weapon of choice is the weapon that belonged to Dian Wei in history and novel, dual halberds. He's a slow character, but packs serious damage, defense and crowd control. Since he was part of the Xi Liang cavalries alongside Ma Chao, he's also excellent in cavalry fighting. Notable Battles: Tong Gate (Not a Wei Officer), Fan Castle
:Lady Zhen appears as a playable character only named , she has a little more ruthless personality, perhaps to answer the ruthless personality of Cao Pi, who debuted in the said game. In the main sequence of games, she has no really significant roles, except that she is the default character who mentions suspicion of Zhou Fang's defection at You Ting (this position in the cutscene is variable, and can be filled by all characters except Sima Yi or Cao Cao, who ride alongside her). :Her storyline follows the actual history fairly close with some notable exceptions. Namely she actually participates in battles and campaigns. In the game, she also willingly abandons Yuan Shao's forces to join Wei. Also, the games offer a happier end to Lady Zhen's life with Cao Pi, suggesting he genuinely loves her and they live out their lives in happiness together. Notable Battles: Guan Du, You Ting Shu (蜀) , first ruler of the Kingdom of Shu, and the eldest sworn brother of Guan Yu (right) and Zhang Fei (left). Died of illness shortly after the defeat in Yi Ling .]]
:Liu Bei is the leader of the three brothers and the founder of Shu. He originally appeared as a less expensively-dressed man than either Sun Jian or Cao Cao, but as the game series progressed he has been featured in more illustrious outfits. He, like Sun Jian and Cao Cao, participates in the battles against the Yellow Turbans and Dong Zhuo, and many of the games recreate with a cutscene the dramatic duel between he and his oath brothers against Lü Bu. In the games, Liu Bei fights mainly against Cao Cao, with an exception of his own cousin Liu Zhang , who he battles for control of the region of Shu. However, his final battle is against Wu, not Wei, at Yi Ling. After swearing vengeance for Guan Yu, Liu Bei decides to destroy Wu, but fails and dies shortly afterwards. Since Liu Bei in the game dies in battle, and which battle he dies in depends on the character, there is not really a "specific" final battle for him in the game, but the battle that is closest to the novel's canon (and the one that occurs latest in the timeline) is Yi Ling. Liu Bei is also the only character in the game who can kill his own wife (Sun Shang Xiang) in musou mode; this is sometimes a requirement to obtain his final weapon. :Liu Bei fights with a fairly standard style with his longsword, but with slightly above average stats in basically all fields. Like Cao Cao and Sun Jian, Liu Bei is a good character for beginners, but continues to be an effective and reliable all-around fighter when used by more experienced players. he is also one of only three characters two have a special horse, the Hex Mark (the other two are Lü Bu and Guan Yu, who ride Red Hare). :Notable Battles: Chang Ban, Cheng Du, Yi Ling
:Guan Yu, one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu, is the oath brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, and as such is one of the first two generals to serve Liu Bei, fighting with him against the Yellow Turbans and the Dong Zhuo rebels. In the novel, he kills the mighty Hua Xiong, and this is sometimes recreated in the games. He is also portrayed in opening movies, game manuals and cutscenes as the rival of Lü Bu. Some games also recreate his and his brothers' duel with the great warrior. He is clearly emphasized in the game, being an especially large character who who announces rather than speaks, and with a pompous but courageous tone. :Guan Yu continues to be important until his death, having several important roles in battles. He serves Cao Cao shortly, and as an NPC can kill Yan Liang and Wen Chou instantly at the battle of Guan Du. If he encounters Liu Bei on the opposite side, he can also cause Liu Bei to pull out of the battle. While under Cao Cao's service, he develops friendships with the Wei generals Zhang Liao and Xu Huang. There is another battle involving his service of Cao Cao in which he escapes to rejoin his oath brothers and is pursued by several generals, always including Xiahou Dun. He also leads the Shu attack on Fan Castle, joined by his son Guan Ping, and their deaths are the basis for the battle of Yi Ling. :Guan Yu has a very no-nonsense fighting style. He uses broad sweeps and stabs of his large weapon, and his charge attacks mostly consist of spinning attacks. His musou is also simple; he simply moves forward while spinning around, swinging his weapon in a circle. His simple but effective style makes him a popular choice for beginners, and he is always selectable right at the beginning of the game. He is also one of three warlords (the others being Liu Bei and Lü Bu) who has a special horse, the Red Hare. :Notable Battles: Guan Du, Guan Yu's Escape, Fan Castle (dies, but often appears in later stages anyway)
