Warriors: Abyss Review – Numbers Must Go Up

Despite the long history of the Warriors series, publisher Koei Tecmo has been relatively hesitant to explore new genres. Yes, there were games like the Dynasty Tactics series in the past, but that seems to have been the limit. Mostly, the franchise has expanded its gameplay by incorporating different settings, as seen in games such as Hyrule Warriors and Samurai Warriors. However, overall, the core gameplay of Dynasty Warriors hasn’t undergone significant changes since its initial release.

In this setting, the title “Warriors: Abyss” strikes you as an unexpected yet delightful blow. Essentially, this title combines all the fundamental gameplay features that one would expect from a typical “Dynasty Warriors” game, and infuses them with a roguelike gameplay structure. The outcome is something that seems like a remarkably organic progression for the series.

“The end result is what feels like a surprisingly natural evolution for the franchise.”

In Warriors: Abyss, the concept is straightforward – you choose a character from the extensive Warriors series and embark on a journey that resembles hell. As you advance through numerous stages or levels (referred to in-game as tiers), you encounter countless enemies. The majority of tasks involve eliminating anywhere between 30 and 150 enemies to progress. Upon finishing a tier, you receive rewards, which may enhance your character or allow you to enlist additional warriors to aid you. Accomplishing a specified number of tiers grants access to a boss fight, where your character’s current abilities are tested to the limit.

Despite its seemingly basic gameplay structure, Warriors: Abyss boasts a wealth of complexity due to its extensive roster of playable characters. With over 100 characters available, each one comes armed with unique weapons and abilities, resulting in distinct move sets for every character. Moreover, these characters can be summoned during gameplay by executing a straightforward combo. Upon summoning, the character will appear on the battlefield, perform a powerful attack, and then depart.

Players who have previously played games within the Warriors series will likely recognize the primary hack-and-slash gameplay style. The core mechanics include a light strike, a charge attack, and a musou attack. Utilizing a mix of light and charge attacks is essential for defeating swarms of enemies and gradually building up your musou meter. Once filled, you can unleash a powerful musou attack that inflicts massive damage over a wide area around you. Defensively, the game only offers a straightforward dash move to swiftly evade predictable enemy attacks.

In Warriors: Abyss, the basic gameplay is easy to grasp and encourages rapid button pressing. However, the true complexity lies in the choices you make concerning your character’s build. A character’s build encompasses their fundamental skills, stat bonuses they acquire over time, and crucially, the allies they can enlist and the positions they occupy within these teams. The game effectively communicates your growing power through a straightforward numerical value that increases based on your decisions. For example, if you’ve been emphasizing Speed and Bolt attributes, adding a hero who enhances the Fire attribute won’t yield significant benefits for you.

I’m thrilled to find that almost every character in this game boasts a variety of traits, which makes my choice of favorite heroes a delightful blend of their unique skills and weapon preferences. Choosing the right weapon isn’t a trivial matter either; each one comes with its distinct moveset. Some excel at dishing out high damage to single targets, while others shine when facing large groups spread across a wider area. And let’s not forget those that are ideal for ranged combat, specializing in stunning enemies and allowing my allies to finish them off.

“Thankfully, just about every playable character has multiple attributes they benefit from”

As a gamer diving into Warriors: Abyss, here’s a key point to remember: this game thrives on the idea that bigger numbers are better. Regardless of the decisions I make, they won’t leave me weaker. Instead, using the meta-progression currency to unveil new characters grants me a subtle power-up with an enduring bonus to some attribute or stat.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that the gameplay in Warriors: Abyss is truly captivating, yet its narrative and overall delivery leave much to be desired. Immersed in a mythical saga about a revered warrior being called forth by King Enma to fight waves of tormented spirits, the initial experience feels more like an endurance test than a gaming adventure.

The first hour is a test of patience, filled with aggravation due to persistent interruptions that either force me into a tedious tutorial or subject me to King Enma’s nagging voice, barking orders about why I should keep slaying and why they can’t manage these issues themselves.

In Warriors: Abyss, the narrative serves as a backdrop, and the game itself seems to acknowledge this by rarely revisiting it until significant events occur, such as defeating a boss. Fortunately, there’s an option to skip dialogues, which I strongly suggest utilizing because the story lacks substantial content. The core gameplay, offering the ability to customize characters and weapon types for battling waves of enemies, is engaging enough on its own, making the game worth playing.

“The entire game runs on the philosophy of higher numbers being good”

In Warriors: Abyss, visual clarity appears to be a deliberate aspect, with an emphasis on overwhelming enemy groups rather than top-tier graphics. Despite the game’s graphics not being exceptional, they effectively convey incoming attacks and a boss’s vulnerable spots, ensuring clear comprehension for players.

The action-packed game “Warriors: Abyss” from Koei Tecmo is an absolute blast! Their daring blend of genres has proven successful, creating a robust foundation for its innovative roguelike mechanics. The straightforward progression system, which allows you to unlock and upgrade various characters, keeps things accessible yet deep. Even if you’re not already a fan of the “Dynasty Warriors” series, this game is an enjoyable choice. While familiarity with the franchise can help in recognizing characters, the game effectively communicates the advantages of choosing one character over another.

As a devoted fan, if given the chance to tweak Warriors: Abyss, I’d primarily focus on two aspects: revamping the entire narrative and enhancing the tutorials. Other than that, it’s an outstanding hack-and-slash roguelite, masterfully blending the essence of Dynasty Warriors.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-02-18 20:12