This collection includes Sengoku Basara, Sengoku Basara 2, and Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes. All of which are great. WARNING! This is a long one...
I will preface this review by saying that I am a fan of the Dynasty Warriors STYLE of game, but not quite the Dynasty Warriors series itself. That said, I can say that I LOVE the Sengoku Basara franchise, but not the localized versions.
Sengoku Basara
Story
There is really no overlapping story to speak of, but for each individual character, there is a paper-thin plot that is alluded to through cut scenes at the beginning, middle, and end of each character's conquest mode.
Sound & Voice Acting
The VO for each playable character is incredible with each voice actor giving a believable performance to some of the most over-the-top characters in gaming. On the other hand, the VO in Devil Kings is stilted, with each actor sounding as if they are just collecting a paycheck and generally not caring about their performances. Though all of the VO in "SB" is great, my biggest props go to Kazuya Nakai (Date Masamune) and Soichiro Hoshi (Sanada Yukimura).
Though none of these songs are particularly memorable, the soundtrack is a combination of quality electric guitar solos and classical japanese instruments to make interesting music that fit the locations and characters in the game perfectly.
Gameplay
Capcom originally released this game only to be their answer to Dynasty Warriors, and that really shows in the gameplay. Sengoku Basara basically plays exactly like an early Dynasty Warriors game. That being said, this game does include many different and interesting characters that all control differently and have their own strengths and weaknesses that can add some variety to the button-mashing gameplay.
Sengoku Basara 2
Story
This entry to the series adds 6 new playable characters to the already existing roster, bringing the total up to 22 playable characters, and 8 non-playable characters. A few of these characters include Oichi, the daughter of Oda Nobunaga from the first game, Chosokabe Motochika, my personal favorite, a pirate leader with a thirst for adventure, and Miyamoto Musashi, my personal LEAST favorite, a wild man with oars. This game also introduces a proper "Story Mode", playable with 21 of the 22 characters in the game, Miyamoto Musashi is the only one without a story.
Sound & Voice Acting
All of the incredibly talented voice actors return to reprise their roles with many new, equally talented voices, including, my favorite, Ryuzo Ishino (Chosokabe Motochika).
There is not much change in the music tracks that are tied to the many new maps that you will be fighting on, but with the addition of a new theme song for the game "WE aRE" Performed by the great band Abingdon Boys School fronted by TM Revolution's own Takanori Nishikawa, this soundtrack stands high above the original's.
Gameplay
Not much has changed since the first game, besides the new characters introducing different playstyles. The only notable changes to the game are a system of earning coins by racking up a larger and larger combo that has been much improved in later releases, and the addition of the sengoku drive state. The sengoku drive state can be activated after reaching 100 kills/KOs, but can be increased by getting even more kills without activating. Entering sengoku drive mode makes your character glow red and increases his/her attack speed, you also cannot be staggered in this state. This game also adds a tournament mode that allows players to select a character and go through 100 levels of various types of enemies. Every 10 levels you are given a chance to save and take a break. After each level you are presented with a roulette wheel that can result in all sorts of things to assist or hinder your progress. When you beat level 50, you receive the 3rd armor selection for your character, and when you beat all 100 levels, you recieve the 8th weapon for your character. this mode can also be played in split-screen multiplayer with up to 2 characters.
Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes
Story
Once again, this entry introduces 8 new playable characters, and 1 non-playable one, to the ever-growing roster with 31 characters total, (Miyamoto Musashi is not in this one). Along with new characters, a new mode was also added, named "Gaiden Story Mode" which offers a much shorter story (3 stages as opposed to 5 or 6) but is only playable with a limited number of characters.
Sound
New characters means new stages, voice actors, and new music to accompany them. Although there is not much change in the music on the stages, there is a new theme song once again performed by the incredible Abingdon Boys School titled "Blade Chord".
Gameplay
The coin mechanic introduced in SB2 is expanded upon to allow you to earn more coins in more of a rapid succession. Grand Tournament and Ultimate Grand Tournament were added. Grand Tournament allows you to gain exp, gold, and a rice ball for completing challenges along with the standard levels. Ultimate Grand Tournament awards gold for clearing levels.
Graphics
I wanted to wait to talk about the graphics until the end because all of these games have the same graphical quality and the same graphics style. None of the faces ever move on the character models, which leads to some silliness, and some eeriness depending on the cutscene.
In Conclusion
All I have left to say is that this is the series got me into the warriors style of gameplay. Plus, this series also has some great anime based on it.