Samurai Warriors 2

Infobox cvg


caption=
developer =Omega Force
publisher =Koei
designer =
engine =
series =^NA "Samurai Warriors", ^JP "Sengoku Musou"
released=PlayStation 2:
^JP February 24, 2006
^NA September 19, 2006
^EU September 22, 2006
^AU September 28, 2006
Xbox 360:
^JP August 17, 2006 cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/data/932837.html |title=Samurai Warriors 2 Xbox 360 GameFAQs.com game page |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher=GameFAQs.com ] cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A8%E3%83%BC-15783271-%E6%88%A6%E5%9B%BD%E7%84%A1%E5%8F%8C2/dp/B000G7ALR4/ref=sr_1_165?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1202933772&sr=1-165 |title=Samurai Warriors 2 Xbox 360 amazon.co.jp game page |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |language= Japanese ]
^NA September 19, 2006
^EU September 22, 2006
^AU September 28, 2006
genre =Hack and slash
modes =Single Player, Multiplayer
ratings =ESRB: Teen (T)
platforms =PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows

"Samurai Warriors 2" (戦国無双2: "Sengoku Musou 2" in Japan) is a sequel to the original "Samurai Warriors", created by Koei and Omega Force. The game was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, and received a port to Microsoft Windows in 2008.

Like the "Dynasty Warriors" series, an "Empires" expansion was released as well, and an "Xtreme Legends" expansion followed on August 23, 2007 in Japan.

Samurai Warriors 3, the sequel to SW2 and the third game in the series is set to be released in 2009 for the Wii.

Gameplay

The gameplay of "Samurai Warriors 2" builds on the first "Samurai Warriors" by adding new characters and new features, such as the removal of the traditional range attacks in favor of the addition of two unique special abilities that differ from character to character. For example, Oichi can either summon new soldiers to the battlefield or improve the combat abilities of nearby allies, Sanada Yukimura can either whistle to call his mount to his side or perform a flaming charge, and Tachibana Ginchiyo can either increase the strength of her weapon or summon lightning to stun nearby enemy soldiers. In addition, characters movesets can evolve in a larger variety as they level up, elaborating on either their combo, charge or special attacks, with the progression of each character being different from the next. This leads to the characters having 1 of 3 different button combos.

A returning element from the original "Samurai Warriors" is the Survival Mode (Infinite Castle in the Japanese version). In this mode, the player chooses a character and fights through an endless castle. After choosing the character, 4 random missions will be given to the player to choose from. To choose a mission the player must pay a fee to perform the mission, though there are certain missions that do not require a fee. After that, the player enters the castle, and a mission will be triggered. After succeeding in the mission, the stairway to the next floor opens, and the player will be able to proceed to the next floor where there will be another mission to complete in order to proceed to the next floor, and so on.

Playable characters in the game (except for Mori Ranmaru and Okuni) have their own stories. Each story contains five stages (except for Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ishida Mitsunari, who both have six stages), plus a "Dream Stage" or "Gaiden" (Side Quest) in the Japanese version, that effectively asks "what if". For example, Sanada Yukimura's Dream/Gaiden stage (Battle of Sekigahara) puts him into a battle that took place historically between his fourth and fifth stages (Ueda Castle and Osaka Castle respectively). Correspondingly, since Akechi Mitsuhide and Oda Nobunaga both have endings where they won their historically final battles and survived, their Dream stages have them mopping up their gathered opposition.

This game also contains a Sugoroku mini-game as an additional feature. Up to four players can participate in this mode, and each player has to choose a character. The game's goal is to collect the requested amount of gold (depending on the player's settings). At the beginning of the game, three flags for each player will be divided in the map, and players can earn gold and raise their ranks by collecting their respective flags and returning to their home square. Additionally, a player can buy territories on the map, or challenge another player for the control of a territory. There are six types of challenges in the game: Annihilate (requires the players to defeat as many enemies as possible), Chase (requires the players to defeat as many fleeing Fire Ninjas as possible), Destroy (requires the players to destroy as many boulders as possible), Race (requires the players to break through the doors to reach the end before the opponent does), Reveal (requires the players to uncover as many Sky Ninjas as possible), and Steal (requires the players to collect as much gold as possible).

The CAW (Create-A-Warrior) mode from the original "Samurai Warriors" has been removed, but it was reintroduced in "Samurai Warriors 2 Empires".

Characters

Returning characters

These are the characters who originally appeared in the first "Samurai Warriors" game and its "Xtreme Legends" expansion and returned in "Samurai Warriors 2".

