This is just a brief overview of what is avaiable in Dynasty Warriors 8 CE and what was added with the DW 8 Xtreme Legends expansion. If you want more details about the game I would suggest checking out the official DW8 or DW8 XL website.

Note: Complete Edition = Dynasty Warriors 8 + DW 8 Xtreme Legends

Price: $50 (NA)

Story Mode

• Follow the Story of each kingdom: Wei, Wu, Shu, Jin, and with Xtreme Legends the storyline of Lubu's forces.
  
  
  
  
• Each scenario lets you pick from 4 characters to play and objectives can change based on the character chosen.
  
  
  
  
• The storyline included the historical paths, and hypothetical paths which unlock when you complete all of the optional objectives of a scenario.
  
  
  
  
• There is off-line and online co-op for story mode (not 100% confirmed for PC yet)
  
  
  
  

http://www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/dw8/#mode-storymode

Free Mode

• This mode allows you to choose any selectable scenario in Story Mode and play through it freely with any officer you like.
  
  
  
  
• By completing scenarios in Story Mode you can unlock scenarios that allow you to play from a rival kingdom's perspective and other stages that can only be selected in Free Mode.
  
  
  
  

http://www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/dw8/#mode-freemode

Ambition Mode
New mode to the series

• Mode in which you fight consecutive battles of increasing difficulty in order to gain the allies and materials needed to upgrade your camp and ally with the Emperor.
  
  
  
  
• After the Emperor is on your side you can continue playing to capture territory across the three kingdoms.
  
  
  
  

Three types of battles:

• Skirmish battles - give materials to build
  
  
  
  
• Raid battles - increase fame
  
  
  
  
• Great battles - used to recruit new heroes
  
  
  
  

Facilities:

• Blacksmith, Barracks, Teahouse
  
  
  
  
• Merchant, Farmer, Stables
  
  
  
  
• Training Ground, Academy
  
  
  
  

Allies:

• Defeat enemy officers in battle to recruit them as your ally.
  
  
  
  
• You can recruit playable officers as bodyguards to help fight with you in battle.
  
  
  
  

http://www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/dw8/#mode-shouseimode

Challenge Mode
Player can use stock characters to compete in 5 types of arcade-style challenges:

• Rampage - This course tests how many enemies you can defeat in total.
  
  
  
  
• Bridge Melee - This course tests how many enemies you can knock off of a platform in the stage.
  
  
  
  
• Speed Run - This course tests how fast you can make it through an obstacle course to reach the final destination.
  
  
  
  
• Arena - This course tests how many famous officers you can defeat in succession.
  
  
  
  
• Inferno - This course tests how fast you can defeat all of the enemies that are presented before you.
  
  
  
  

http://www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/dw8xl/#mode-challengemode

New in Xtreme Legends:

• New story mode dedicated to Lubu and his allies
  
  
  
  
• New stages and hypothetical battles for the other kingdoms
  
  
  
  
• New content for Ambition mode
  
  
  
  
• Challenge mode
  
  
  
  
• Increased level cap (150)
  
  
  
  
• New EX attack for each character
  
  
  
  
• 5 New playable characters (82 warriors total)