:The impulsive, fearless and fiercely loyal Zhang Fei is the other of the three oath brothers consisting of himself, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei. He serves Liu Bei from the beginning of the games' events, fighting alongside him in the Yellow Turban battles and against Dong Zhuo, and his accomplishments earn him a place among the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. In the cutscenes that mimic the novel's duel between the three brothers and the seemingly unstoppable Lü Bu, he initiates the duel, despite being clearly no match for the terror-inspiring horseman. In the games, Zhang Fei is never given any significant strategic assignments like his oath brother Guan Yu, but he is always willing to face a much larger enemy force and not back down. He proves this at Chang Ban, where he single-handedly causes a large morale drop in the Wei forces by shouting a challenge on the Chang Ban bridge. This event is often required to get his final weapon. Throughout most of the other levels, however, Zhang Fei is simply a general who carries out orders, and doesn't have a large effect in the battle plans or events. However, his role in cutscenes where the dialogue depends on the character being used is sometimes quite comical. :Although he uses the spear set of weapons, as opposed to the heavier halberds, Zhang Fei's approach to fighting is strong and straight-forward, as is his musou. He uses standard bashing or slashing strikes, relying on his brute strength to kill enemies. The long range of his weapon and his great power make him a formidable horseman, making up for his slow speed. :Notable Battles: Hu Lao Gate, Chang Ban
:Zhao Yun is a young, energetic Shu General, and one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. He is also a sort of poster boy for the series; he is featured prominently on many of the games cover arts and instruction manuals, where he sets the example for players to follow the reading. His name is also the default record holder for most challenge mode events. He is one character whose appearance has changed over the series somewhat; in Dynasty Warriors 4, he was given an older, gruffer, more muscular look complete with slightly shabbier clothing. In Dynasty Warriors 5, however, this change was reverted. :Zhao Yun originally served Gongsun Zan, but was drawn toward Liu Bei's ideals and personality. He is a hero of the Battle of Chang Ban, where he saved Liu Bei's infant son from the clutches of Wei. Although this doesn't happen in the games, he is a prominent Shu general in that battle, and that is usually where his fourth weapon can be found. Afterwards, he has no roles of particular significance, but is present for almost every Shu battle. :Zhao Yun, like many Shu generals, wields a polearm weapon - namely, a light spear. Although he is not as strong as most of the other Tiger Generals, he has very quick attacks and runs fairly fast. His quick attacks can generate combos that are not easily interrupted, and he steps into his attacks, giving him considerable range. As is the case with most polearm users, Zhao Yun is good on a horse as well. He is lacking in defense, however, being smaller and frailer than some of his comrades. :Notable Battles: Chang Ban
: Initially introduced in Dynasty Warriors 2, Ma Chao remained a playable character throughout all subsequent sequels of the series. In some games, such as Dynasty Warriors 4, he had to be unlocked through a particular series of events such as a special duel, while in other games, namely Dynasty Warriors 5, Ma Chao is playable from the start. The games tend to portray him as a warrior with a strong sense of justice and a willingness to fight for it, leading to many loud speeches and announcements of his intentions. He is more independent than most characters, serving Liu Bei only because he was already in the process of fighting Wei. Ma Chao begins his role in the games as the commander of the Guan Zhong alliance against Cao Cao, whom he fights for revenge for his father and brother and also to defend his homeland. At his side are his cousin Ma Dai (who, along with Ma Chao, is not related to Ma Su or Ma Liang ), a strong ally Pang De, and a close friend Han Sui. Unfortunately, Han Sui has a friendly history with Cao Cao, and when Cao Cao attacks Tong Gate, where Ma Chao is camped, Han Sui defects, resulting in victory for Cao Cao and utter defeat for Pang De, who surrenders