Samurai Warriors 5: A triumphant nostalgia trip soaked in blood and glory

More than seven years since the last iteration, and over 17 years since the release of the first Samurai Warriors game, the fifth instalment hits European markets today.

Landing on UK shelves a month after the Japanese release, it remains a cult fan-favourite ‘hack and slash’ title.

Japanese developer Omega Force takes the series back to its roots, whilst building on a time-tested foundation.

Samurai Warriors sits amidst the five Warriors series, alongside the titan of the family, Dynasty Warriors.

Set in the 15th century Sengoku period of war-torn Japan, various warmongers vie for absolute power, leaving the player to face down thousands of troops in pursuit of peace and freedom.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Omega Force have not tried to.

Leaning into the original formula of sword-swinging carnage, Samurai Warriors 5 enables the player to defeat 20 enemies with a swift button-combo, whilst marching your armies to the enemy gates.

Every level is an epic battle in which the player both strategises and leads the charge from the front.

Defeating enemy captains and generals boosts troop morale, as the mini-map in the corner of the screen gradually turns from red to blue the more progress you make.

In between skirmishes you are able to equip your characters with weapons found mid-conflict, level-up abilities and attributes with experience points gained, and manage your growing ranks of generals.

All characters, soldiers and horses are drawn in an authentic Japanese ink painting style, emphasising the ever-present Asian themes.

It is a graphic style that works for the game, however even when tested on a 57″ TV, the details can get lost on screen, an issue that may not have occurred had it been designed for next gen consoles.

Dialogue remains entirely in Japanese, meaning English speakers will be relying on subtitles to follow the story and in-game instructions.

It is playable on PlayStation 4 (playable on PS5 via backwards compatibility), Xbox One (playable on Xbox Series X|S via backwards compatibility), Nintendo Switch, and PC.

For those still unable to find a next gen console stockist, this game runs smoothly on the PS4 and Xbox One despite big battle scenes, thanks to the simplified graphics.

Fans of the series will be satisfied with the original arcade-like gameplay and overly stylised combat.

Aside from a few new skills and actions, it remains principally the same recipe many fell in love with 17 years ago – and that formula results in a triumphant, razor-sharp nostalgia trip soaked in blood and glory.