This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Eric Dayday.

The hack-and-slash, historical fiction series known as Dynasty Warriors will come at you in miniaturized form as it sets to release alongside the PSP’s launch later this month. For those of you not familiar with the series, all you really need to know is that you pick one of a number of generals and partake in battles on huge sprawling maps, fighting off hundreds, if not thousands, of enemy troops with your band of bodyguards. Winning smaller battles raises troop morale in other areas in the map, and you can also find better weapons and accessories that are dropped by enemy captains and generals.

Now that that is out of the way, you’ll want to know what new things the PSP version is bringing to the table. First off, you all will be pleased to know that the version is sporting near-console quality graphics, so you should feel right at home when looking at this pretty little thing on a handheld. You must note however, that with the-- PSP’s wider screen, Koei added a sidebar that spews information and features and map, which will come in very handy and eliminate the need to have to pause to get your bearings.

Gameplay-wise, nothing much has changed, but Koei has taken into account that this is a mobile game and have thus taken steps to shorten the length of missions. Fans of the series know how long it takes to finish a single stage, so it can’t be expected to be able to finish one of those on say a bus ride. Koei has solved that problem by introducing what they call the “Battlefield Area System”. Basically, that’s just a fancy, schmancy way of saying that they’ve chopped up the huge battlefields into areas that can be finished in five to ten minute window, perfect for that bus or car ride to the store. And borrowing from Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires, these maps will be placed in different areas for strategic planning.

They’ve even beefed up the bodyguards in this version also. Instead of having a group that just attacked and defended, you’ll be able to increase the strength and abilities of your bodyguards with the “Second-in-command” officer system. Some abilities include restoring lost health or leading a large group of soldiers efficiently. And with 200 bodyguard types to collect and trade with your friends, you’ll be able to find a set up of up to four bodyguards that suit your style of play.



Even if this was just a direct port of one its console big brothers, Dynasty Warriors would have been a solid launch game for the PSP, as the franchise itself continues to push big numbers out the doors, evident by a fifth releasing for the consoles later this year.

Instead, with its wealth of new features and catering to its mobile audience, it is all-new game with legs of its own and will look to be an excellent PSP launch game. With 42 generals to control, hundreds of items to find, including 200 bodyguards, this game could keep you busy until the next wave of PSP games hit the market.