Koei's latest attempt to bring Dynasty Warriors onto a handheld system, Dynasty Warriors DS: Fighter's Battle for the Nintendo DS, doesn't completely suck. The game has a charming visual presentation, almost emulating the old-school role-playing games that the company made for the 16-bit Super Nintendo. The graphics make proper use of Mode 7-like scaling effects, along with anime-style character models that give the game retro charm. In addition, the game includes a multiplayer option, as two players can go at it with warring armies to proclaim dominance over bases and villages.

Despite the little pleasures buried within the game, the monotony makes it unbearably boring. Like previous chapters in the Dynasty Warriors series, Fighter's Battle relies on the same dry gameplay. Players approach groups of soldiers and destroy them using charge, strong and Musou attacks. They must constantly stay on the move through villages and enemy camps while clashing with a specific foe. Unfortunately, the boss doesn't die at first -- he or she just gets "pushed back". Battling the same person for several minutes makes us sleepy.

Dynasty Warriors contains a card battle system that does little to enhance the game. Before each fight, players select from assisting captains, available in a deck of battle cards. These warriors not only put up a strong fight, but also enable the character to use special attacks. It sounds like a novel addition, but it is underutilized. Most of the fights are the same, with the enemy artificial intelligence stupidly running around with no mind-set for battle. Archers shoot blindly, while other soldiers simply walk up and strike. Only the boss characters show any real ingenuity here and even those battles end rather quickly.

Worst of all, Fighter's Battle takes less than a day to complete. The story mode only has three characters to choose from, with each of their story missions taking roughly two to three hours apiece to complete. Koei made an unfortunate decision with character selection, opting to go with younger warriors and bland character design rather than familiar faces from previous games. Oh, sure, some familiar characters still surface, but they merely provide advice. The cheesy rock tunes that play in the background don't help the cause either.

Had Koei put more thought gone into the card battle system, the character selection and the in-game combat, Dynasty Warriors DS: Fighter's Battle could've stood out. Sadly, , the game endures the same repetitive fate as other entries in the series. Perhaps a more focused sequel will offer something more fulfilling.