Koei Mixes Dynasty, Samurai For Latest Warriors

Publisher Koei has announced the latest in its cult hit action Warriors games will see a crossover of two earlier franchises, as Warriors Orochi combines the world of both Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors on PS2 and Xbox 360 this September. The game, developed by its internal Omega Force teams, will see characters from both series team up "to wage war against a new, yet powerful force." Koei promises the game will feature 77 playable characters and four crossover storylines with pitting the franchises against each other. The game will also include a new "team battle" and "weapon fusion" system" that the publisher says will "push tactical action to a whole new level." Koei also recently announced another Warriors crossover project for with Namco Bandai and its Mobile Suit Gundam brand with Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, expected to come to North America in late summer for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. That game, known as Gundam Musou in Japan, was first released on March 1, and saw the PlayStation 3 version reaching standout sales of more than 171,000 units in its initial week of availability. Warriors Orochi will ship in North America on September 18 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2. Said Koei senior VP of sales and marketing Amos Ip, “Warriors Orochi will introduce players to the most explosive Warriors action to date, and the most venomous enemy they may ever face, the evil Serpent King Orochi. So awesome are Orochi and his army that players will need the combined forces of history’s greatest warriors to challenge them. In the game, we’ll finally get to see and create some amazing team-ups, and we’ll even witness long-awaited confrontations between characters from both franchises.”