and joins the Wei forces. Ma Chao joins Shu and fights for them for the remainder of the game, earning the status of one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. :Ma Chao is a powerful warrior, with attack power around that of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He also has a rate of attack comparable to Zhao Yun, and has a higher ratio of mounted attack to total attack power than almost any other character. These characteristics give Ma Chao very high potential; however, his fighting style is somewhat hard to control without experience. It consists of arc swings and deep lunges with his spear, making him look like a fencer at times, and he moves his feet a lot, making his stances look choreographed. Once mastered, however, Ma Chao is one of the top tier characters in the game. :Notable Battles: Tong Gate
:Huang Zhong is the oldest officer in the series, including generic officers. The next oldest is his friend and long-time comrade Yan Yan, who, even in his sixties, is over a decade younger than Huang Zhong. Huang Zhong is energetic and determined, despite his age, although he mentions his aging often. His aging doesn't prevent him from becoming one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu, however. His most memorable battle is the Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, where he charges down the slopes and battles Xiahou Yuan. Although the outcome varies with what side the player is on, the game's canon has Xiahou Yuan slain at this battle, scoring a huge victory in Han Zhong for Shu. :Huang Zhong is more often than not seen with his bow and arrows in cutscenes, since his archery proficiency was somewhat legendary. However, his main weapon when actually fighting in game is a sword, nearly identical to that of Xiahou Yuan's. He has a fighting style very much like Xiahou Yuan's as well; it's simple and predictable, with a musou attack that involves just spinning around and slashing. Huang Zhong has a higher bow attack than any other character, but the rest of his stats are very average, despite his Tiger General status. A good choice for beginners, but with limited long-term potential. :Notable Battles: Mt. Ding Jun
:Wei Yan is a good example of the liberties Koei has taken in forming the characters' personalities. He is portrayed as a simple, tribal man, serving Shu in most of the later battles. He grunts single words, strung together with pauses in between to form sentences. It is never explicitly stated that he is mentally deficient, but that is the most common theory, with another being that he is simply like Fujin : a person who likes to express his emotions as briefly as possible. He has virtually no significant roles in the games. :Wei Yan fights with a double voulge, consisting of a single edged blade attached to each end of a pole. His attacks are quick and powerful, to make up for his slow running speed and poor defense, and his fighting style is unorthodox, involving a lot of body movement. He is somewhat unpredictable to use or fight against, but his movement and his uninhibited swings of his weapon make him a good choice for crowd control. His popularity has also been enhanced by the popularity of double-bladed staff-like weapons, which can be traced to the on-screen debut of Darth Maul . Notable Battles: None :-(
:Zhuge Liang is the Shu strategist and Prime Minister; in other Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, many of which are designed purely from a Shu standpoint, he is called the greatest strategist in China, but in the Dynasty Warriors games he has two tough competitors, Lu Xun, and the more significant Sima Yi. Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang, both of whom wield feather fans and use magic, have a sort of rivalry (although, considering that Sima Yi mentions Zhuge Liang much more than vice versa, this may be only a perceived rivalry in Sima Yi's mind). Their moveset is quite similar, their stats are comparable, and they face each other on the game's final battle, the battle of Wu Zhang Plains. However, Zhuge Liang's in-game personality is much more wise and pensive than Sima Yi's aggressive, harsh manner. This difference can be seen in the way they fight; Zhuge Liang fights with sweeping swipes, often with the flat of the fan, and his battle cry is barely a whisper. On the other hand, Sima Yi fights with quick slices, using the edge of the fan, and with a terse, staccato interjection. Even their musou attacks show this difference; Zhuge Liang floats mystically about, firing lasers, while Sima Yi stands still and blasts enemies out of his way in a much simpler manner. :Zhuge Liang serves Liu Bei from early on in the game, and orchestrates many of the Shu battles (and one mostly Wu