Dynasty Warriors: Origins makes quite a few bold assertions, and, for the most part, it successfully delivers on them. As the latest entry developed by Omega Force and published by Koei, it endeavors to reboot a series that has been around for 28 years. The game promises a fresh take on the Dynasty Warriors formula, showcasing one-versus-one-thousand action like never before. It’s intended to serve as an ideal introduction for newcomers while simultaneously catering to the tastes of seasoned players through its intricate tactical gameplay and revamped storytelling.
Presented in a visually impressive package, Dynasty Warriors: Origins stands out as the most technically advanced installment in the franchise to date. However, it does have its shortcomings, occasionally falling into repetitive and grind-heavy gameplay that can feel tedious. While these low points do not overshadow its high moments significantly, they can detract from the overall experience. Yet, the game maintains enough of the classic Musou charm to sustain interest.
Classic Musou Combat Evolves in Dynasty Warriors: Origins
A Familiar Formula with New Twists
The essence of the Dynasty Warriors franchise revolves around the thrilling concept of one versus a thousand players, immersing them in epic confrontations where a single character battles against vast enemy forces. Dynasty Warriors: Origins rises to this challenge like never before thanks to the introduction of the Large Force mechanic, creating armies that are impressively formidable.
Engaging in combat with these Large Forces is a rewarding experience, as each enemy dispatched feels significant. Players can send foes flying with potent attacks, ultimately witnessing the chaos unfold as they hone in on the army’s commander. The intensity and chaos of battles serve as both a positive and a negative aspect of the gameplay. Players must remain vigilant and strategic in their choices, yet the frenetic nature can result in unexpected, unblockable attacks catching them off guard.
To help players navigate through the mayhem, Dynasty Warriors: Origins introduces an extensive array of special attacks. Engaging strong attacks fills the Bravery meter, which can be tapped into for unleashing powerful special moves with various effects such as crowd control, defense-breaking, or interrupting incoming hits. Players have ample opportunity to explore and customize their arsenal based on different weapon types, resulting in a highly personalized gameplay experience.
Returning mechanics like Morale, the Musou gauge, and Rage mode maintain familiar functionality from previous entries. New to this iteration, players can command a small group of soldiers, adding a layer of strategic depth during engagements. Furthermore, both the player and adversary can activate Grand Strategies—significant advantages that come into play when specific objectives are met under a time constraint, enhancing the urgency and tactical decision-making required.
A noteworthy aspect of Dynasty Warriors: Origins is its emphasis on a single protagonist, Ziluan, as opposed to the diverse roster seen in previous games. Players can fully customize Ziluan’s gameplay experience through seven weapon types, drastically altering playstyle and combos, alongside unique special moves and tactical options, complemented by a skill tree for leveling up and acquiring perks from crafted accessories.
Nevertheless, Ziluan’s lack of distinct personality makes him feel like a lesser alternative to the beloved characters from earlier installments. While unlocking weapon types is enjoyable, it cannot compete with the thrill of new character acquisitions as found in prior Warrior games. A mechanic allowing for companion characters in late-game missions exists, but player interaction remains limited to brief savages.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Has a Hit-or-Miss Story
A Close-Up Look at the Three Kingdoms
The magnitude of Dynasty Warriors: Origins is reminiscent of its source material, the renowned Chinese historical narrative, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, this adaptation only covers approximately half of the expansive story, which allows for a deeper exploration of its key figures, locations, and events. The game is structured into five distinct chapters, each concentrating on various arcs of the saga.
From the initial rise of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the coalition among the three warlords—Wei, Wu, and Shu—Origins traverses a substantial portion of this epic tale. However, the constantly evolving focus can lead to narrative inconsistencies, making certain chapters compelling while others may feel more predictable and drawn out. Regardless, the characters are engaging, and the tensions between their ambitions and the complex political landscape of the Three Kingdoms propel the narrative.
Additionally, Dynasty Warriors: Origins introduces a Bond system similar to Persona, enhancing the player’s connection with supporting characters. These interactions significantly enrich character depth, making losses more impactful when they occur. Though some players might find the voice acting to be overly dramatic or cheesy, others may appreciate its endearing qualities that evoke the charm of classic martial arts cinema.
As players progress to the game’s latter stages, narrative choices allow for alignment with Liu Bei, Cao Cao, or Sun Jian, shaping the direction of the story. Although my experience only allowed me to explore one path, this feature adds substantial replay value, significantly altering late-game encounters based on these alliances.
Contrasting Ziluan’s personal journey with the high-stakes narrative of the Three Kingdoms, the protagonist’s story arc feels slow and somewhat clichéd. Anchored around the frequently used RPG motif of an amnesiac hero destined for greatness, it does allow for some narrative integration but ultimately detracts from Ziluan’s own narrative progression.
Exploration & Side Content Fill in the Gaps
A Not-Quite-Open World
Once again, Dynasty Warriors: Origins boasts significant breadth, granting players the freedom to choose their subsequent endeavors. Between main battles, an RPG-style overworld allows exploration, where players can stop at towns, engage in optional skirmishes, or interact with NPCs while progressing through the story.
The world map is immersive, offering pockets of open-world exploration. Players can gather materials, seek hidden items, and converse with NPCs, all while steering clear of the typical bloat found in true open-world environments. However, the game is not entirely open-world; new areas only unlock as pivotal story events unfold.
While players have the option to engage in optional skirmishes, these can range from simplistic brawls to intricate strategic clashes. Unfortunately, side content can become monotonous, as many battles end up reusing the same maps and enemies throughout various chapters. While I personally found repeated triumphs against swarms of enemies satisfying, others may grow weary of the redundancy.
Variations in mission objectives attempt to maintain interest—be it eliminating all enemies or escorting characters to safety—but these mechanics largely echo those found in main quests. Without pressure to achieve 100% completion, players may still lag in progression if they neglect optional content. Engaging with side quests can be crucial for weapon proficiency and skill upgrades necessary for tackling the game’s more difficult challenges.
Final Thoughts & Review Score
Screen Rant Gives Dynasty Warriors: Origins a 7/10
Rating Dynasty Warriors: Origins proves to be a nuanced endeavor. While I recognize its shortcomings, I am willing to overlook many in light of its strengths. My fondness for the campy voice performances, coupled with my patience for repetitive side quests, might not resonate with all players. However, I struggle to excuse its inconsistent storytelling, alongside the decision to streamline the character roster into a single, generic protagonist.
Nevertheless, at its core, Origins embodies the spirit of Dynasty Warriors. The exhilarating satisfaction of executing combos, the thrilling pandemonium of grand-scale skirmishes, and the gratification of a successful strategy remain intact. If you’ve enjoyed past Warriors games or are intrigued by the concept, there is much to appreciate in this installment. In many respects, Dynasty Warriors: Origins stands as a worthy successor.
A digital download code for PS5 was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.
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