After a seven-year hiatus, Dynasty Warriors is back with Origins, a game that trims the fat, polishes the chaos, and delivers a proper return to form. Koei Tecmo, it seems, has finally decided to swap out mindless repetition for a bit of thoughtful refinement – and it makes for a refreshing change.
Gaming Heaven
Gone is the open-world experiment that everyone pretended didn’t happen. Instead, Origins offers a linear structure that focuses on key historical events, fleshing them out with a surprisingly coherent narrative. The infamous Yellow Turban Rebellion, for instance, now feels like an actual uprising rather than a brief tutorial in sword-swinging. The characterisation has also received a subtle but significant upgrade; your favourite warlords are no longer caricatures but actual personalities with depth – well, as deep as you can get when wielding weapons larger than a small horse.
Combat has been streamlined and turbocharged. With nine weapons to choose from and a slick parry-and-dodge system, battles feel thrilling without being overly complex. Set-piece moments like massive army clashes and boss fights channel Nioh and Wo Long energy (minus the soul-crushing difficulty), offering fast-paced chaos that keeps you on your toes.
Gaming Hell
Unfortunately, Koei’s insistence on giving players a “nameless” protagonist with amnesia and mystical mumbo jumbo is a bit like serving a banquet with stale bread. The wanderer’s story is functional but lacks the gravitas of the historical figures he fights alongside. The map system connecting the battles, while serviceable, feels like an afterthought rather than an integral feature.
Final Judgement
Dynasty Warriors: Origins isn’t perfect, but it’s a glorious spectacle that captures the series’ essence while introducing just enough polish to keep things fresh. Whether you’re a veteran of the battlefield or a newcomer, this is historical fiction as absurd, entertaining, and surprisingly engaging as it gets.