battle, Chi Bi). He can be seen in many of the stages' introductory cutscenes, even when he does not actually participate in that battle. When Liu Bei dies, he gains control of Shu as Prime Minister and attempts to complete Liu Bei's goal of restoring the Han. He also takes on a young apprentice named Jiang Wei, also playable, who formerly served the Wei kingdom. Whether or not the two, along with the other Shu generals, are successful in defeating Wei depends on which side the user takes. :Zhuge Liang is a defensive, slow fighter. He performs poorly on a horse, but on the ground he is a solid, reliable character. He uses, as discussed above, a feather fan, controlled by his hand and Telekinesis to dispatch his foes. In his musou and some charge attacks, he uses powerful magic. :Notable Battles: Chi Bi, Wu Zhang Plains (also the strategist behind many other key battles)
:Pang Tong is a hunched, obscure wise man who is a friend of Zhuge Liang. He appears very little in the game, with only one important battle. He wears a heavy cloak, full-circle brimmed hat, and a mask to cover his mouth, making him appear very mysterious. Like the two great strategists in the gems, SIma Yi and Zhuge Liang, he wields the power of magic, especially in his musou attack. He is the leading strategist during Liu Bei's campaign against Liu Zhang , until he is ambushed and killed by the forces of Zhang Ren . Often this is preventable, albeit difficult. :Pang Tong, with staff in hand and low height, looks a little like an ape when he fights. He twists his body erratically and strikes enemies with his staff, while sometimes using magic in his charge attacks. In his musou attack, Pang Tong creates a tornado and continues to spin it for as long as he can, catching all enemies in range in his wake. This results in massive combos, since Pang Tong does not move around, but can also result in missing the target with no chance of getting in range. :Notable Battles: Cheng Du
:Jiang Wei, formerly a vassal of Wei, joined Shu in order to learn from the great strategist Zhuge Liang. He learned quickly, soon becoming on of the most important Shu generals, and even succeeding Zhuge Liang after his death (which is only sometimes referred to, depending on the game). His role in the games is small but important; he fights at Jie Ting against Zhang He and the others, and is second in importance only to Zhuge Liang at Wu Zhang Plains. :Jiang Wei fights with a spear with a trident-like blade. He fights a lot like Zhao Yun, having quick strikes and good running speed. He is not a particularly memorable character as far as fighting style goes. :Notable Battles: Tian Shui (Later games), Jie Ting, Wu Zhang Plains
:The commonly seen generic officer that was Guan Ping was finally given a unique model in Dynasty Warriors 5, where he is seen wielding a backhand sword of large size. He is the oldest son of Guan Yu, although he was adopted (the common family name "Guan" is a coincidence). He fights alongside his father in numerous battles, and defends him from the Wei forces when Guan Yu escapes Cao Cao s service (only he is only seen if the player is playing on Cao Cao's side). His most significant role is with his father at Fan Castle, where he assists in bringing about the flood attack. However, he is killed there by the Wu forces led by Lu Meng, along with his father. Notable Battles: Fan Castle (dies)
:Yue Ying, who originally debuted as a default Shu bodyguard in Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends, is the wife of Shu Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. She fights for Shu, although her role in battle is completely fictional. Her "housewife" demeanor, which some deem innappropriate for a general, has lead her to be criticized by some as being a forced character, for the sake of inserting a female character into Shu's ranks (since Shu was the only kingdom by Dynasty Warriors 3 not to have a female character). :Notable Battles:
:Xing Cai, daughter of Zhang Fei, is the second female character to enter Shu's selection. She wields a war fork and fights in the stead of her father after he is killed. Some criticize her addition, saying that her general attitude and mannerisms are Anachronistic and try too hard to break the stereotype of a submissive Chinese girl. Others praise her, saying that this contributes to the game, making her interesting and likeable. Although she, in the games, is obviously nothing like she ever was in the novel, her fans counter with other examples of unconventional characters, such as Zhang He and Xu Zhu. :Notable Battles: Wu (呉) , father of Sun Ce , Sun Quan and Sun Shang Xiang , who established the basis for the Kingdom of Wu. Stoned to death by Kuai Liang during the Assault of Jing.]]
