Dynasty Warriors: Origins Review – A Glorious Historical Triumph

Dynasty Warriors: Origins on PS5

A long-running franchise has to live up to many things. There are legacy fans to satisfy, while there is a pressing need to cater to newcomers who will help grow the franchise’s popularity. And in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Koei Tecmo and Omega Force have done a stupendous job of achieving both, a lofty goal that has appeared almost impossible with the recent direction of the series.

When you have already decimated hundreds of thousands of nameless soldiers and generals, it would have been easy to write off this latest entry. But through a revamped combat system, enhanced visuals, nuanced storytelling, and a breadth of content that is so impressive, this is easily the best Dynasty Warriors game ever made.

The main attraction of the series has always been that power fantasy, pitting you against overwhelming odds and still coming out on top, and that hasn’t changed in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. What is different, however, is the strategic and tactical depth added to the action, together with elevated storytelling that strikes a perfect balance between the two core aspects.

Instead of stepping into the boots of one of the many generals that make up the forces of Shu, Wei, or Wu, you play as the Wanderer. A stranger suffering from amnesia, it is through this fresh lens that you will determine the cause of history with your decisions and actions. From the humble beginnings of iconic characters to the events that shaped them, you will be at the centre of it all.

At the midpoint of the five main chapters of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, you must choose the faction you want to align with. This choice expands upon the story of your chosen allies, giving you the unique perspective on their movements and the consequences that follow. It isn’t participating in a few battles and calling it a day; there are several chapters with more content to power through, together with pivotal story moments that flesh out the story.

At the same time, players will have the opportunity to explore the backstory of the Wanderer, which poses more questions about the broader conflict and how you figure into things. Finish a campaign, and you can return to that moment to make a different choice, allowing you to fully experience another faction’s rise or fall, and see certain battles from the other side. Within these encounters, there are also conditions that can be met that unlock true endings for the three different sides, adding even more meat to the bones of Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

Using a mixture of cut scenes, conversations, and events, this is where the game delivers the best narrative growth of the series yet, with interesting characters of varying motivations and agendas that showcase the magic of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Here are opposing forces and generals, working together and against each other depending on the circumstances and having dialogue that gives you a better understanding of everything happening. Being the Wanderer may not be historically accurate, but it gives us a new perspective on events that have been played out over and over again.

This emphasis on relationships can also be seen outside of such moments, as generals you meet will eventually form bonds with you, allowing players to get to know them even better and providing gameplay incentives in the form of accessories, training missions, and more. While the method of developing said relationships may not be how real life works, but the conversations between the people you work closely with and call allies are amongst the best sequences of exposition you can find for Dynasty Warriors.

Speaking of the overworld, the way Dynasty Warriors: Origins manages the downtime in between battles is an excellent example of an addition that works splendidly. The diorama-like map is visually arresting, and as you explore the world to take on main and side missions, visit towns, collect resources, and more, it definitely enlarges the scale of what you are trying to achieve as a driving force in the story.

All of that is underpinned by the ongoing war that will pit you against a variety of foes and scenarios. Combat in Dynasty Warriors: Origins has evolved, starting with the selection of weapons at your disposal. From the starting sword all the way to the unlockable halberd, each brings different combos and Battle Arts, offering all kinds of approaches to eliminating soldiers and generals. The way progression and proficiency are gained is by using these weapons regularly, allowing players to experiment throughout the game.

The same goes for the Battle Arts, with more unlocking along the way. By attacking enemies, defending, and countering them, you will accrue Bravery, a resource that can then be spent unleashing these powerful moves. They range from simple counters to flashy maneuvres, such as calling down the elements to do your bidding, and are a vital component in the new combat setup. Together with parrying and dodging, it makes fights in the game much more dynamic and intense, especially as enemies are more brutal and intelligent this time around, even on lower difficulties.

That addresses one of the biggest issues of the franchise, where the difficulty of enemies largely depended on huge health bars rather than the challenge. Now, generals are much more competent, wielding their own Battle Arts, and keeping you on your toes whether in the heat of battle or in a duel. There is no button mashing to success, and you have to pay attention to what works and what doesn’t against the opposing forces that stand in your way.

Of course, not all weapons are made equal, and you will soon find out which are better depending on the situation. They eventually even out as you head into the endgame, and by then, you will be well-versed in all the combos and moves, giving you a perfect chance to play with your favourite weapon and dominate the battlefield. More importantly, levelling up your proficiency feeds into the overall level of the Wanderer, unlocking powerful passive and active skills, as well as stat increases, with the game leaning more into roleplaying than ever before.

Expanding upon the scale of warfare, battles in Dynasty Warriors: Origins also involve the use of tactics. These can be initiated by the Wanderer on a smaller scale, such as having your retinue of guards fire off volleys of arrows or charging into the enemy lines on horseback. Pick the right timing and approach, and they became even more effective, reducing enemy morale and dealing increased damage.

However, the real stars are the Grand Tactics that are often turning points in battles. This is where you can join in epic moments like large-scale charges or changing the face of the battlefield with siege weapons and the like. Both sides can use these tactics, and the game challenges players to fulfil different conditions to kick things off. This not only fuels the power fantasy further but adds to it with even more dramatic results. The spectacle is undeniably satisfying and fun to be part of.

Between the much-improved combat, the more in-depth and engaging storytelling, the interesting overworld, and plenty of replayability, Dynasty Warriors: Origins doesn’t feel like just the franchise’s next entry, but a magnificent reboot that breathes new life into the series. And that is before you even dive into the higher difficulties and enjoy the postgame content. While the outsider perspective of the Wanderer and his relative lack of emotions take some getting used to, everyone else is at the peak of their powers, and the result is a fantastic game made for newcomers and a glorious benchmark for veterans to measure upcoming games against.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.