*Oda Nobunaga
*Toyotomi Hideyoshi
*Honda Tadakatsu
*Akechi Mitsuhide
*Saika Magoichi
*Sanada Yukimura
*Maeda Keiji
*Date Masamune
*Hattori Hanzō
*Uesugi Kenshin
*Takeda Shingen
*Nohime (Nō)
*Oichi
*Inahime (Ina)
*Izumo no Okuni (Okuni)
*Imagawa Yoshimoto (Only playable in "SW2: Xtreme Legends")

New characters

These are the characters who debuted in "Samurai Warriors 2".

*Tokugawa Ieyasu (Originally a unique NPC in the first game)
*Azai Nagamasa (Originally a unique NPC in the first game)
*Miyamoto Musashi
*Shimazu Yoshihiro
*Fūma Kōtarō
*Naoe Kanetsugu
*Shima Sakon
*Ishida Mitsunari
*Tachibana Ginchiyo
*Nene
*Shibata Katsuie (Playable only in "SW2: Empires" and "SW2: Xtreme Legends")
*Sasaki Kojirō (Playable only in "SW2: Empires" and "SW2: Xtreme Legends")
*Maeda Toshiie (Playable only in "SW2: Xtreme Legends")
*Chosokabe Motochika (Playable only in "SW2: Xtreme Legends")
*Hosokawa Gracia (Playable only in "SW2: Xtreme Legends")

Imagawa Yoshimoto, Ishikawa Goemon, and Kunoichi from the original "Samurai Warriors" were removed from this game, but the character Nene seems to be a replacement for Kunoichi due to similarities in combat characteristics and skills, and Imagawa Yoshimoto was brought back to the series in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends.

Despite initial images being released, Shibata Katsuie and Sasaki Kojirō were only special NPCs (with their own character model) as Imagawa Yoshimoto, Honganji Kennyo, Hashiba Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Azai Nagamasa were in the original "Samurai Warriors". If the player completes certain objectives in the game's Survival Mode, however, Katsuie and Kojirō may be unlocked as special bodyguards. As a note, screenshots from the Japanese version of "Samurai Warriors 2 Empires" have confirmed that both Shibata Katsuie and Sasaki Kojirō are playable characters in the game. Imagawa Yoshimoto and Honganji Kennyo were completely removed due to conflicting time periods; for the same reason, the battles of Inabayama, Ise-Nagashima, and other battles featuring the Imagawa or the Ikko-ikki are removed. The Battle of Okehazama exists solely in the opening movies of Nobunaga, Noh (same as Nobunaga's), and Mitsuhide. Also, Okuni and Ranmaru do not have Story Modes in "Samurai Warriors 2", but are still playable in other modes (Note that both Okuni and Ranmaru can be played in Story Mode in multi-player mode only).

Minor clans include: Mori, Hojo, Otani, Chosokabe, Shibata, Saika, Asakura

The English voice production was provided by Montreal recording studio Agile Sound, with the voice casting provided by their sister company Total Casting.

The 6000 lines for the 33 characters were recorded in 33 days using 25 actors.

Expansions

Infobox VG
title = Samurai Warriors 2 Empires


caption =
developer = Koei, Omega Force
publisher =
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = PlayStation 2:
vgrelease|Japan|JP|November 16, 2006cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/data/934349.html |title=Samurai Warriors 2 Empires PS2 GameFAQs.com game page |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher=GameFAQs.com ] cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A8%E3%83%BC-10364371-%E6%88%A6%E5%9B%BD%E7%84%A1%E5%8F%8C2-Empires/dp/B000HAJWKW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1204131568&sr=1-3 |title=Samurai Warriors 2 Empires PS2 amazon.co.jp game page |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |language= Japanese ]
vgrelease|United States|US|February 27, 2007
vgrelease|Europe|EU|March 16, 2007
Xbox 360:
vgrelease|United States|US|February 27, 2007cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/data/937212.html |title=Samurai Warriors 2 Empires Xbox 360 GameFAQs.com game page |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher=GameFAQs.com ]
vgrelease|Europe|EU|March 16, 2007
vgrelease|Japan|JP|Unreleasedcite web |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/868/868508.html |title=Samurai Warriors 2 Empires Xbox 360 IGN game page |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher=IGN ]
genre = Hack and slash
modes = 1-2 players
ratings = PEGI: 12+

ESRB: Teen (T)
platforms = PlayStation 2, Xbox 360
media =
requirements =
input =

amurai Warriors 2 Empires

"Samurai Warriors 2 Empires" (戦国無双2 Empires) is an expansion to the original "Samurai Warriors 2" and the third Empires expansion by Koei (The first was "Dynasty Warriors 4 Empires", and the second was "Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires"), available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. The game was first released in Japan on November 16, 2006.

