Dynasty Warriors: Origins – Game Review

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is Koei Tecmo's boldest move for the Dynasty Warriors series in over two decades. Instead of continuing the traditional numbering system (from Dynasty Warriors 2 in 2000 to Dynasty Warriors 9 ), the developer proactively abandoned the numbering system and chose the name 'Origins' as a clear statement: this is not just a sequel, but a new beginning for the franchise.

The Dynasty Warriors series is based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms , one of the most influential cultural works in East Asia. For over 20 years, the series has been associated with the action-packed '1 vs. 1,000' experience – where players embody famous generals, single-handedly charging into vast battlefields, slaying thousands of soldiers in an instant, also known as 'Musou'.

This formula was so successful that it was 'replicated' in many other franchises such as Hyrule Warriors , Fire Emblem Warriors , and One Piece: Pirate Warriors .

However, this prolonged stability has become a double-edged sword. Dynasty Warriors has frequently been criticized for its repetitive gameplay, lack of innovation, and past attempts at reform (especially in Dynasty Warriors 9 ) have not received widespread support.

In that context, Dynasty Warriors: Origins emerged as a difficult challenge: to refresh the experience without losing its core identity. Will Koei Tecmo succeed in this challenge? Let's wait and see.

SUMMARY OF CONTENT

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is set in late Eastern Han China, a period of social chaos, weakened imperial power, and the rise of warlords. Unlike previous installments that revolved around many familiar generals, the game follows a completely new protagonist – a wandering warrior who has lost his memory and whose identity and past are unknown.

In their quest for survival amidst chaos, the protagonist gradually becomes embroiled in major conflicts and attracts the attention of various powerful forces. Depending on the player's choices, the character will serve one of three major factions: Wei, Shu, or Wu. Each decision not only affects personal relationships but also shapes the course of the story and the character's role in the course of history.

During the game, players witness and directly participate in many important events of the Three Kingdoms period, meeting familiar historical figures such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. However, these events are viewed from the protagonist's perspective, rather than recreating history in a traditional way.

Alongside the large-scale battles, the plot gradually reveals clues related to the protagonist's lost memories and true identity. Questions surrounding the reason for the character's superior fighting abilities, as well as their connection to historical events, become the central theme of the story.

YOU WILL LIKE

The main character is 'unfamiliar'!

The biggest – and most controversial – change in Dynasty Warriors: Origins lies in its approach to the storyline. The game no longer allows players to freely choose Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, or Zhao Yun from the start. Instead, you take on the role of a completely new character, a wandering warrior in the Three Kingdoms era, who has lost his memory and is caught in the power struggles of various major forces.

The protagonist can choose to serve Wei, Shu, or Wu, and this decision will steer the storyline in different directions. Not only does the historical outcome change, but your relationships, allies, and enemies are also reshaped. Compared to the 'buffet-style' storytelling of previous installments – where players choose generals, enter battles, and then switch to other characters with almost no connection – this new approach is like a 'meal with a menu,' clear, coherent, and climactic.

For newcomers, this is a major plus. They don't need to understand every character of the Three Kingdoms from the start; they can still follow the story through the protagonist's personal journey. For long-time fans, uncovering the mysteries of the past, lost memories, and the true role of this character in the familiar historical narrative also creates a new layer of appeal.

The biggest change in Dynasty Warriors: Origins lies in its approach to the storyline.

Focusing on a single character forced Dynasty Warriors: Origins to completely restructure its character development system. Instead of each general being tied to a fixed weapon type, weapons are now 'open resources', unlocked gradually throughout the game.

Players can choose from 8 basic weapon types, expanding to around 10 later on, including the Fangtian Huaji – an iconic weapon associated with Lu Bu. Each weapon type has a different set of moves, pace, and combat feel, allowing players to experiment and change their play style without creating a new character.

Even more noteworthy is the experience system, which is designed to be very "easygoing." When using one weapon, other weapons still receive a portion of the experience. If you switch weapons mid-game, their level will quickly catch up to the overall level, avoiding the feeling of having to "grind" from scratch. This is a small but extremely important improvement, helping the game maintain a stable pace and minimizing boredom.

The combat system is intense!

Traditionally, Dynasty Warriors isn't a series focused on one-on-one battles. However, Dynasty Warriors : Origins boldly upgraded the combat system, adding mechanics like precise parrying, well-timed dodging, and calculated counterattacks.

Confrontations with legendary generals, such as Lu Bu at Hulao Pass, feel very different from before. Instead of just 'spamming skills' amidst a 'sea of ​​soldiers,' players must observe, react, and exploit weaknesses, making these battles closer to modern action games. Difficulty also directly affects AI behavior, creating a clear difference between game modes.

Traditionally, Dynasty Warriors isn't a series focused on one-on-one battles. However, Dynasty Warriors : Origins boldly upgraded the combat system.

Despite numerous changes, Dynasty Warriors: Origins never forgets the core of the series. The feeling of single-handedly charging into battle, sweeping through hundreds or thousands of soldiers, remains central to the experience.

Players can select allied generals before each battle, even controlling them briefly to unleash special skills. In the early stages of the game, switching to Guan Yu and activating the ultimate Musou – with its powerful visual effects, the screen turning black and white, and enemies being wiped out in an instant – is a truly impressive moment!

As the story progresses, the protagonist also 'unlocks' similar skills, combined with the unique moves of each weapon type. The fast pace, large scale, and sense of 'absolute dominance' are all preserved.

YOU WILL HATE

The plot scope is limited, creating a sense of 'incompleteness'.

Despite bearing the name Origins and being presented as a new beginning for the franchise, Dynasty Warriors: Origins only explores the historical period up to the Battle of Red Cliffs, a significant milestone but not the final climax of the Three Kingdoms era. This leaves the overall storyline somewhat incomplete, especially for players familiar with the entire historical process from the Three Kingdoms period to the unification of the Jin Dynasty.

With its new narrative structure, focusing on a single protagonist with a clearly defined personal journey, the stopping point at Red Cliff leaves the character's development unfulfilled. Many crucial questions – about the past, the protagonist's true role in history, and the long-term consequences of the player's decisions – remain unexplored.

This feeling is even more pronounced because the game invests heavily in building faction choices and relationships, but doesn't give them enough space or time to develop to a satisfying conclusion.

Of course, this could be a calculated decision by the developers, paving the way for future sequels or expansions. However, at the moment, players who complete the game still find themselves feeling like they've just finished a long chapter, not the entire story.

With its new narrative structure, focusing on a single protagonist with a clearly defined personal journey, stopping at the Battle of Red Cliffs leaves the character development incomplete.

This trade-off regarding 'character identity' might not appeal to long-time fans.

The shift to a 'single protagonist' model makes Dynasty Warriors: Origins more coherent and accessible, but it also creates a clear trade-off. In previous installments, each warrior differed not only in appearance but also in fighting style, weapons, skill sets, and pace. This diversity was one of the factors that kept players coming back to experiment with different characters.

In Origins , while the open weapon system somewhat compensates for that shortcoming, the feeling of 'embodying a legendary general' is significantly diminished. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun now primarily exist as supporting allies or playable characters for short periods, rather than being the center of the experience. For long-time fans of the series, this might be a disappointing change.

In other words, Dynasty Warriors: Origins requires players to prioritize the role-playing experience of a new character, rather than the satisfaction of choosing and mastering dozens of familiar generals.

The shift to a single-character model makes Dynasty Warriors: Origins more coherent and accessible, but it also creates a clear trade-off.