Dynasty Warriors 8

Shin Sangoku Musou 7 (真・三國無双7) is the eighth main installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is based on the seventh title's system and visuals. According to the producer, this game's motif is to be "the ultimate one-man army" in a way which has never before been seen in the series.

First print incentives include Sangokushi 12 costumes for Zhao Yun and Sun Shangxiang. The game's pre-order bonuses are smartphone pouches designed after characters from the Three Kingdoms and Jin. The Treasure Box edition of the game includes an original soundtrack, a 3D crystal file, and an illustration book. GAMECITY shoppers can obtain an original miniature notepad with their purchase.

Gameplay

 * The producer remarked that the programming for enemy and ally AI in this title is designed to punish players who fail to pay attention to their allies.
 * Characters have three Musous:, R1 + , and +  (aerial). They are also given three Musou bars in stock.
 * When calling a horse with L2, holding it down allows players to call and mount their current horse automatically. Each stage offers a different type of horse that can be called upon. However, some characters may summon special steeds (such as Red Hare) at certain points in the game.
 * Dual weapon wielding remains with all weapons from Dynasty Warriors 7 and its expansions present. There are new EX weapons, jump charges, and no gender restrictions for this game. Players can no longer equip weapons held in reserve in the midst of battle.
 * Character growth returns to a leveling system reminiscent to Dynasty Warriors 6. Universal weapon mastery is affected by the levels of a character using it as an EX weapon. Once obtained and equipped, characters can activate weapon proficiency skills regardless of the character's proficiency.
 * Weapon seals from the previous title are replaced with a tempering system similar to the Warriors Orochi series. Players can use this system to now alter weapon elements. There are two main forms of tempering: Strengthening (which fuses two weapons of the same type together) and Trading (exchanges three weapons and materials to create two stronger weapons).
 * A new weapon affinity system is in place with three properties: 天 (Heaven), 地 (Earth), and 人 (People). They have a triangular relationship for their affinity with one another and are randomly assigned to weapons.
 * Heaven trumps People.
 * People is superior to Earth.
 * Earth has an advantage over Heaven.
 * New weapon affinities provide different effects depending on the weapon type used by the player and their opponents.
 * Storm Rush - Enables player to break enemy guard and attack rapidly. Hits as long as the opponent's weapon affinity is worse and their vigor gauge is depleted. However, the bonus effects gradually fades every time the player attacks.
 * Variable Counter - When facing an opponent with the advantageous weapon affinity, the player can perform a counterattack to blow surrounding enemies away whilst switching weapons.
 * Awakening Musou - Activated after meeting specific conditions, this effect greatly increases the player's stats and allows them to perform an Awakening Musou attack. If the attack is used to defeat multiple enemies, it will turn into a True Awakening Musou, which causes the fallen to drop better stat-increasing items. During this state, the player's musou stacks will merge into a single gauge reminiscent to those seen in past titles.
 * A new type of difficulty setting allows players to perform various combos with a single button.
 * Clothing will now become dirtied and stained from participating in battle.
 * Downloadable content so far includes costumes and weapon skins. The DLC costumes from Dynasty Warriors 7 and its Xtreme Legends expansion are not compatible due to graphical differences.

Story Mode
Story Mode is like the previous game except there is now a limited character selection available to players per story stage. Similar to Dynasty Warriors 4, it will also contain additional "what if" stories. This mode can also be played with another player online and offline.

Free Mode
Returns from previous titles.

Commander Mode
Players are tasked with raising the Bronze Pheasant Tower, a safe haven for peasants. The overall goal of this mode is to increase the tower's popularity as a social spot so that even the emperor will visit. To fund the tower's construction and status, players need to fight in various battles. When an enemy officer is beaten, they can be asked to be recruited as a partner.

At the beginning, players start out with the weapon shop as their sole base facility. More can be added as the town gradually becomes populated with people.

Battles are divided into three categories: Skirmishes, Raids and Large-scale Battles.
 * Skirmishes grant materials.
 * Raids help increase fame.
 * Large-scale Battles tend to reward players with new recruitable partners.

Characters
Over 70 playable characters will be in this title. The new characters revealed so far are:
 * Yue Jin
 * Li Dian
 * Lu Su
 * Han Dang
 * Zhang Bao
 * Guan Xing
 * Guan Yinping
 * Jia Chong
 * Zhang Chunhua
 * Wen Yang

Related Media
Consumers in Japan can attend various store front meetings to play the game's trial version in mid January until the game's release date. Attendees can listen to producer commentary and obtain two clear files.

This game has various collaborations in Japan. One of the largest ones aside from the pre-order costumes and Lawson ones is the two month campaigns with ekupo. Ekupo outlets plan to have a character menus, characters cards, and other merchandise for purchasers.

Another is a miniature campaign with Puccho. Faction images of characters will appear on their BIG Puccho boxes and players can obtain a serial code for a new panda skin with Puccho's mascot from these boxes. Shin Sangoku Musou 7 is also a part of a campaign to celebrate 7UP's renewal in Japan. Consumers who buy the new 7UP bottles can enter a contest to win their free copy of the game. Anyone who obtains the bottle can use its product code to obtain a special 7UP themed outfit for Zhao Yun.

A voice actor event using this game's visuals and characters is scheduled to take place in Tokyo on March 3, 2013. The event's title is Shin Sangoku Musou Seiyuu Ranbu 2013 Spring.

Character visuals from this game will be appearing in the Power Up Kit version of Sangokushi 12. These alternate character portraits are available on its limited edition bonus edit character CD.

Similar to the Samurai Warriors pillow case covers, pillow case covers for Wang Yuanji, Lu Xun, and Cao Pi will be available. The character databook is scheduled for a March release.

Image Song

 * Arashi ga Oka
 * Performed by HOTEI

* Used in promotional videos, commercials, and the game's credits. Hotei commented that the song's inspiration was to capture the romanticism of courageous men fighting in war. He and Suzuki believes the song is a moving piece and fitting for the game's staff roll. Consumers who purchase the re-cut single version of the song can obtain a downloadable serial for a original Hotei inspired Lu Bu costume and weapon. The design includes his trademark guitar pattern. Lu Bu was chosen because Suzuki and the crew thought he would be a fitting character to model for Japan's "strongest guitarist".