Topic: Warriors-style games: what’s the appeal?

Serious question.

Dynasty Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors, etc.. What’s the appeal of these games?

I just watched a 10-minute gameplay video of Hyrule Warriors while deciding whether to pre-purchase.

For the most part, I saw someone running around a large map, button-mashing an exaggerated mob of enemies who at no point posed any threat whatsoever. Occasionally there were messages about characters appearing, winning or being defeated, etc.

This has basically been my experience with a few demos I’ve played in regard to games of this nature.

What’s the challenge? Where does skill come in? What makes a good or bad player in this genre? Help me understand.

@Ryzaerian
I also never interested with kind of games like that.
But, i think some people like to hit Thousand of peoples with One swing.
Just like you want to get rid Thousand of Ants on table.
Some peoples want to get Adrenaline rush by Striking Thousand peoples by one swing. More peoples defeated, more motivation they got.

It's kind of thrilling to me. And I'm kind of basing my liking of it from old-school beat-em up games.

Is there more to it, though? I thought maybe there was some depth I was missing.

It has more to do with strategy than killing minions. The minions aren't really there to pose a threat (at least not in most games and not at the lower difficulties). They're mostly there for you to fill up some kind of meter. The challenge comes from doing the actual challenges and objectives. For example defeating a certain group of enemies before they get to a certain part of the map and you're usually juggling between multiple objectives where it gets a bit chaotic if you're not paying attention to what you're doing and thinking about positioning. I'm speaking in general though, every Warriors game is a bit different but that's usually the core of it.

At least in the two I’ve played (FE, Zelda) there’s strategy. You can’t just go your merry way killing enemies, because the other enemies probably end up taking your base or killing someone important if you’re careless.

You need to keep an eye on your troops and make your playable characters go to strategic locations so you can always be where you’re needed.

You also get to use characters you like, and see them interact with each other and be awesome in the battlefield.

Not to mention these games have tons of content and things to unlock.

I also want to add that loosing objectives and challenges can sometimes greatly turn the tides against you and you could end up loosing the game, despite how many enemies you kill.

Killing million of weak enemies all at once, it has strategy though, basically trying to take over sections of the map. And the millions of enemies are able to take back those sections, only actual threats are the bigger enemies, enemy characters, and bosses. They're still not as threatening, but you have to be careful especially on harder difficulties.

Like on some hard missions I was constantly being followed by Gohma, he had way too much health and wasn't even the target, and every time he attacked and hit me he took a good chunk of my health.

They generally have cute female characters

@SMEXIZELDAMAN Fire Emblem and Xeno (Xenogears, Xenosaga, and Xenoblade) already cover that for me :^]

Fire Emblem Warriors lets them loose.

Ugh, I don't know why they haven't done Senran Kagura Warriors already, lol

If they made a Xenoblade Warriors game I'd buy it instantly. I never played a Warriors game but if I get the opportunity to play as my favorite characters there, I'll be hyped.

I mean, Hyrule Warriors is probably the game I played the most this decade, so there's something to it.

The old school beat-em-up comparisons are probably the most accurate. It has that similar mix of mindless and not quite mindless enjoyment that makes those games fun.

Which would be more highly recommended to a Switch owner who is a fan of both Zelda and Fire Emblem if they only had one Warriors game in them? Are they quite similar with the main difference being the skins on the characters or are there other significant differences that set them apart as gaming experiences?

Both offer good things exclusive to them.

Fire Emblem has better ally AI, standardized weapons, conversations between some of the characters that unlock as their relationship improves, special skills you can buy for your characters, you can pair up your characters to strengthen them, the weapon trangle, etc.

Meanwhile, Hyrule has an extremely diverse cast of characters all with their own unique weapons and movesets, more costume options, tons of things to unlock, giant bosses, sub weapons that open up weakpoints and interact with certain map elements, the adventure maps are considerably larger than the history maps in FE, customizable fairies, etc.

@Yosheel Thanks for the helpful advice. Sounds like FE Warriors attempts to preserve some of the popular elements of the main series, while Hyrule Warriors might have more content and customization options? I think Hyrule is going to edge it for me. Appreciate your reply.

I'd also recommend Attack on Titan 2 and One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 for those who want MOAR anime in a warriors game (which are also anime/manga)

Fire Emblem warriors is probably one of my favorite warriors titles, those elements from Fire Emblem really do change it up. Clone issue isn't too much of an issue for me, just wish the roster covered a bit more of the series, but i'm sure they'll do that next time ¯(ツ)/¯ With Hyrule Warriors, i'll give another chance on Switch.

Now if only we can get SpongeBob Warriors......I mean TOAST!

...Still obsessed with Spongebob huh? -.-
We need more anime Warriors games, though. I just got into Sailor Moon not too long ago, would be awesome if that series got one. Ah well. lol

@Joeynator3000 Sailor Moon is the bomb. You should read the manga if you aren't already. It's really good. The show is a lot of fun, too, but the mythos of the manga is a lot better developed and the art is very well done. Not that the show isn't fun. I would totally be down for Sailor Moon Warriors.

To the OP: it's a combination of button mashing fun, light strategy and tactics, and collecting stuff, as well as a neat "alternate universe" story about characters you love.

Hyrule Warriors was a fun romp with the Zelda characters, with a neat addition to the mythos in Linkle, who is pretty awesome aside from her terrible name.

The only other Warriors-style game I've played is Fate/Extella. Unfortunately that didn't hold my interest as well since I don't know or care about the Fate characters and the story is horribly written. But it's fun enough to play from time to time when I want some button mashing action.