Functional, but nothing special.
The game’s graphical environment seems dated at this day, although it would have been a hit a couple of decades ago in the Amiga. Troops are rather plain though easily distinguishable both in terms of which faction they belong, as well as their type. Army generals on the other hand are more polished and the player can estimate what ‘type’ of general they are facing and his/her armament. Bases are in line with the rest of the game’s scenery, being plain and simple. Such approach could be accredited to gameplay issues, since at a given time dozens, maybe hundreds of troops are present on the screen. Still, it leaves much to be desired. As far as the campaign map is concerned, there is nothing special there either. Different territories are presented as neighboring polygonal ‘blocks’ connected via a set of lines while each faction’s color denotes the area’s owner. Special combos unleash a few effects but nothing to write home about.
Screams, slashes and American accents...
The game’s sound effects seem to do the trick, with victims of your sword fall screaming from your skillful attacks. The typical hack n’ slash elements are all there, weapon clashes, arrows strike their targets with a thumping sound and your character’s agonizing voice reacting to every received blow. However, following the game’s lackluster graphics, sound follow suite. Functional, but nothing special here either. In-game music is rather pleasant, although after a few hours it ends being as repetitive as the gameplay. Far Eastern melodies are present in the strategic map, while electric guitar themes fill the air during actual combat. It has to be noted that the game has received an English voice-over with a strong American accent. Commanders, generals and your own character react to what’s happening on the battlefield with a strong American accent. Unfortunately, hearing American English accents from pixels trying to depict Middle Ages Chinese characters seems out of place. Furthermore, the repetitive unit acknowledgments become a rather tedious affair after quite some time.
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DYnasty Warriors 5 
