Dynasty Warriors: Origins Review

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At first, our site, RPG Site, didn’t plan to feature Dynasty Warriors: Origins. As a themed site focused on various genres, we often need to draw boundaries when choosing which games fit our scope. However, as more and more games incorporate role-playing game (RPG) elements, it can be challenging to clearly define the line between different genres. Traditionally, the Dynasty Warriors series hasn’t been considered an RPG, but starting from Dynasty Warriors 8, it has been gradually incorporating RPG elements.

I remained skeptical until I tried the demo of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, which faithfully transforms the game into a full-fledged Role Playing Game (RPG). This is achieved not only in combat mechanics but also through its story development and overall aesthetic.

For the first time, I encountered Dynasty Warriors long ago, playing the demo of Dynasty Warriors 3 on a PlayStation 2 demo disc. I played that demo repeatedly and, once I obtained the complete game, I instantly became a devoted fan for life. This is a series I hold dear, with its highs and lows not diminishing my affection for it. Unfortunately, Dynasty Warriors 9 was met with widespread criticism, taking developer Omega Force six years to find a way to revitalize the franchise.

Inside me reside two voices, perpetually chattering about Dynasty Warriors: Origins. One is an experienced series aficionado who cherishes the game’s expansive character roster, diverse modes, and fast-paced progression, swiftly transitioning from stage to stage to complete each character’s storyline in an arcade-style fashion. The other voice appreciates Origins for its fresh take on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms saga, presenting a more intricate, detailed narrative reminiscent of how RPGs unfold their tales.

Unlike other installments in the series that offer a variety of characters hailing from various factions, Dynasty Warriors: Origins focuses on a single playable character who serves as a blank slate – a common RPG character type that’s mute and suffering from amnesia. This character is often referred to as Ziluan in the game, so I’ll be calling him that moving forward. Unlike other characters, Ziluan doesn’t have much personality; instead, he functions as a tool for players to learn about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. While he does have voiced lines during battle, such as when he defeats an officer, Ziluan is mostly silent in other situations.

It’s understandable why Omega Force chose to alter their approach in this new direction. Previous mainline games tended to cram in all the key events from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the Battle of Wuzhang Plains, often stretching beyond the Wuzhang Plains with the introduction of the Jin Dynasty in later installments. This led to a rushed pace, as they attempted to present the same story, dramatic moments, and famous battles, but with fresh character designs and improved hardware. However, some entries also offered additional features like extensive “what-if” scenarios and the ability to customize and elevate a warrior pawn throughout the game’s expansions.

As more NPC characters gained unique designs and playable status, it grew challenging to fully capture the epic tale of the Three Kingdoms. This expansion led to a swelling cast, which reduced the opportunity to give each character some depth or explain their role in the conflict. Instead, much of the backstory and interim events were condensed into brief battle dialogues or quick stage transitions.

In these games, players experience events primarily through their chosen character’s perspective, creating a puzzle they must piece together to understand the whole story if they aren’t already familiar with The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Depending on a character’s importance, some stories might be brief with just 4-5 parts, while others that were present from the start had many more stages. Since each game has limited stages for each character, repetition was common in the story modes of the 40+ characters. Although I enjoy the series, this aspect has always been one of its drawbacks and became more noticeable over time.

Interestingly, it’s in Origins where the game truly excels. Being confined to Ziluan, a neutral third-party wanderer, grants players a comprehensive, consistent perspective of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, much like viewing events from high above through the eyes of a bird. Characters from all factions reveal their innermost feelings in one-on-one bonding events with Ziluan, which ironically results in a more nuanced portrayal of characters that were playable in earlier versions. Through these interactions, they express themselves more authentically – revealing their motivations, objectives, and aspirations in a way that the structure of previous Dynasty Warriors games didn’t support. This depth helps us better comprehend the reasons behind the division during this ancient Chinese era, as well as understand why key figures chose to align with specific groups.

Building up to the tensions among the legends that established the Wei, Wu, and Shu Dynasties, Origins does an exceptional job. It vividly portrays the contrasting ideologies which led Cao Cao, the Sun family, and Liu Bei to part ways following their united alliances during earlier battles. As Ziluan ultimately must choose a side, newcomers now have a more enlightened choice regarding whom they wish to back; further paths can be discovered when the story’s rewind feature is unlocked upon completing one of the campaign routes.

In their journey through Ziluan, players will encounter numerous different types of weapons as they progress the storyline. For a change from the established pattern, Omega Force has decided to alter the traditional light attack string to heavy finisher combo system that the series has been known for over the past 24 years. Now, only the sword weapon follows this familiar approach; conversely, each unique weapon type comes with its own distinct mechanic, adding variety and novelty to the gameplay.

As a devoted fan, I’d put it like this: When I unleash the dual rings’ heavy attack, they soar away, and upon their return, I can capitalize with an even more destructive move if I time my heavy attack perfectly at the catch. The gauntlets empower my fists to speak volumes, as their heavy attack buttons shift between various stances, each with unique moves and final blows. For those craving a larger weapon, the colossal crescent blade escalates in power as it slashes through hordes, and its abilities expand with new tricks based on its level at activation.

Each weapon showcases unique advantages and drawbacks due to its distinct characteristics. I find that Origins delivers the most engaging real-time gameplay within the series so far. Despite Ziluan being unable to switch weapon types during a combo, players are allowed to pause the battle and swap his current weapon with another one while traversing through a stage.