Very similar to both "Dynasty Warriors 4 Empires" and "Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires", the game features the strategic and tactical Empire Mode that combines the gameplay of "Samurai Warriors" and several turn-based strategy elements from "Nobunaga's Ambition" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". The Empire mode allows the player to select from some of Japan's greatest battles such as the Battle of Kawanakajima, the Battle of Anegawa, the incident at Honnō-ji and the Battle of Sekigahara.

In the CAW Mode, the options are limited to 13 models with 10 color patterns each, as well as four different voices. Fortunately, a new feature is added to the mix: the ability to copy movesets of other characters.

Unlike "Samurai Warriors Xtreme Legends", the game does not feature new characters for the series. However, Sasaki Kojirō and Shibata Katsuie, who were unplayable special bodyguards in the original "Samurai Warriors 2", are now playable characters in "Samurai Warriors 2 Empires".

Infobox VG
title = Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends


caption =
developer = Koei, Omega Force
publisher =
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = PlayStation 2:
vgrelease|Japan|JP|August 23, 2007
vgrelease|United States|US|March 18, 2008
vgrelease|Europe|EU|March 21, 2008
Xbox 360:
vgrelease|Japan|JP|March 19, 2008
vgrelease|United States|US|June 2, 2008
genre = Hack and slash
modes = 1-2 players
ratings = CERO: B
platforms = PlayStation 2, Xbox 360
media =
requirements =
input =

amurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends

"Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends" (戦国無双2 猛将伝: "Sengoku Musou 2 Moushouden") was first released on August 23, 2007 in Japan for the PlayStation 2. It is the fifth "Xtreme Legends" expansion by Koei, and also the first and only "Xtreme Legends" expansion since "" to be released after "Empires" (Other "Xtreme Legends" expansions are released shortly after the release of the original game).

The expansion introduced new characters to the series, including Maeda Toshiie, Hosokawa Gracia and Chōsokabe Motochika. Imagawa Yoshimoto from "Samurai Warriors Xtreme Legends" returned in the expansion with an updated character design, and Shibata Katsuie and Sasaki Kojirō from "Samurai Warriors 2 Empires" are also playable and have new weapons. Shibata Katsuie wields two hand axes, while Sasaki Kojirō still carries a nodachi , but can now summon an ex-dimensional sword during battle.

Because Imagawa Yoshimoto was put back into the game, the previously omitted Battle of Okehazama is brought back, and Hideyoshi's Shikoku campaign against Chosokabe Motochika is also included.

A new mode known as Mercenary Mode is in the game. It resembles Xtreme Mode from "Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends".

Playable characters can now be upgraded to level 70; in the original the highest level was 50. Bodyguards can also level up to 30, when in the original 20 was the highest level.

Fifth weapons are present in the game, however, unlike the first game, the weapons has the same attack base as the original (before, the fifth weapon would have a higher attack base). Some considered it as an "alternative fourth weapon". In Samurai Warriors 2, the highest upgrade is fourth weapons.

In order to play the full functionality of this game the original is required, and it will tell you when you need to switch the discs. Xbox 360 players must download the expansion via the Xbox Marketplace as there is no stand alone discs available in stores.

References

External links

* [http://www.koei.com Koei's Official Site]
* [http://koeiwarriors.simgames.net KOEI Warriors - Your Dynasty, Samurai & Other Warriors Resources]
* [http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/sengoku2/ Samurai Warriors 2] at [http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/ Gamecity] jp icon
* [http://www.koei.com/launch/samurai_warriors2/main.htm Official Samurai Warriors 2 Minisite]
* [http://www.koei.com/sw2e/ Official Samurai Warriors 2 Empires Minisite]
* [http://www.koei.com/sw2xl/ Official Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends Minisite]
* [http://www.agilesound.com Agile Sound's Official Site]
* [http://www.totalcasting.ca Total Casting's Official Site]
* [http://www.samuraiwarriors2xl.co.uk/ Official Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends European Minisite]
* [http://www.samuraiwarriors2xl.it/ Official Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends Italian Minisite]
* [http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/sengoku2m/ Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends] at Gamecity jp icon
* [http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/sengoku2e/ Samurai Warriors 2 Empires] at Gamecity jp icon