The main problem with a long-standing series is stagnation - how do you keep the sixth edition of a franchise as exciting and fresh as the first? Call of Duty took the step from WWII to the modern day and in doing so created one of the best games of the past few years and Final Fantasy reinvents itself with every new release, changing the setting, characters and battle system while still keeping the spirit of the originals - but what of Dynasty Warriors, Koei's series of third person tactical button mashing hack-n-slash-a-thons? They've tried (and failed) to spice up the mix with giant robots, but the core titles - those set in feudal China - have followed the same template since day one: pick a character, kill a ludicrous amount of enemies in a faux historical setting, complete a few objectives (usually involving more killing) and then move on to the next level. Can Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires add anything, or has the series succumbed once again to the almost inevitable slump?

If you've never played a Dynasty Warriors game before then allow me to explain the basic premise; rather than battling through linear levels like in other swordplay titles such as Ninja Blade or Ninja Gaiden, you're thrown into a battlefield with a few thousand allied troops and tasked with completing a number of objectives. These can range from killing a set number of enemy troops to capturing a specific enemy base (by killing a set number of enemy troops within that building) or defeating an enemy commander. Movement is controlled with the left analogue stick and the camera with the right, while the face buttons control your weapon, magic powers and jumping with the shoulder buttons used for blocking.

You pick your character from a selection of well over a hundred, each with their own weapon, fighting style, magic skill and stamina. As well as these individual characteristics, each character falls into one of three categories: Vagrant, Officer or Ruler. Vagrants are wandering warriors who can sell their services to rulers for the right price; Officers begin the game attached to a specific Ruler but can step down and become Vagrants if they see fit; and Rulers, as the name suggests, are the rulers of the parts of China that you're fighting over. Simple really. The choice seems daunting at first - especially to those not well versed in the lore surrounding the Dynasty Warriors series - but a brief play through with some of the different characters reveals that your choice makes somewhere between little and no difference to the gameplay; for all the statistics, weapons and fighting styles, you're going to do exactly the same thing for the duration of the experience: mash the attack button until you've built up enough energy to unleash a magic attack, then rinse and repeat.

As you might have guessed by now, the core combat in Dynasty Warriors is somewhat dull. There's a lot to do and a lot of foes to kill but it's so repetitive that after a while you can pretty much play with your eyes closed. You never really feel like you're part of a battle, but rather an invincible super soldier killing everyone and everything in your path. The lack of challenge - especially on the lower difficulty levels - is criminal; you could fall asleep, face on controller, wake up and still not have died. There's no fluidity to the massacres either, just the same button combinations pressed over and over again until, eventually, you've killed enough enemies to sate the masochistic videogame gods and can move on to the next challenge (and do it all over again, again).

The main aim of the game is the unification of China, under whichever banner you choose. There are a variety of different scenarios from history that you can battle your way through, building up your character as you go. Depending on where you pledge your allegiance, you begin the game with a set number of shops for purchasing weapon upgrades, horses and other supplies. As you conquer further regions, you expand your supplies, opening up bigger and better weapons and more super powered horses. There are side quests to try as well, most of which involve killing wolves or tigers and just seem a bit cruel; they're not necessary for story progression but they do fill up your loot bag, which is always helpful.

The presentation of the game is mercifully better than Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2, which lumbered around like a confused N64 game. Here the graphics are reasonably polished, although texture pop-up and draw distances do still let the side down. There's no noticeable slowdown when the screen is full of opponents, although it is quite easy to lose where you are, leaving you hammering buttons in the hope that everyone around you dies before you do (and they almost always do). The sound effects are solid and believable, if a tad recycled, and the BGM select mode, which allows you to choose what song to listen to whilst you fight, is a welcome if anachronistic addition. What I don't understand is why the soundtrack to a game about medieval China is made up of sub Dragonforce hair metal - it is nice to be able to choose what to listen to, but more often than not I chose not to listen to anything.

Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires likes to think that's it's a massive, deep game - there's even an encyclopaedia of historical events included in the start menu, so you can brush up on the background to your mindless slaughter - but the problem is, whilst it is certainly massive, it's a long, long way from being deep. It wants to be the sea, full of unplumbed depths and secrets, exciting adventures and, er, whales, but it's just a paddling pool that stretches as far as the eye can see. Instead of swimming, you're just stood in ankle deep, luke-warm water, splashing around, trying to pretend you're having fun whilst every fifty metres or so snickering kids are urinating and watching the water turn pink. For all the game's shine and sparkle, once you peel away the top layers you find that there's nothing inside, just the same hollow shell that we've been playing with since day one. If that appeals to you then pick this game up; if not, avoid it at all costs.

Reviewed by Harry Slater for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).