Benggo

Let me confess something right from the start—I've been a Dynasty Warriors fan since the PS2 era, and when I first heard about Warriors Orochi 4's PG-Chocolate Deluxe edition, I'll admit I was skeptical. Having played through countless musou games over the years, I've developed pretty specific expectations about what makes these games satisfying. The series has always thrived on its massive character rosters—the previous mainline entry boasted an incredible 94 playable fighters—so the idea of a "deluxe" experience built around what's essentially a stripped-down version seemed counterintuitive. But after spending about forty hours with PG-Chocolate Deluxe, I've come to appreciate what this particular iteration brings to the table, even with its noticeable compromises.

The memory loss storyline that serves as the secondary narrative here is, frankly, the weakest element. It's packed with predictable tropes and lacks the compelling historical drama that makes the Three Kingdoms setting so engaging. Where this game truly diverges—and what initially concerned me—is its radical shift away from the series' signature character bloat. Instead of ninety-plus warriors, you're essentially playing one central hero with nine companion characters who function more as special attacks than fully-realized alternatives. This isn't the Dynasty Warriors you remember, and that's both its biggest risk and, surprisingly, its most interesting innovation.

When I first started playing, I missed the ability to constantly switch between dozens of characters. The limited roster initially felt like a step backward, especially considering the series' tradition of offering something for every playstyle preference. But about five hours in, something clicked. The combat system in PG-Chocolate Deluxe is surprisingly deep, with combo chains that flow more smoothly than in previous entries. The companion system—where you can temporarily control support heroes for powerful special moves—adds a strategic layer that the character-swapping of older games never quite achieved. I found myself actually learning each character's move sets rather than just skimming through them, and the combat became more satisfying as a result.

The deluxe edition adds three additional companion characters and what the developers call "Chocolate Missions"—special stages that reward you with exclusive weapons and customization options. These missions are surprisingly challenging and require genuine mastery of the game's mechanics rather than just button-mashing through thousands of foes. I particularly enjoyed the "Molten Mochi" mission series, which took me about three hours to complete and forced me to really understand the timing and positioning of my special attacks. The weapon customization system is another highlight, allowing you to modify your gear with various "toppings" that change both appearance and stats—a nice touch that adds personalization to what could have been a barebones experience.

From a technical perspective, PG-Chocolate Deluxe runs remarkably well. I played on PS5 and experienced consistent 60fps performance even during the most chaotic battles with hundreds of enemies on screen. The load times are practically nonexistent, which makes jumping between missions much less tedious than in previous Warriors titles. The soundtrack deserves special mention too—it blends traditional Chinese instruments with electronic elements in ways that perfectly complement the fast-paced action. Track 7, "Sugar Rush Symphony," has been stuck in my head for days.

Is this the perfect musou game? Not quite. The storytelling remains weak, and veterans might initially balk at the reduced character count. But what PG-Chocolate Deluxe lacks in narrative depth and roster size, it makes up for in refined combat and thoughtful design. It's a focused experience rather than an overwhelming one, and sometimes less really is more. If you're new to the series, this might actually be the perfect entry point. If you're a longtime fan like me, approach it with an open mind—you might discover, as I did, that there's surprising depth beneath its seemingly simplified surface. The PG-Chocolate Deluxe experience isn't what I expected, but it's one I've come to appreciate for its bold departures from tradition and its commitment to refining what truly matters in a Warriors game—the satisfying, cathartic combat that keeps us coming back for just one more battle.