Samurai Warriors > Dynasty Warriors
I'm not sure how anyone can say anything otherwise unless they're willing to admit combat is better, especially if we're talking DW7, but even then, SW2's characters are far more unique in their movesets which makes combat more fun than the weapon switching in DW7.
While Dynasty Warriors 7 was great and my favorite game of 2011, Samurai Warriors 2 is the real deal. Things I think SW2 (and by extension, SWC) does better than DW7:
- Battle management. You really feel like you're one against many as you turn the tide of battle in this game. In one Yukimura stage, you have to help Mitsunari build a castle to attack Odawara. You have to beat the guys holding the castle, jet to the southwest corner, defeat the guard for ease of access to the engineers, then you'll find that guys from the south part of the map are heading towards the castle and it's your job to stop them. You have to take two-three guys in blazing fast speed, then help out the engineers, escort them, and allow the castle to built. This gives strategic advantage to winning the map, allowing a fast shortcut and your troops access to attack Odawara.
I failed getting this castle built a few times and beating the mission was extremely tough. My security and backup for Toyotomi was non existent as he was routed in a pincer attack from the opposing army's main forces. With no one to slow them down, this resulted in a fast game over. These maps have far more tension, strategy, and actual level design compared to Dynasty Warriors 7's maps. I am thoroughly impressed.
- You have to work for upgrades. In DW7 you start out with a horse period. You don't buy one, either. But in SW2, in order to have your own horse you have to buy it with your own money. Skills? You buy them, which makes them feel more rewarding than them being drops as they are in Warriors Orochi 2 and 3 or learning them in an rpg-style fashion like in DW7. I really like this, because it gives weight to the currency beyond upgrading weapons and smithing.
- Enemies do not fuck around. These generals will block my shit, constantly. I'll have to actually evade (I love this button) and block because they will wittle my health down even on normal mode.
I'm not sure if past Dynasty Warriors were like what I described because 7 was my first, but I've played DW7, DWG1 and 3, Warriors Orochi 2 and 3, Ken's Rage, and from a gameplay standpoint, this is easily at the top with Warriors Orochi 3. I'm actually annoyed Koei announced DW8, and I have to wait till 2014 to play Samurai Warriors 4 now. If SW4 combines DW7 and WO3's next gen polish with what makes SW2 so great, it could easily be a contender best Musou game.
Now, back to slaughtering samurai.
