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Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

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Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends is neither extreme nor legendary. It’s a continuation of Samurai Warriors 2, in the tradition of an expansion pack. You can import characters from the original game by saving them, or utilize both disks to access more of the original game’s content such as environments, other non-playable characters, and specific battles. In case you’re not really reading between the lines, Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends is little more than an obvious, and shameless, recycling of the Samurai Warriors gameplay.

Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends screenshot

As a whole, the Samurai Warriors franchise is not renowned for its innovative gameplay diversity. All of the games in the series follow the same button mashing formula, as well as the same gameplay format. Each playable character must make his or her way through a series of stages filled with hundreds of enemies. The melee combat is facilitated by each character’s unique weapon and move set, which includes combos and special attacks. Taking on hordes of enemy warriors typically requires accessing only a couple of buttons. The weapons will allow you to thresh a path through the crowd, and the special attack helps to clear the screen of enemies.

Taking place in Japan during the feudal time period, The Samurai Warriors series is not exactly what you would call historically accurate. Although many of the locations, weapons, and costumes may appear period-specific, elements such as magic, outer-dimensional summoning, and the soundtracks that combine hip hop and techno beats with electric guitar, firmly places this game in the realm of fantasy. But it’s what fans come to expect. Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends does not let fans down by taking the franchise in an unexpected direction. Despite new characters, weapons, moves, and modes, Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends feels all too familiar for my tastes.

Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends screenshot

New characters include Maeda Toshiie, Gracia, Motochika Chosokabe, Katsuie Shibata, Kojiro Sasaki, and Yoshimoto Imagawa, in addition to your favorites from Samurai Warriors 2 that you can import. All of the new characters come with background stories so that you can develop some kind of relationship with them. Unfortunately these back histories are shallow and not altogether different from the background stories of previous games. A few names are thrown around, and we learn how they have been betrayed and are looking for some form of vengeance…yadda…yadda…yadda…

We will see new weapons, but they share the same basic characteristics in terms of carnage, whether it be a sword, katana or dual hand axes. Swing it around, and try to take out as many enemies as you can. Pull off a few combos, charge up an attack, rinse, and repeat as necessary. RPG elements allow you to upgrade your character, which will allow you to take on larger armies. The cap has been raised for this game, so prepare to become some kind of Super-Samurai. A display meter will let you monitor your health, attack, and defense attributes, in addition to Musou, the special screen clearing attack.

Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends screenshot

Even if the gameplay is recycled, repetitive, and redundant, there are still many challenges within the confinement of said gameplay. Choose from a variety of difficulties such as novice, easy, normal, hard, chaos, and expert. The easy mode is perfect for beginners, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay will eventually take its toll. Increasing the difficulty does little to solve this problem, as it just makes what is already predictable more difficult to attain. The Mercenary mode is new, and does offer a slight variation to the format. There are more objectives to reach than the standard battle modes.

Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends screenshot

As you progress, you can hire warriors to assist you. Certain objectives are presented in a mission-based style which must be completed to move on to the next level. It distracts slightly from the button mashing characteristics of the gameplay. It’s a direction that definitely needs to be explored and expanded on if this franchise is to survive. The co-op mode is certainly one of my favorites, as having another person along for the ride adds an extra dimension (read: distraction) to the gameplay and makes it fun for a while. I’m definitely a lot less jaded when there’s someone else in the room.

Sure, some of these battlefields are huge, but that doesn’t mean we have to put up with blurry and washed out textures. The engine is getting old. There certainly are no major graphic improvements in this version. Expect plenty of flash and fire when the fighting gets hot. It’s still a nice feeling to slice and dice through hundreds of foes, but even that has its limits. The characters animate smoothly enough, and the controls are responsive and solid, although I did encounter some collision detection problems. There is even the occasional framerate hiccup here and there, but that’s acceptable considering the large quantity of onscreen characters. The cutscenes are well produced with epic battle depictions and inspiring tunes. The in-game tunes are decent but repetitive, often acting as filler. The voiceovers are as corny as ever, making even pro wrestlers sound like theatrically-trained thespians.

Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends is a continuation of a series that is past its prime. With the ability to import people, places, and things from the original game, it literally steals from its past. This series will not move forward until it stops looking back.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.0 Graphics
Dated graphics. Running on the same old engine. 4.0 Control
Responsive enough, but you only have to use a few buttons to master the game. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Good sound effects and appropriate music do the franchise justice. Same old bad voiceacting. 2.8 Play Value
Aside from a few diversions, the gameplay is little more than button mashing. 3.1 Overall Rating – Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • This latest installment features six legendary samurai, each with its own storyline and new weapons.
  • Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends also introduces a new Mercenary mode.
  • Includes redesigned battlefields of “Okehazama” and “Shikoku” and new charge attacks.
  • Ability to import characters from original game. Players can also play the original game’s Story mode, Survival mode, and Sugoroku modes using the six new characters.

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