Dynasty Warriors 7

This seventh installment of the Dynasty Warriors franchise has a lot of new things to offer. The game still follows the story of the three kingdoms period which succeeded the end of the Han dynasty. Wei, Wu, Shu emerged as the contenders for the unification of the land and hope to end the chaos. What happens to each faction is determined by battles (although the results are slightly altered in this game).

What's New?

Dynasty Warriors 7 features a new faction, Jin, led by the wily Sima Yi. It also includes the Conquest Mode where players can unlock different stages, characters, weapons, and others. Each character also has his/her own missions, called legendary stages, which consist of 2 to 3 stages. 

Each character can now use two weapons in the battles. The weapon's effectiveness is based on its compatibility with the character. The player can also change the weapons at any time of the game. Various weapons can also be obtained from the merchant and blacksmith.

The following are the new playable characters in DW7: Cai Wenji (Wei), Jia Xu (Wei), Deng Ai (Jin), Guo Huai (Jin), Sima Shi (Jin), Sima Zhao (Jin), Wang Yuanji (Jin), Xiahou Ba (Jin), Zhong Hui (Jin), Zhuge Dan (Jin), Ding Feng (Wu), Liu Shan (Shu), Ma Dai (Shu), Lian Shi (Wu), and Guan Suo (Shu). 

Story Mode

Four factions are available for the Story Mode and characters for each stage are pre-determined. Like DW6, a narration prior to the battle is given. Additionally, the player also gets to enjoy the pre-battle preparation. Conversations with other officers and soldiers are possible, making the game more interactive.

In DW6 it is possible to end one battle by directly attacking the commander. In DW7 however, the player has to fulfill all the battle conditions to get to the commander. Players are given scenarios where siege weapons (e.g., ballista, catapult, juggernaut, etc.) have to be used.

Wei

Conquest Mode

The Conquest mode is the replaces the Free mode in the previous game. It has different difficulty levels and also has legendary stages for specific characters. Not all stages involve fighting however. Cities can also be explored and the players can use its facilities (e.g., earn and choose a sworn ally, guardian animal, purchase or make weapons) or just talk to residents or soldiers.

Leveling Up

Killing hundreds or more than a thousand soldiers used to give extra points for leveling up. In DW7, earning skill points or acquiring growth items is possible only by defeating the officers. Each character has a set of unique skills. The player is also awarded fame points and gold which can be used to purchase items.

Jin

Characters

Sima Yi has been molded into a sort of villain here although when one looks more closely at his character based on the writings, he just happened to be a lot smarter, and luckier, than the others. On the other hand, characters like Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu, and the others have lesser importance here and are mere annoyance in the early stages of the story mode.

I will not go into detail about the new characters but I have noticed that characters from each of the four factions usually conform to a theme unique in Wei, Shu, Wu, and Jin. Some characters also have parallels in other factions.

Wu

What I Love/Dislike About the Game

Previous games focused more on individual character stories but I see a lot of emphasis here on the story of the three kingdoms based on Luo Guanzhong's historical fiction novel. Notable are the scholar questions in Conquest mode and the three kingdoms story in the encyclopedia. Also, while waiting for a stage to load, a short description of a random character is given. I've encountered some players before who do not know from which book or historical event the game is based on.

The Conquest Mode is more immersive than the free mode in previous games. There is more interaction with other characters through the sworn allies feature as well as more involvement in the selection of weapons. There are various stages that I enjoyed, particularly those stages where the player has to overcome specific types of characters or characters who use the same type of weapon.

Voice acting has improved. The correct pronunciation of names of the characters has been given emphasis here. I also like the feature where I can change the background music before I begin the battle.

Some characters use the same weapons and therefore have almost the same moveset. There is less variety for so many characters that it tends to become tedious trying to unlock or level up all the others. I'm also not a fan of the two-weapon system and the option to equip or change them at any time of the game. It makes the game a lot less challenging that way.

The art is superb as usual. My favorites would have to be the Wei characters' outfits. The terrain of various stages also add to the difficulty level of the game. Some stages are easier while some maps are understandably confusing.

Shu

Overall the game is still enjoyable. Yes it's repetitive, after all it is based on a specific period in history, but the familiarity of the characters is also what makes this game popular. It is fun to see characters acquire new weapons, outfit and others in every new game.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Cao Cao

The Way of the Crusades by Jay Wiliams

Jay Williams gives a narrative version of the history of the Crusades in this nine-part book. The contents can be divided into three major parts. First is the introduction of the feudal knight which will help the reader understand his characteristics, the changes he undergoes in the wars, and his motivation, besides religious obligation, in the crusades. Second is the recollection of the major campaigns and figures, notably King Richard I of England and Sultan Saladin of Egypt and Syria. Lastly, the change of methods and weapons used in the wars and the impact of the crusades in culture and government.

Unlike the usual informative sections in textbooks about the crusades, Williams gives the readers an intimate look at the wars and intrigues involved. The information given here is limited however. The author mentions only the major events and figures and he has a tendency to go off tangent; granted, a short discussion on troubadours gives the reader an idea of the climate of times but it seems like a waste of space for such a short volume. 

One interesting feature included here is the author's discussion of the armor and weapons. Usually the evolution of  the instruments of war is bypassed by most textbooks. Most also fail to account the changes in the ways of the knights. Still, at best the book can serve as a good introduction of the crusades or as a supplement to further studies. Readers who have no idea what the crusades are will not drown in new information. The narrative and the author's descriptive skills, especially the battle scenes, are commendable.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

When two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, heard that a carnival was coming to town, they sneaked out one night to watch Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show set up. A sense of foreboding surrounded the town even before the carnival arrived; they felt something was wrong. They were right to suspect however as excitement became apprehension when they discovered Mr. Dark's, the owner of the carnival, secrets.

A mix of horror and fantasy, Something Wicked This Way Comes is slow-paced at the beginning but the action picks up when Mr. Dark discovered the boys' intrusion and the chase began. Bradbury however was able to establish early in the novel the differences in character between the boys and Charles', Will's father, role in the events to come. The characters are well-defined. Mr. Dark as the "bad guy" is a striking contrast to the boys, the "good guys," in his physical appearance and persistence to capture the boys. Mr. Dark embodies the desires of his victims and would-be victims; the desire to become young again or to become old and escape the limits of a child's body. Will and Jim, although best friends, are contrasting characters as well. Will is contemplative while Jim is unpredictable. Lastly, Charles' character serve as the synthesis.

Despite the fantastical and peculiar features in the story, Bradbury was able to highlight the characters' emotional growth by focusing on themes such as good vs. evil, growing up and nostalgia, contentment and regret. The final struggle against unhappiness brought by loss captures well man's fear of and struggle against (often on the losing side) death. Old age and death cannot be avoided and most often those who have lived with regrets wish that they could turn back time so they can live as carefree, happy children. Jim on the other hand wants to become an adult. Both Jim and Charles, who is a middle-aged man, feel trapped in their bodies. Charles realizes however that as you come closer to death, the experiences you gain over the years are things that should be celebrated and enjoyed.

I enjoyed this novel for its fascinating characters and Bradbury's expert handling of the themes.

Rating: 8 out of 10