In Origins, the battles resemble those found in earlier Dynasty Warriors games more than the continuous open-world of DW9. Origins brings back the rhythm of battles from past entries by making morale a crucial factor. Players are encouraged to boost their allies’ morale, either by capturing strongholds or rescuing officers close to retreating. A higher morale among allies results in better performance and solo-bruteforcing through vast enemy armies can be quite challenging.

In Origins, the most thrilling scenes occur when vast armies clash violently against each other. This perfectly encapsulates what the Dynasty Warriors series has always aimed to achieve – a sense of overwhelming odds (1-vs-1000). During such confrontations, a sea of soldiers surge together as Ziluan slices through them with his sword. The cacophony of enemy cries and the pulsating heavy metal music add to the intense atmosphere. Truly, these instances are an exhilarating experience.

At certain points, Ziluan can bring along an ally. When the meter builds up, players can momentarily command these characters for a short period. This situation, however, brings back memories for me that are connected to Origins, since it feels reminiscent of what was left behind on the path to Origins. Unlike previous games where there was a “Free Mode” sandbox, allowing replay of any stage with any character, Origins doesn’t seem to offer such freedom in playing as other companions freely. Moreover, the number of playable characters has been significantly reduced from over 90 in DW9 to only 10. Although I recognize and accept the changes that Origins represents, it’s tough not to feel nostalgic for what was lost as a long-time fan of this series.

In my gaming experience, I’d say Origins stands out among its predecessors in the RPG genre, particularly with its character progression systems. Instead of just increasing my character’s level, I’m also enhancing his base stats like HP, attack, and defense. This growth is tied to my proficiency levels with each weapon type – each weapon earns experience points that help me level them up, granting extended movesets or new abilities. The experience gained from weapon level-up gets pooled into my overall character level, further boosting my stats. As I reach certain milestones, new skill trees unlock, offering more stat increases, improved health recovery, and other useful perks.

One fascinating recurring aspect from past Dynasty Warriors games in Origins is the presence of bodyguards. Over time, players accumulate a handful of loyal NPCs who stay by their side. These guards are essential for destroying structures like ballistas and archer towers, as well as gaining entry to sealed bases. As more guards are recruited, the maximum limit increases, while also enhancing unique strategic skills such as mounted charges, volley firing, or even hurling large rocks at a cluster of approaching enemies.

(Alternative version)
In Origins, one captivating return from previous Dynasty Warriors installments is bodyguards. Eventually, players will have a small squad of dedicated NPCs that follow them around. These guards are crucial for taking down fortifications like ballistas and archer towers; they’re also necessary to breach sealed bases. As more guards join the team, their maximum limit grows, and they gain access to exclusive tactical abilities like mounted charges, shooting a barrage of arrows, or even flinging big rocks at nearby enemy groups.

During a fight, it’s possible for bodyguards to be taken out, but they can be regained by staying within an ally’s stronghold. Inside each stronghold, there are several pots with recuperative meat buns. In harder levels, these meat buns become scarce as enemies no longer drop them. Consequently, strongholds serve as a crucial quasi-supply chain for the Hero and Ultimate difficulty level, as they provide the most dependable means of replenishing both bodyguards and meat buns.

Beyond doubt, I’m captivated by how Origins designs its post-campaign content. Besides the intriguing story rewind option that lets me explore the tales of other factions, the unlocking of the Ultimate difficulty brings a significant boost to the game’s replayability. As a gamer, I find myself eagerly returning to this game for more challenges.

Engaging with the Challenge mode on Ultimate introduces an extra, optional goal for players, offering them additional in-game money, extra bodyguards, improved weapon capabilities, and especially, extraordinary new powerful weapons. These challenges typically require players to adopt a fresh strategy when playing the stage or test their abilities by accepting difficult scenarios that need to be completed within a time constraint. This not only revitalizes previously played stages but also infuses energy into newly introduced ones across various routes, allowing players to engage with these additional objectives whenever they wish.

After playing Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I find myself with two conflicting feelings – a part of me longing for it to regain its former splendor with countless playable characters and game modes, and another part that is completely smitten by the innovative overhaul presented in Origins. On one side, Origins might not satisfy veterans of the mainline series who were hoping for an improved take on past installments; but from another perspective, Origins represents a shrewd move towards keeping the series fresh and vibrant in its future developments.

Consider it like this: If Omega Force were to continue the Three Kingdoms story in Origins 2 and then release Dynasty Warriors 10 as a separate mainline title, the larger audience that has been following the Origins series will be much more intrigued by it. They’ve gained a better understanding of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms narrative, and have grown fonder of its characters. Consequently, they are more likely to try out this hypothetical DW10 because their initial interest in Origins has blossomed.

The game Dynasty Warriors: Origins serves as a crucial stepping stone for the ongoing success of the Dynasty Warriors series. This point in time will decide whether the Dynasty Warriors series remains relevant or gradually disappears, similar to how it almost did after Dynasty Warriors 9. Although I understand why some long-term fans might be disappointed by Origins’ smaller scale compared to previous games, I choose to view this as a promising reinvention that could usher in a new era of success for the Dynasty Warriors series.

9

Additionally, Dynasty Warriors: Origins can be played on the latest consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, not just on PC.

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2025-01-20 04:56