Samurai Warriors 5
{{Infobox video game
| title = Samurai Warriors 5
| image = Samurai Warriors 5 decalless.jpg
|caption = Game cover featuring Nobunaga Oda (front), Mitsuhide Akechi (left), and Nō (right)
| developer = Omega Force
| publisher = Koei Tecmo
| director =
| producer = Hisashi Koinuma
| designer =
| series = Samurai Warriors
| engine = Katana Engine{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/fate-samurai-remnant-ryota-matsushita/ |title=Fate/Samurai Remnant Game Director Ryota Matsushita on Game Systems & Traditions |last=Farrell |first=Andrew |date=September 19, 2023 |website=CGMagazine |publisher= |access-date=2024-11-05 |quote=We're developing this title using our proprietary engine, the "Katana Engine", which we also used for SAMURAI WARRIORS 5.}}
| released = Switch, PS4, Xbox One{{vgrelease|JP|June 24, 2021|WW|July 27, 2021}}Microsoft Windows{{vgrelease|WW|July 27, 2021}}
| genre = Hack and slash
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = {{ubl|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|Xbox One|Windows}}
}}
{{nihongo foot|Samurai Warriors 5|戦国無双5|Sengoku Musou 5|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a hack and slash game by Koei Tecmo, and a reboot of the Samurai Warriors series, part of the long-running Warriors series of hack and slash games published by Koei Tecmo. As a "fresh re-imagining" of the franchise, the game features an all-new storyline, revamped character designs, and a new visual presentation.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/02/samurai-warriors-5-announced-for-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc|title=Samurai Warriors 5 announced for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC|website=Gematsu|date=February 17, 2021|accessdate=February 20, 2021}} It was released in Japan in June 2021 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, with a worldwide release in July for those platforms and PC via Steam.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/02/samurai-warriors-5-launches-june-24-in-japan-july-27-in-the-west|title=Samurai Warriors 5 launches June 24 in Japan, July 27 in the west|website=Gematsu|date=25 February 2021|access-date=February 25, 2021}}{{cite web|website=Gematsu|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/04/samurai-warriors-5-adds-nobunaga-oda-mature-mitsuhide-akechi-mature-hanzo-hattori-sandayu-momochi-magoichi-saika-and-yasuke|title=Samurai Warriors 5 adds Nobunaga Oda (Mature), Mitsuhide Akechi (Mature), Hanzo Hattori, Sandayu Momochi, Magoichi Saika, and Yasuke|date=April 23, 2021}} A version for Amazon Luna was made available on June 30, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Samurai Warriors 5 Strikes its Way onto Amazon Luna |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2022-07-03/samurai-warriors-5-strikes-its-way-onto-amazon-luna/.187323 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}
Gameplay
Like previous games, Samurai Warriors 5 is a hack and slash, in which the player faces against hundreds of enemy soldiers in a battlefield, with the objective usually being the defeat of an enemy commander. The game features a new Hyper Attack, which allows the player to traverse great distance while attacking enemies, and Ultimate Skill, augments that, depending on their type, can be used to continue combos, regenerate Musou Gauge, stun enemies, or deal a barrage of attacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/new-samurai-warriors-5-characters-story-details-and-systems-revealed/|title=New Samurai Warriors 5 Characters, Story Details, and Systems Revealed|website=Siliconera|date=11 March 2021|access-date=March 12, 2021}} The game uses an art style resembling traditional Japanese painting.
Story
The game's scope of the Sengoku period is limited in contrast to previous games. Samurai Warriors 5 focuses on events leading up to the Honnō-ji Incident, with Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akechi being the prominent figures of the story.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-25/samurai-warriors-5-ps4-switch-pc-game-trailer-reveals-july-27-release/.169970|title=Samurai Warriors 5 PS4, Switch, PC Game's Trailer Reveals July 27 Release|website=Anime News Network|date=February 25, 2021|accessdate=February 25, 2021}}
Characters
The entire cast of characters has been vastly redesigned from previous incarnations (with the exception of Katsuyori Takeda, who retains his original design from Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada). The number of playable characters has also been cut when compared to the previous mainline game, Samurai Warriors 4 (which featured 55 playable characters), with only 37 playable characters being featured, 21 returning and 16 new (10 of the characters are supporting characters which means that they are not playable in Story Mode, and do not have unique Power Attacks, and a unique Ultimate Skill).{{cite magazine|url=https://nintendo-power.com/samurai-warriors-5-expands-its-cast-and-welcomes-ten-new-characters/|title=Samurai Warriors 5 expands its cast and welcomes ten new characters!|magazine=Nintendo Power|date=28 May 2021|access-date=May 28, 2021}}
* Denotes supporting characters who are not playable in Story Mode, and do not feature unique Power Attacks, and a unique Ultimate Skill
** Denotes characters with two playable versions consisting of Youth, and Mature counterparts
Music
Unlike the electronic and traditional Japanese music collaborations in the previous Samurai Warriors games, Samurai Warriors 5 largely replaces the electronic music in favor of rock and orchestral music, while keeping the traditional Japanese music entirely intact.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = NS: 78/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-warriors-5/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Samurai Warriors 5 for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=July 28, 2021}}
PC: 74/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-warriors-5/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Samurai Warriors 5 for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=July 28, 2021}}
PS4: 75/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-warriors-5/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Samurai Warriors 5 for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=July 28, 2021}}
XONE: 77/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-warriors-5/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Samurai Warriors 5 for Xbox One Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=July 28, 2021}}
| NLife = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web |title=Samurai Warriors 5 Review (Switch) {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/samurai_warriors_5 |website=Nintendo Life |date=30 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
| PSQ = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web |title=Samurai Warriors 5 Review (PS4) {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/samurai_warriors_5 |website=Push Square |date=30 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
| SN = 8/10{{cite web |last1=Denzer |first1=TJ |title=Samurai Warriors 5 review: A stylish conquest |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/125779/samurai-warriors-5-review-a-stylish-conquest |website=Shacknews |date=30 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
}}
Samurai Warriors 5 has received "generally favorable" reviews according to Metacritic, becoming the highest rated entry in the series. Famitsu gave all versions of the game scores of 9/9/8/9 for a total of 35/40. The game sold a total of 94,366 physical copies during its first week on sale in Japan (PS4: 55,675/Switch: 38,691) with the PS4 version being the second best-selling game of the week, and the Switch version being the third best-selling game of the week.{{cite web |last=Romano|first=Sal|date=July 2, 2021|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/famitsu-sales-6-21-21-6-27-21|title=Famitsu Sales: 6/21/21 – 6/27/21 [Update]|publisher=Gematsu|accessdate=July 2, 2021}}
Notes
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References
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External links
- [https://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/sw5/ Official North American site]
- [https://www.koeitecmoeurope.com/sw5/ Official European site]
{{Musou series}}
Category:Crowd-combat fighting games
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:Video games about samurai
Category:Video games developed in Japan