:Sun Jian, both in the games and in real history, was the first of the three "original" leaders of what was or would become the Three Kingdoms to die. He dies during a battle with Liu Biao, crushed to death by stones. However, his army is large enough and his sons well known and well taught enough that they would go on to form the kingdom of Wu under Sun Ce's and Sun Quan's leadership. Sun Jian is portrayed as a charismatic, good-humored man with a courage that is not as outspoken as the courage of other characters. He fights alongside Liu Bei, Cao Cao, He Jin and the other Han forces against the Yellow Turbans, and then joins them all again against Dong Zhuo. In the battle (or battles, depending on the game) against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian takes the forefront, most often against Hua Xiong . His forces usually fall under danger, however, since Yuan Shu refuses to give him supplies. After Dong Zhuo is destroyed, the story in the game says (although there is no actual battle sequence showing this) that Yuan Shao's general Liu Biao (also a relative of Liu Bei) attacks Sun Jian because of his possession of the Imperial Seal. Sun Jian, vowing revenge, launches a surprise attack on Liu Biao, but is crushed in a rockslide attack by the combined efforts of Kuai Liang and Lü Gong . His son Sun Ce takes over the troops on the spot, defeating Liu Biao. :Sun Jian's fighting style is much like his son Sun Quan's style. He wields a longsword, like Cao Cao and Liu Bei, and is an all-around warrior with above-average stats. This makes him, like Cao Cao and Liu Bei, both a good choice for beginners and a solid, reliable character for those with more experience. :Notable Battles: Hu Lao Gate, Battles Against Liu Biao (dies) (battle known by various names throughout the series)
:Sun Ce is the light-hearted, good-humored son of Sun Jian who briefly is the leader of the Wu nation. He begins fighting for his father at the battles against Liu Biao (where his father will sometimes say "It would be your first battle", even though Sun Ce may fight other battles first in musou mode before the one against Liu Biao). If his father is killed, which is the case unless the player deliberately takes steps to prevent the rockslide, Sun Ce takes sommand of the Wu forces mid-battle and finishes Liu Biao. He then fends off attacks on the Wu territory from Yan Bai Hu , Wang Lang , and Liu Yong, who employed the mercenary Taishi Ci. Sun Ce defeats them, along with the help of Zhou Yu, his very close friend, and Taishi Ci, who defects to Sun Ce after his own or Liu Yong's defeat, depending on the game. Sun Ce dies shortly afterwards, although this is rarely shown in the games. In his own musou modes, he continues to live, taking the place of Sun Quan as head of the Wu army. Sun Ce has personal relationships with several Wu characters; he is the son of Sun Jian, the brother of Sun Quan and Sun Shang Xiang, the sworn brother of Zhou Yu, the husband of Da Qiao, and a close friend of Taishi Ci. :Sun Ce wields a pair of tonfa, one of the more exotic weapons of the game. As a martial artist, he fights with the tonfa, supplemented by kicks and Bodycheck -like rushing attacks. Sun Ce has a relatively unorthodox combat style, involving a lot of movement, but his musou attack is generally considered much less stylish. :Notable Battles: Battle with Liu Biao, Battle for Wu Territory (both known by varying names in the series)
:Sun Quan, though not a member of the original three rulers, is the main leader of the Wu kingdom. He personally commands nearly all of their battles starting with Chi Bi, including the final battles against Shu and Wu. Sun Quan takes over the leadership of the country after the death of his older brother, Sun Ce. He is much more serious and business-like than his father and brother. He relies on Zhou Yu and Lu Xun as strategists, resulting in canonical victories over Cao Cao at Chi Bi and Liu Bei at Yi Ling (although the outcome of these battles can vary). The games say that Sun Quan was hesitant to fight at Chi Bi, and considered surrender due to Zhou Yu's "fire attack" plan not showing signs of possible success because of the direction of the the wind. When Zhuge Liang arrivs to help, promising to reverse the direction of the winds, Sun Quan decides to resist Cao Cao. After Cao Cao is defeated, Sun Quan later attacks Wei at He Fei. There he is halted by Zhang Liao, who leads a team to assassinate Taishi Ci, resulting in his death (although the player can prevent this). Sun Quan then retreats and is pursued by Zhang Liao; if Zhang Liao is defeated, Gan Ning leads an ambush party against the Wei base camp and Sun Quan orders a full charge. If this happens in the stage, it becomes very difficult for Wei to win. Sun Quan goes on to lead other important battles at Yi Ling, You Ting, and He Fei Castle, but his personal involvement is usually not extraordinary. :Sun Quan fights with a longsword, like his father. His fighting style is that of a basic swordsman. He is very similar to his father, but has slightly lower stats. unlocking Sun Quan is sometimes difficult, involving triggering many events at He Fei. :Notable Battles: Chi Bi, He Fei
