Dynasty Warriors: Origins Dev Team Was Instructed to “Go Kill The Player”

Dynasty Warriors: Origins ups the ante with significantly more challenging enemies. Producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team? "Go and kill the player." This philosophy drives the enhanced combat experience in the latest installment.

A Deadlier Battlefield: Redefining Musou Combat

In an interview with PlayStation.Blog, Sho explained the reasoning behind the increased enemy difficulty. The goal was to inject a heightened sense of realism. The struggle for survival isn't limited to the player character; enemy soldiers and generals are equally desperate.

While the difficulty is noticeably increased, Sho emphasized a balance between challenge and accessibility. The game offers rewarding challenges, designed to be progressively overcome, fostering a sense of accomplishment even for players less experienced with action games. He acknowledged the significant challenge of merging the classic "musou" exhilaration of overwhelming hordes with the gritty realism of a battlefield.

A Return to Roots: Focusing on Origins

A key departure from previous titles is the absence of a sequential number in the game's title. Instead of Dynasty Warriors 10, the game is titled Dynasty Warriors: Origins, marking the first non-numbered entry in the franchise.

This "Origins" designation highlights the game's focus on the first half of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, unlike previous iterations that covered the entire narrative. In an interview at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show with TheGamer, Sho confirmed the story concludes with the Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs). The decision to narrow the scope allowed for a more detailed and intense portrayal of this pivotal period.

Arriving seven years after the previous main installment, Dynasty Warriors: Origins stays true to the source material, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, while introducing an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero. Players embark on a journey through a war-torn China, navigating the conflicts between various factions.

Released on January 17th, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Read Game8's review for a more in-depth look!