'Dynasty Warriors 9' tips, tricks & cheats: Guide to the game's new mechanics

Screenshot from "Dynasty Warriors 9"/Koei Tecmo America/dw9

"Dynasty Warriors 9" is out now and is bigger than ever, introducing a lot of new features and mechanics not present before in any past iteration, particularly the open world.

This is why a lot of players both veteran and new might find the game quite confusing at times with its new mechanics rlequiring a higher learning curve. This is why this guide will discuss how to get the most out of the game and make it much easier for all players to gain an advantage.

The first in the list of changes is the combat in-game. Gone are the branching combos of the game and are replaced by launching attacks, knockdowns, a stun and specials by holding one of the trigger/shoulder buttons. Each of these attacks serves a different purpose and it is recommended that players try out each trigger attack and what situation it should best be used in order to maximize the new feature.

"Dynasty Warriors 9," being an open-world game, now comes with the addition of a new and rather confusing inventory system in which players would do well to manage and can also be used for planning where to go. It is important to also check which gear is present in the utility item slot before entering combat to ensure that players have what they need in a pinch.

Weapons are probably one of the most important aspects of the game, and a new mechanic is also present to spice things up for everyone. This is the gem system for the weapons in "Dynasty Warriors 9" in which each gem in the right slot can inflict different status effects that sometimes synergize with that of other gems or character abilities. It is then recommended that players hoard and use all the gems they can find and determine what they like best.

Lastly, curiosity is quite an advantageous trait for this game since it is now an open world, meaning exploration can yield a lot of good results and players are advised to walk their characters around the big open world — though with caution as enemies populate some areas of the map. With these tips, players should be dominating the Han dynasty in no time.