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

Dynasty Warriors: Origins delivers a significantly more challenging experience, thanks to producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team: "Go and kill the player." This instruction resulted in tougher, more aggressive enemies, significantly altering the series' signature gameplay. Let's delve into the details of these impactful changes.

A Deadlier Battlefield: Increased Enemy Difficulty

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Dev Team Was Instructed to “Go Kill The Player” The heightened difficulty in Dynasty Warriors: Origins isn't merely about more enemies; it's about more dangerous enemies. Sho's goal was to inject a greater sense of realism into the combat. The battlefield is no longer a one-sided slaughter; both player and enemy characters are genuinely fighting for survival.

In an interview with PlayStation.Blog, Sho elaborated on this design choice, emphasizing the desire to balance challenge with rewarding accomplishment. While the difficulty is increased, it's designed to be progressively challenging, allowing players to learn and master the combat system, ultimately fostering a sense of achievement. He acknowledged the difficulty of integrating the classic "musou" exhilaration with the heightened realism of a true battlefield.

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

A Return to Roots: The Significance of "Origins"

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Dev Team Was Instructed to “Go Kill The Player” The absence of a sequential number in the title – a first for the series – is deliberate. Instead of Dynasty Warriors 10, the game is titled Dynasty Warriors: Origins, highlighting its focus on the early stages of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

As confirmed at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show (in an interview with TheGamer), Origins covers the narrative only up to the pivotal Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs). This concentrated approach allows for a more detailed and immersive portrayal of this crucial period in the story.

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

Seven years after the last main installment, Dynasty Warriors: Origins marks a significant return to the franchise's roots. Based on the classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the game introduces an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of Han Dynasty China. Released on January 17th, it's now available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Game8's review is available for further insights!