After nine main games and countless spin-off titles, the Dynasty Warriors series can boast a stable base of loyal fans who have kept it alive for over two decades. However, it is a series that ultimately remains within the realm of a niche, as confirmed by the fact that over those 20 years, it has barely surpassed 20 million copies sold. Despite numerous attempts by KOEI Tecmo and the Omega Force team to expand their reach and attract a wider mainstream audience, the results have often varied, with Dynasty Warriors Origins being their latest attempt.
There is still nostalgic talk about the series' golden age when Dynasty Warriors 4 and 5 defined the genre and set high standards. Although later titles like Dynasty Warriors 7 and 8 managed to maintain solid sales, they never succeeded in making the significant leap forward that fans had been hoping for. Is Dynasty Warriors Origins finally that game? Let's find out.
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The Story of Dynasty Warriors Origins
Even the birds on the branches know that the storylines of Dynasty Warriors games are heavily based on the events of the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Playing these games makes it easy to forget that it is one of the classics of Chinese and world literature, romanticizing an extraordinarily turbulent and bloody period of Chinese history. Dynasty Warriors often fall into the same trap as, for example, Dragon Ball games – repeating the same story for years, which makes it challenging to achieve the same emotional impact as when you experienced it for the first time.
Origins maintains the series' narrative tradition, making it a compelling title for both occasional and new players. The game's narrative approach is a significant departure from its predecessors. Unlike previous games, where the story was often fragmented and served as a backdrop for massive battles, it is now at the forefront. The story of the Three Kingdoms is not only linear and chronologically consistent, but you also experience it exclusively from the perspective of a single main character, adding a new layer of depth to the narrative.
The main protagonist is silent and embodies the somewhat overused cliché of memory loss, but surprisingly, this works well to convey the game's story. Throughout the game, you encounter numerous legendary characters from the kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu – before those kingdoms were even established. Instead of presenting them as clear heroes or villains, the story remains morally gray, allowing you to decide through numerous interactions which faction you will eventually side with.
Is It Done Right?
This decision is not at all simple. The game begins in a period when the leading players are still allies, making their inevitable split in the later stages of the story even more emotionally impactful. The entire narrative is further enriched by excellent presentation, combining cutscenes, in-engine animations, and various, often surprisingly deep, conversations with key characters.
Voice acting in Chinese and Japanese is particularly impressive, so I definitely recommend playing the game in one of these languages if you have the option. While the English voice acting occasionally comes across as comical and lacks emotional depth, it proved helpful for following numerous dialogues during intense battles – especially if you don't want to miss any critical details.
That being said, although the story's presentation is far ahead of anything the Dynasty Warriors series has offered, it cannot be said that it is perfect. The biggest flaw is the classic problem of a silent protagonist, who only nods while interlocutors deliver emotional confessions. Additionally, the game is filled with unnecessary and uninteresting dialogues with side characters that lead nowhere and have no emotional impact or significant effect on the story.
The campaign is the only mode in the game, but I do not see this as a disadvantage. It is an extensive experience lasting between 60 and 100 hours, with the possibility of replaying certain sections to explore what happens when you side with different factions. However, the lack of additional modes from previous installments, particularly multiplayer, could disappoint longtime series fans.
Dynasty Warriors Origins Gameplay
The gameplay in Dynasty Warriors Origins is a visual treat. It consists of two main aspects: exploring the overworld map, where you run through ancient China, and the recognizable musou action, which is the core of the entire series. The overworld map, while functional, also serves as an aesthetic delight, providing a visually appealing way to engage with interactions and missions, unlike the traditional selection via menus.
The real spectacle begins on the battlefield, where maps skillfully balance older games' classic, compact designs with the more ambitious, open areas from the last installment. While some missions are simple and focused on capturing just one base, most offer significantly more extensive and complex terrains filled with smaller forts, winding paths, and open spaces that serve as perfect stages for the most significant battles.
Massive battles, where your one-person army character mows down everything in sight, have long been the core of Dynasty Warriors games, but Origins elevates them to a new level. In smaller skirmishes, you'll encounter hundreds of enemies, while larger battles feature thousands of opponents on screen, faithfully recreating the chaotic spectacle of mass conflicts between warring factions.
Is It Hard?
The combat animations of your character in Dynasty Warriors Origins are a sight to behold, executed with a level of finesse and detail that rivals high-profile action titles. Controlling the character is pure joy, and combat is fast, fluid, and visually impressive, promising an exhilarating gaming experience.
Regardless of the difficulty, fighting against ordinary soldiers doesn't pose a significant challenge – their role is more to contribute to the visual spectacle of mass battles. The real test comes in battles against officers and other heroes, where the game transitions into the realm of classic action games. Here, you'll need to use dodging, parrying, and various tricks from a rich arsenal.
You have access to standard combos and special attacks, team attacks with iconic characters, and even devastating musou attacks that can clear the entire screen of enemies. Occasionally, the game allows for short sequences where you control some well-known heroes, but this is unlikely to satisfy fans who hoped to play the entire game as one of their favorite characters.
Dynasty Warriors Origins In Conclusion
From everything written, it is clear that Origins is the most complex, polished, and visually impressive title in the Dynasty Warriors series. Of course, this added depth didn't come without sacrifices – some elements from previous games have been removed, which might feel almost heretical to longtime fans. However, I believe that we got a better and fresher game in the series because of these changes.
Focusing on a coherent story, role-playing elements, and faster, more fun, and visually appealing combat brings a fresh and modern experience despite the series' long-standing tradition. I don't know if the series will continue in this direction, but it's not hard to reach for the sky when you're practically already in the clouds with Origins.
Our Rating: 8.6/10
The narrative improvements, deeper combat, and stunning visuals are impressive, but some repetitive aspects and missing modes slightly hold it back.
Recommended Age: 13+
The combat-heavy gameplay and complex historical themes are more suitable for teenagers and older players, so it has an ESRB rating of T for teens.