Samurai Warriors 5 is the newest addition to the Samurai Warriors series, and it reinvents the wheel in its way. Like other games in the series, it tells the tale of the ancient warlords who unified Japan. Lord Oda Nobunaga is a hero still, but he’s young and unpolished in this game. He still has his nobility and power; but less of a force to lead. Samurai Warriors 5 tells the tale of how the foolish boy became the proud and unstoppable warlord.
Players start the game playing through its Musou mode. The Musou mode is traditional fare for these games. Players fight through thousands of enemies, racking up kills and points. The gameplay changes a bit depending on which character and which weapon they use. The Musou games are getting better and better with each iteration, and this game looks stellar.
The combat is a little slow at times, depending on the character. Players will alternate between slow and quick attacks to make devastating combos. Players can unleash skills as they finish cooling down and ultimate attacks when the gold bar reaches its apex. A well-timed dash can disrupt a group of enemies for a big hit. Players will receive more energy if they can chain attacks together, so work to take down as many enemies as fast as possible.
Samurai Warriors 5 boasts a cast of thirty-nine different historical warlords and their allies. These characters all have their designated weapon but can switch between weapons if the player desires. The characters are well designed, and their special attacks are all their own. It’s great to watch them interact and see the story play out.
The Musou mode follows the story of Nobunaga and his quest to unify Japan. He meets and defeats a variety of characters while adding them to his cause. This story is rather dramatic, and sometimes characters leave based simply on their convictions. Oda will need all the help he can get if he is going to unify Japan.
There is also a Citadel mode, where players can work to fortify their castle. Take on quests using the player’s favorites, or work to level them all up. Warriors games are known for taking a lot of time to complete, and this is no exception. The Citadel mode is a great place to grind up levels as the missions often take five minutes or less to complete. Honestly, this mode is helpful for players who might want to play a little but can’t commit necessarily to a whole story segment at that point.
The Citadel mode consists of a variety of missions. The player must complete tasks and face foes just like in Musou mode. The enemies get stronger as the player plays through them, but the rewards get better too. Players can quickly knock a few of these missions out when they have a second, and they are always satisfying to complete. They are short and to the point, and in a Musou mode, every second of playtime helps the player reach their end goal.
As the player plays this mode, they will gain different resources such as fabric and steel to fortify their Citadel. Players collect these items by completing the missions, and by reaching certain thresholds, the reward can increase dramatically. I enjoy this mode because its simple goals allow for a brief respite between missions or simply; when I can’t play too long.
Players select two characters when jumping into a Citadel mission. These characters are both playable during the mission. When selecting characters, players have their pick, but certain characters gain friendship. Players can max out the relationship between the characters to watch a short scene that tells a little more about their relationship.
The castle is also important because it houses the blacksmith, stable, shop, and dojo. These areas help equip the heroes with weapons and horses. It’s also where the player selects skills, weapons, and trait gems. The castle is an important area the player will come back to again between missions, so always outfit the characters for success.
The vault is the final mode available, and it houses things like character biographies, event scenes, music, and cleared objectives. The vault mode is handy as it also tells the player their stats, like how long they’ve played and how much of the game they’ve completed. It’s not a game mode, but it’s worth checking out if the player wants to finish one hundred percent of the game.
The game itself has excellent music too, and the ups and downs help push the game along. Players will always know when they head for victory as the music swells. It has plenty of excellent battle themes to listen to as the player plays, and that’s always a good thing. I can always appreciate good game music because it helps keep players invested in what is going on.
Samurai Warriors 5 is a great game, with excellent Japanese voice acting. There are subtitles when playing the game, but sometimes it can be hard to read the subtitles and take on strong bosses. It’s a good thing the game keeps track of what is said, so players can pause the game and read what they missed. It’s a shame there is no English voice acting, but this game is immense, and that would take a considerable amount of time to complete.
Samurai Warriors 5 is a stellar game and a sign of where the series will go in the future. It tells a thrilling story and is full of many interesting characters. Oda Nobunaga may be young and cocky, but this game is all about his journey. He works hard to take down his foes and amasses quite the powerful entourage by the end of the game. Samurai Warriors 5 tells the story of Oda Nobunaga; will the player aid him on his quest for domination?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
Also available on Playstation 4/5, Xbox One/Xbox Series and PC