:Sun Shang Xiang (sometimes shortened in game to SunShangXiang for word space) is the daughter of Sun Jian and brother of Sun Quan and Sun Ce. Her role in the Dynasty Warriors games is small; she fights for Wu in the later battles, but rarely has any significant involvement. The one battle that she has even a semi-important role, You Ting, is sometimes not even included in her musou stages. Although it is rarely mentioned, she is the wife of Liu Bei, and is the only character who can kill her own husband in musou mode. In the Xtreme Legends games, she is portrayed, more so even than the other female characters, as a rival of Zhu Rong. :Sun Shang Xiang wields two chakrams in battle. She uses striking and spinning attacks along with kicks, and can throw her weapons a short distance in her musou attack and several charge attacks. She is a fast runner and a quick fighter, but lacks attack power and defense. The need to rely on quickness and technique makes her a slow killer. :Notable Battles: You Ting (barely notable)
:Zhou Yu is the first important Wu strategist. A close friend of Sun Ce, he helps him rid his land of attackers under the command of Yan Bai Hu , Wang Lang and Liu Yong, who fight along with Taishi Ci. They are soundly defeated, and Taishi Ci joins Wu. Zhou Yu greatest accomplishment in the games is the victory at Chi Bi, which he planned with a fire attack on Wei's ships. Although originally defeat seemed unavoidable due to the direction of the wind, causing Zhou Yu to become very sick, Zhuge Liang arrived and offered to help strategize, promising to reverse the direction of the wind. Zhou Yu sends Huang Gai to launch fire boats at Cao Cao's navy, which set it ablaze. Zhou Yu then orders a counterattack, forcing Cao Cao to flee. :Zhou Yu dies before the later battles, although this is generally not mentioned directly in the games. He is succeeded in the games by Lu Meng and Lu Xun (although in the novel and real history, he is first succeeded by Lu Su). :Zhou Yu fights with a long, slightly-curved sword. He is quick and defensively tough, but has below-average attack strength. His moves are simple, but somewhat unique among the games' swordsmen; his strikes are more whispy and swashbuckling than others, looking even a little artistic. :Notable Battles: Battle for the Wu Territory (known by varying names in the series), Chi Bi
:The young, boyish Lu Xun is the latest and most accomplished Wu strategist. He is portrayed as competitive with, but slightly inferior to, Zhuge Liang of Shu and Sima Yi of Wei as far as abilities of a strategist are concerned. He serves Wu from a very young age, frequently fighting alongside other young Wu generals as Gan Ning, L u Meng, and Sun Shang Xiang. After the death of Zhou Yu, the somewhat inexperienced Lu Meng becomes the main Wu strategist. Lu Xun and Lu meng has a good friendship, and often cooperate to devise battle tactics. Lu Xun begins his significant part in Wu history at the battle of Fan Castle, where he and Lu Meng devise a way to defeat Guan Yu and retake the Jing Province from Liu Bei and Shu. They ally with the commander at Fan Castle (Sima Yi or Cao Ren) and destroy Guan Yu, retaking the province, but also inciting the wrath of Shu. Lu Xun comes up with a plan to surprise the Shu forces and burn their camp, and is made the head strategist at the Battle of Yi Ling. Although the in-game battle results vary with the player's choice of character, the canonical outcome is a complete defeat for the larger Shu forces. :After Yi Ling, Lu Xun is made permanently Wu's head strategist, with the recommendation of the still living Lu Meng. Lu Xun first moves against Wei-controlled You Ting, telling Zhou Fang to fake defection to the Wei forces. The Wei army, suspicious of his motives, position him close to headquarters to keep an eye on him. The Wu forces surround Wei general Cao Xiu , telling Zhou Fang to switch back to Wu. His placement near the base camp of Wei cuts Cao Xiu off from the rest of Wei, resulting in an easy Wu victory. Lu Xun and SUn Quan then invade He Fei Castle, controlled by a smaller but determined Wei force. Whether or not Lu Xun's strategy and the size of the Wu army can overcome SIma Yi's brilliance and the more