This is much more like it after the previous rather lacklustre Dynasty Warriors outings on the PSP.
Lots of very snappy fighting with a large number of different weapons and the usual huge roster of characters that you can play as. A great central hub with a large number of upgrades for your character and your kit (clearly inspired by Monster Hunter) - the harder the missions you manage, the better the item drops you get, which you then turn in to get the upgrades.
And it's quite hard, there's a lot of grinding to do building up your stats so that you don't get single-combo-shotted by the powered up bosses. Would obviously be easier in multiplayer, I'm struggling along in single player. The fighting is more of the button-mashing kind than the precision Ninja Gaiden kind - although it's not entirely brainless by any means.
Graphics are very nice, and the action blows along at a good lick, particularly once you power yourself up so that you can leap around like a demented grasshopper slashing wildly at equally airborne opponents. The music is an odd mix of faux-Chinese stuff and widdly metal, but it works for me.
This is a very good, slick package. Well done Koei! Strongly recommended.