With the jump to the 360, Koei had the opportunity to bring the Dynasty Warriors franchise into a whole new level. However, instead of building a game that takes the system’s capabilities into account, the developer instead decided to take the same route other developers have taken with the system by simply porting over a current-gen game with brighter visuals. As with Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends, Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires is more or less an expansion of Dynasty Warriors 5. Whereas Xtreme Legends offered a slight combat upgrade, Empires combines a fairly interesting strategy system with the game’s hack n’ slash gameplay.

The obvious benefit with bringing Empires to the 360 is the visual upgrade. Unfortunately, Empires doesn’t take advantage of the added horsepower and ends up looking like a cleaner, high-res version of the PS2 version. Rather than actually showing massive numbers of soldiers on screen, Empires uses most of same graphical tricks to make you think there are more people on screen than there really are. What you see on screen is nice, though its nothing you haven’t seen before on current-gen systems.

Sound has never been one of Dynasty Warriors strongest areas. Aside from battlefield sounds, most audio elements either feel out of place or just plain bad. Rather than sticking to a historically appropriate soundtrack, Empires throws in guitar-laced rock. Sure it helps to push the action along, but when paired with the game’s time period, it just doesn’t work. Voice work, which is mostly limited to a few pre-battle pep talks, is just plain bad.

As with other games, Empires follows a set of Chinese warriors through a series of fictional campaigns set in the Three Kingdoms period of China’s history. Where Empires differs from other games is the inclusion of Empire mode, which adds a bit of cohesiveness to the game’s usually scattered (and confusing) story. Still, even with the unfolding strategy game, most of your time will be spent plowing through wave after wave of mindless soldiers and generals.

Empire mode begins with you selecting a general and a set of lieutenants. From here you have 25 years (or 100 turns) to move across a map of China, capturing and protecting territories. Each year is broken up into 4 turns (each representing a season). During turns you can consult your lieutenants as to how the empire would be best served. You can choose to research weapon upgrades, recruit new troops or even dole out money to your people. You can also gain tactics which can then be used during battles or form alliances with other clans. The latter is usually a good idea early on, especially if that clan’s territory borders your own – which means one less border you’ll have to worry about protecting.

On the surface, these options seem like they would add a new dimension to the game, though in the long run they do little to keep the game from slipping back into its familiar hack n’ slash gameplay. This lack of movement on the gameplay front is the series’ main failing. Unlike other games in the genre, like the Kingdom Under Fire series, that have attempted (and mostly succeeded) at adding depth to the standard formula, Koei seems content with offering simple retreads of the same basic game. Hopefully the jump to a real next-generation Dynasty Warriors can bring these changes, otherwise the series risks becoming even more niche than it already is, or perhaps even losing some of the series' longtime fans.

On some level, you have to think that Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires is aiming for a particular audience rather than trying to grab a big chunk of the gaming community. You are thrown into the game without much explanation of what is going on. So, unless you’re a veteran or willing to spend time with the instruction manual, don’t expect an easy introduction.

Empires sticks to the series' hack n’ slash gameplay. Combat is about as basic as it can get. Most of your time is spent mashing down on one attack button while occasionally hitting another for a special attack. With the exception of enemy officers, enemies provide minimal challenge. Most will simply stand around and occasionally throw a blow or two your way. Officers fight back, though combat never goes deeper than seeing who can wear down the other’s health bar quicker.

If Empires was a normal priced 360 game, it would have scored lower. If you own a 360 and haven’t had a chance to play the PS2 version, Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires might hold some appeal if you like the series. Otherwise, skip it.