experienced Wei army depends on the player. :Lu Xun is also the main strategist of the fictional Wu battle against the Nanman (the real battle was with Shu against the Nanman). This battle occurs in various points on the timeline in various games. :Lu Xun fights with twin swords, using quick, short slashes. His musou is nothing special, involving him just slashing at the surrounding enemies. He is one of the more powerful characters overall, having slightly above attack power, slightly low defense, and very high speed and attack rate. He is easy to control and has a simple but very effective moveset. Since enemy generals' attack and defense are "normalized" to be close to a certain value, depending on the battle and difficulty settings, Lu Xun is a deadly enemy to the player, since his attack and defense will be as high as other generals but he will still be much quicker than the average officer. :Notable Battles: Fan Castle, Nanman Campaign, Yi Ling, He Fei Castle
:Huang Gai is a strong, loyal Wu general who serves Sun Jian from the beginning of the game, against the Yellow Turbans. He is not much more than an order executor, and fights in the earlier Wu battles before mostly disappearing from the game after the Battle of Chi Bi. His role in Romance Of The Three Kingdoms is much greater than his role in the games. He does get the spotlight at Chi Bi, however, when he is one of three men (the others being Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu) who together trigger a massive fire attack against the Wei forces, destroying their navy and reducing their army greatly. If Huang Gai is defeated at Chi Bi before this event, it can be prevented. Huang Gai fights with an iron rod. His later weapons are wider than his original rod, giving them an appearance more similar to a club than a rod. He fights simply and predictably, swinging his club around to beat his enemies to death. He has high defense and above average attack power, but very low speed. This, combined with his relatively dull fighting style, gives him the appearance of a simple, plodding fighter, and makes him an unpopular choice despite his average statistics. Notable Battles: Battle against Liu Biao (known by several names in the series), Chi Bi
:Lu Meng (whose proper spelling, looked over by KOEI, is Lü Meng) is one of the "younger generation" Wu generals, although he is older than most of them. He is portrayed as a loyal warrior with extraordinary determination who fights with an impersonal mindset, without developing any dangerous anger or pride. The origins of his service of Wu are not usually detailed in the games, but he comes into prominence at the Battle of Fan Castle. He serves as a transitional Wu strategist after Zhou Yu's death, quietly expecting to be succeeded by someone else eventually. When Sima Yi (or Cao Ren, depending on the game) is besieged at Fan Castle, Lu Meng and his close friend Lu Xun, himself a promising strategist, improvise a temporary alliance with the Wei forces there to destroy Guan Yu, who controls the Jing Province. Lu Meng, assisted by Lu Xun and snother young Wu general Gan Ning, arrive to reinforce the desperate Wei forces. Although the outcome depends on the player's side, the canonical outcome is the defeat and death of Guan Yu and his adopted son Guan Ping. :Lu Meng is successful in taking back the Jing Province, but the Wu army's actions incite the wrath of Liu Bei and other Shu generals, leading to a battle between Shu and Wu at Yi Ling. Lu Xun, devising a plan to take advantage of Zhuge Liang's absence and burn the Shu army, is made the head strategist and forward commander. In the Wu storyline, Wu destroys the larger Shu army and is able to then move against Wei. Lu Xun is made the head strategist of the entire Wu army for his victory. Lu Meng, still alive, is replaced rather than succeeded; however, he strongly supports Lu Xun's new position and fights alongside him until the end of Wu's final battle at He Fei Castle. :Lu Meng fights with a long pike, although it should be noted that despite his similarity of weapons and identical family name, he is no relation to Lu Bu. He has a fierce, forceful fighting style, relying on the strength and technique of his attacks rather than the motion and speed of his weapon as others do. His fighting style is much like Zhang Liao's, and has a simple but very effective musou, consisting of swipes and stabs with his pike. Lu Meng has high attack and defense and decent running speed, as well as a good moveset. His only weakness is his very low health and musou ratings, ranking among the lowest in the game. Despite this, he remains a powerful and popular character to be used, and is often difficult to unlock.
