Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires

Dynasty Warriors was in a downward spiral until this came along. Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires is a strategic button masher that doesn't get old. Every game is different (usually) as you try to outwit the other generals that are spread across the land, as well as those generals's forces. Along the way you get to use enhancing and detrimental powers and your generals get to use special skills. In addition, the game is chocked full of interesting special features, like artwork, a movie you edit yourself and hundreds of unlockables. If this isn't enough, you get to command the biggest host of Dynasty Warriors to date (40-something) and even create 4 of your own (which can be crossed over from Xtreme Legends). The only squabbles are that in Hard Mode the enemies can be unforgiving, the frame rate goes down every few battles and it's a button masher, but these are very tolerable when you find yourself playing this for hours and hours... and hours.