Dynasty Warriors: Origins ups the ante with significantly more challenging enemies. Producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team? A simple, yet impactful, "Go and kill the player." This article delves into the design choices behind this increased difficulty.
A Deadlier Battlefield: "Go and Kill the Player"
The enhanced enemy strength in Dynasty Warriors: Origins isn't arbitrary. As revealed in a PlayStation.Blog interview, producer Sho aimed for heightened realism. The struggle for survival isn't limited to the player; enemy soldiers and generals are equally desperate.
While increasing the difficulty, Sho ensured the challenge remained satisfying rather than frustrating. He emphasized a balanced approach, stating, "Even if you're not that good at action games, if you learn them in order, you can play comfortably and feel a sense of success." The development team faced the challenge of merging the classic "musou" exhilaration of overwhelming enemies with the grittier realism of a true battlefield.
A Return to Roots: "Origins"
The absence of a sequential number in the title, a significant departure from tradition (it would have been Dynasty Warriors 10), marks Origins as the first non-numbered entry in the series.
This "Origins" moniker also signifies a focused narrative. Unlike previous installments covering the entire Romance of the Three Kingdoms story, Origins concentrates solely on the first half, culminating in the pivotal Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs), as confirmed by Sho in a 2024 Tokyo Game Show interview with TheGamer. He explained the decision to meticulously portray this crucial period of the epic tale.
Seven years after the last main installment, Dynasty Warriors: Origins arrives, based on the classic Chinese novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This iteration introduces an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of Han Dynasty China.
Released on January 17th, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. For a comprehensive review, check out Game8's assessment!
