Dynasty Warriors: Origins Brings Fresh Innovation to a Classic Series

Dynasty Warriors has always been a go-to for me—Omega Force’s enduring series consistently weaves the expansive saga of kingdoms, presented through each installment with the hallmark “1v1000” combat experience. I discovered the series with Dynasty Warriors 2, and over the past 25 years, I’ve found myself drawn back repeatedly to witness this vast array of characters act out their roles in the epic story. Throughout the years, I’ve developed favorites, like the mighty Guan Yu, simply due to the time spent with these characters.

Intrigued by the latest mainline entry, I dove into the 10th installment of the series. Its title sums up the pitch—Dynasty Warriors: Origins takes us back to basics, reimagining the series beyond the incremental updates that fans have come to expect with each new release.

Origins offers a richer, more concentrated narrative, focusing only on the first half of the tale we’re familiar with, but adding much more depth. Traditionally, Dynasty Warriors games kick off with players quelling the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a battle that ignites the Romance of the Three Kingdoms—the partly fictionalized story of ancient China upon which the games are based. However, Origins’ opening chapter takes a different approach, detailing the Yellow Turbans’ rise, corruption, and eventual downfall. It’s essentially an origin story for what has always been the series’ origin event.

This installment also introduces a brand new protagonist that you can name—a wandering warrior with amnesia whose past unfolds as you progress. You’ll be spending most of your time in Dynasty Warriors: Origins as this character, marking a significant shift. Instead of choosing from a vast roster of officers across multiple factions, you lead this single character on a journey that inevitably puts you in the path of familiar faces, some of whom will still become playable.

Taking a bold step, Origins moves away from the open-world format of Dynasty Warriors 9 from 2018, focusing on a singular main character. This decision allows the creators to offer a more adaptable Story Mode. Rather than advancing linearly from fight to fight with interspersed cutscenes, you now get to explore an overworld between main missions. This area is full of secrets to uncover, loadouts to tweak, officers to meet and form bonds with, and skirmishes where you can level up.

Significantly, this shift heralds a renewed emphasis on the combat system within Dynasty Warriors. While longtime fans can rest assured—the classic hack ‘n’ slash essence remains intact—there’s a newfound complexity. As you face enemy bosses, strategically blocking, parrying, and evading becomes crucial. Mini-puzzle elements have also been woven into certain conflicts, and customizable Battle Art special abilities give players the flexibility to tailor their combat style for each weapon type.

This doesn’t feel like change for the sake of change, it’s more of a confident step into the future. While I still get the familiar feeling of being a 2nd-Century superhero, the need for more tactical thinking during each confrontation adds to the experience.

This blend of the old and the new defines the approach Origins takes. It’s unmistakably Dynasty Warriors, yet with fresh concepts seamlessly woven in. To sum it up—it’s still the comfort food I crave, but spiced up with some new ingredients.