:Gan Ning is a gruff and experienced young general of Wu. He is portrayed as a cocky general who does not take battle lightly, but still manages to enjoy it thoroughly. Although it is only mentioned in the later games, he once fought for Liu Biao Before favoring the odds of the Wu forces and joining them. Gan Ning was a former Pirate and bandit who, along with his cohorts, attached bells to his clothing when he performed raids. He joined Wu after being passed over for promotion, and fought with them until late into the storyline. Despite his youth, he was a significant general in the Battle of Chi Bi because of his experience in ship to ship fighting. At the Battle of He Fei, if Zhang Liao is defeated by the Wu forces, Gan Ning appears near the Wei camp with a large ambush party and attacks. After this battle, he fights mainly alongside other young Wu generals such as Lu Meng, Lu Xun and Zhou Tai. Gan Ning becomes steadily more important as the more experienced Wu generals fall to the enemies and the younger ones gain more prominence. In earlier games, he continues to fight for Wu until their final battle at He Fei Castle, but in later games his fate follows the chronology of The Novel in which he is shot to death at Yi Ling by Shu officer Shamoke . In these cases, he is avenged by Zhou Tai , who chases Shamoke and kills him. :Gan Ning fights with a broad Kilij resembling a scimitar. He employs swift srikes with his sword, and his harge attacks mostly involve him whirling around and slashing at enemies that have surrounded him. The most memorable part of his moveset is undeniably his musou attack, which is one of a kind; he crouches slightly, holding his blade in a backhand position, and rushes forward, plowing through any enemies who get in his way. As the fastest moving musou attack, it is perfect for "hit-and-run" fighting, or even for traveling if the player has low enough life that the musou gauge fills automatically, since the run is faster than riding even Red Hare.
:Obviously Japanese influenced, Zhou Tai is towering figure on the battlefield.
:Ling Tong recieves a hefty bit of story in the DW5 dealing with his relationship with Gan Ning.
Others (他) , renowned as the mightiest warrior during the era of the Three Kingdoms. Defeated and executed by Cao Cao in Xia Pi .]]
NOTES Koei released 3 spin-off games to the ''Dynasty Warriors'' series: ''Dynasty Tactics'' and a sequel, ''Dynasty Tactics 2''. The original was released in 2002 and the sequel was released in 2003. They also released ''Dynasty Warriors 4 : Empires'', a halfway point between the pure action of the main ''Dynasty Warriors'' series and the tactical and strategic gameplay of the ''Tactics'' spin-offs. Other games include "Dynasty Warriors Advanced" for the Game Boy Advance, which was similar to the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires and Dynasty Warriors for the PSP, which also was similar to Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires. The Empires formula was given a sequel in March 2006, though, with ''Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires'' - it expanded upon DW4: Empires by adding the ability to command allied commanders, and trigger some tactics on command. ''Dynasty Warriors DS'', to be released in 2006 for the Nintendo DS, will utilize the "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection" to play around the globe for free against other ''Dynasty Warriors DS'' players. CRITICISM OF ENGLISH VOICE-WORK The English voice-overs of ''Dynasty Warriors'' series wrongfully uses straightforward English pronunciations for the romanized Pinyin names of characters and locations. The results are rather humorous to Chinese speakers, sometimes insulting, and misleading to its Western audience. Some unfortunate examples are the pronunciations of Cao Cao (pronounced ''cow cow'' instead of ''tsao tsao'') and Cao Pi (pronounced ''cow pee'' instead of ''tsao pei''). Critical opinion of the English voiceovers on the whole tends to be that they are incredibly exaggerated, to the point of ridiculousness. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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