Dynasty Warriors: Origins Looks Set to Surprise Gamers With its Crazy and Over-the-Top Action

Do you recall the game “Dynasty Warriors 9”? We certainly do. The “Dynasty Warriors” series wasn’t known for its high-quality games, but it had always managed to provide a certain level of raw fun up until a point. However, when “Dynasty Warriors 9” was released in 2018, the Koei Tecmo series reached its lowest ebb. It was heavily criticized for various reasons, including its lackluster combat and open world design that felt uninspired and forced.

Playing Dynasty Warriors 9 myself, I can’t help but agree with the criticism it has received, even as a dedicated fan of the series. There are times when a game gets slammed for issues that might be overstated, but in this case, calling Dynasty Warriors 9 one of the worst high-profile releases in recent memory feels spot on.

Instead of breathing new life into an aging franchise with an open world setting, it seems like the creators missed the mark and delivered its most disappointing mainline entry to date. Frankly, it often strays far from what makes Dynasty Warriors so enjoyable for many of us.

For quite some time now, Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires (released in 2022) didn’t really change our lingering negative impression of the series. But at last, it seems like the cherished franchise could be making a comeback! In May of 2024, Koei Tecmo unveiled Dynasty Warriors: Origins, a game promising a return to the roots for this long-lasting series. Every time we’ve seen more of it as its launch approaches, it appears more and more enticing – especially for fans eagerly awaiting a revival of the franchise’s golden era.

Instead of maintaining its predecessor’s open-world structure, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is transitioning to a world map design. This means players can explore and interact with maps of various sizes, ranging from small linear ones to larger, more open-ended ones. This structure should feel more familiar to fans of the series compared to the rather bland implementation of open-world design in Dynasty Warriors 9. The change in structure alone is enough to generate excitement among franchise fans. However, that’s not the only factor making us curious about Origins.

In the realm of combat, Dynasty Warriors has always been a standout feature, and it seems that in this aspect, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is nailing it. Notably, developer Omega Force aims to showcase up to 10,000 enemies simultaneously on screen, a significant leap from previous titles where players will encounter larger groups of adversaries even in less crowded scenes. The thrill of facing massive swarms of enemies and annihilating them with ease has always been one of Dynasty Warriors’ unique selling points, so it’s heartening to see Dynasty Warriors: Origins dedicating a considerable amount of effort towards enhancing this aspect.

Based on initial impressions and gameplay footage, it appears that Origins may reintroduce some of the challenging aspects that were once prominent in Dynasty Warriors games. While the series has always been about empowering players with powerful fantasies, it’s no secret that it doesn’t offer the same level of difficulty as FromSoftware games. Over time, however, the series seemed to lose some of its intensity, to the point where even though the combat remained enjoyable, it felt less and less impactful after a certain point.

In the game Dynasty Warriors: Origins, players can continue to enjoy lower difficulty levels and mindlessly slash through countless enemies if they prefer. However, increasing the challenge will provide a more demanding experience. From what has been shown so far, it appears that enemies won’t be easy targets anymore. Instead, mastering tactical abilities, maintaining morale among your troops, and strategically directing your soldiers will become crucial elements in the gameplay. While Dynasty Warriors‘ trademark button-mashing action certainly has its charm, it’s reassuring to know that Origins offers a more layered gaming experience for those who desire it.

In the new game, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the storyline deviates slightly from the traditional narrative formula seen in previous games by focusing more narrowly on the rise of the Three Kingdoms, rather than retelling the entire saga of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This narrower focus allows for a deeper exploration of characters and events within the game, and also includes younger versions of familiar characters, offering fans a fresh perspective on these well-known figures from this historical period.

One aspect where the game stands out is its captivating visuals. Admittedly, it might not leave us awestruck with cutting-edge next-gen graphics, but we shouldn’t expect every game to meet that standard. In its own right, Dynasty Warriors: Origins boasts impressive graphics, especially when compared to the series’ past visual standards. It’s worth noting that previous Dynasty Warriors games weren’t known for being unattractive, but Origins is poised to surpass them all in terms of visual appeal. From the intricately designed characters to the diverse and detailed environments, from the enemies and large armies you face to the dynamic on-screen presentation of the action, the game is impressing us in numerous ways.

It is uncertain if Dynasty Warriors: Origins will reach the peak achievements of the series, such as those in versions 4 to 8 or any other preferred ones. With a franchise boasting as many installments as this one, consistently maintaining top-tier quality becomes challenging after a while due to factors like diminishing returns. However, following the significant setback that was Dynasty Warriors 9 and some time for reflection since then, the series seems poised for a much-needed comeback. At this stage, Dynasty Warriors: Origins appears to be shaping up as the classic, pulse-pounding musou action game that fans have missed dearly. While there is always the possibility of unexpected letdowns based on pre-release coverage, for now, it looks like a return to the beloved style of gameplay- and that’s truly exhilarating.

Please take note that the opinions presented within this article belong solely to its author. They do not reflect or represent the collective viewpoints of GamingBolt as a whole.

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2025-01-08 04:11