Dynasty Warriors has two modes of play, Musou Mode and Free Mode. Musou Mode is the main playing mode. When you first start, you can choose and play as one of five famous warriors from each of the states (i.e. 15 warriors from three states to start with). Each warrior uses a particular weapon type (blade, pole and blunt) and has special characteristics that will influence the outcome of each battle. After choosing a warrior, you prepare for battle. Each warrior will go through about six battles before the Musou Mode for that warrior is completed and a brief synopsis is given on that warrior. On completing a Musou Mode, more warriors are unlocked, which you can then select to use. There are up to 42 warriors in total.

For each battle, you can bring up to four officers to aid you, which if chosen carefully can mean easy victory or defeat, given that each officer has special characteristics, just like your warrior. A battle begins in a grid-like map, which you can move your warrior and officers. The grid consists of open fields and your and your enemy's depots, forts and HQs. If you move your warrior and officers into an area occupied by an enemy, you will take control of your warrior, in a third person view, to engage the enemy in 3D combat. Here is where you can happily mash the buttons of your PSP in a hack-n-slash furore and sometimes fight boss characters. Each warrior can unleash combo attacks and a special attack called the Musou, which can only be used after the Musou meter is full (the meter is filled when your warrior successfully strikes or is hit). When you defeat the enemy in the area, you return to the grid and repeat until you take over the enemy's HQ. Then your warrior and officers level up and proceed to the next battle.

Combat is what showcases Dynasty Warriors - good graphics and visuals and intense action. The warrior and officer characters are detailed and unique and it is quite easy to tell between the different enemy ranks. The last point is important because higher ranking enemies are more difficult to kill, attack more frequently, dishes out more damage and can interrupt combo attacks. When faced with a large number of high ranking enemies and boss characters, combat gets really intense and combo and Musou attacks are a must. These attacks generally provide quite a visual treat. For instance, a combo attack can result in an enemy being kicked a far distance or thrown into the air while your warrior continues to pummel him in the air.

Unfortunately, Dynasty Warriors does come with some shortcomings. Firstly, combat (and the game) can become quite repetitive and monotonous after a while (e.g. same old same old combos can be used to beat the AI). In addition, the bow appears to be useless, as it is more difficult to use and does marginal damage. It is better just to deal to enemies with your melee weapon.

Secondly, the AI could be better. For instance, low ranking enemies just stand around while you pummel them. Worse still is when your officers (and their men) do the same. Thirdly, sound effects are limited and mediocre, and there isn't any voice acting (which seem to be quite standard in PSP titles). However, the background music is good. Fourthly, frame rates drop significantly when the screen starts filling up with moving objects. Lastly, replay value is questionable, even though 42 warriors imply a huge amount of replay possibilities. It is difficult to imagine that anyone can go through the game that many times, particularly when things can become repetitive.