Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a great example of taking a well-known formula and giving it a fresh start with new tools and gameplay improvements that meet modern standards. It’s similar to what Capcom has done with their own franchises, and now Koei Tecmo is doing the same with the latest entry in the Dynasty Warriors series. While the series was initially more popular in Japan, this new game is sure to boost its appeal globally.
The series has always been based on the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and has seen countless entries over the years. But over time, it felt like the developers lost sight of what made the games enjoyable in the first place. This was especially clear with the release of Dynasty Warriors 9, which turned out to be a disaster. It tried to follow the open-world trend of its time but ended up being a technical and gameplay mess. After such a disappointing outcome, Omega Force, the team behind the franchise, went back to the drawing board and came up with Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This new entry feels like a return to form, focusing on what made the series fun while adding modern touches.
The game uses a custom in-house engine called the Katana Engine, which seems to be both highly efficient and technically impressive. It’s designed to handle the core gameplay requirement of putting hundreds of enemies on screen at once without hurting performance. What’s more, it runs well on a wide range of hardware, from low-end to high-end systems, including the Steam Deck. For those playing on Valve’s handheld, there’s even a custom configuration to optimize the experience.
Visually, the game looks modern, with highly detailed character models and well-crafted cutscenes. The gameplay feels smooth and responsive, supporting frame rates of over 120 FPS on PC. It also includes upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR, along with Frame Generation, which makes it easier to hit high frame rates even on mid-range hardware. The PC port is solid, with few issues, making it a strong release whether you’re playing on PC or console. In the past, PC versions of the series sometimes lagged behind consoles, with lower-quality visuals or missing features, but that’s no longer the case here. This time, the PC version stands on equal footing with its console counterparts.
One of the noticeable changes in Dynasty Warriors: Origins is that the game starts you off as a nameless, original character. This protagonist doesn’t speak much, and the game includes dialogue choices during certain conversations. While this sounds interesting, one issue I had is that it makes the character feel like they lack personality. It’s not that the writing is bad—it’s just hard to feel connected to a character who mostly serves as a tool to interact with other major figures in the story. I’ve always liked the well-known heroes from the previous games, but I don’t necessarily dislike the direction the developers took here. It’s different, and I can see why they tried something new.
The series has always been known for its hack-and-slash combat, where you face hundreds—or even thousands—of enemies on screen at once. This isn’t an exaggeration; the new game takes this to the next level, letting you pull off impressive moves and combos against massive swarms of enemies. The combat system is handled really well, with normal and powerful attacks that can be chained together seamlessly. Each playable character comes with their own unique set of special skills and abilities, making it easy to take down hundreds of enemies in style. There’s something incredibly satisfying about finishing a long chain of KOs with a flashy special move and wiping out everyone in sight. It’s chaotic, over-the-top, and exactly what fans of the series love.
The decision to focus on a brand-new character gives the developers the chance to explore the earlier parts of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. While the game isn’t fully open-world, it presents a world map where you can choose locations to move to next. The storyline is more tightly structured now, with cutscenes and missions that dive deeper into the central characters of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms saga. The game is divided into chapters, each covering key events like the rise of the Yellow Turban Army, which serves as the opening chapter. The campaign is lengthy, so be ready to invest a good amount of time in the story. Early on, you don’t have much choice in how events unfold, but around the middle of the game, you’re given decisions that can impact the ending and where the story goes next. Thankfully, the game makes it easy to go back and explore different paths, so you’re not stuck with just one outcome.
One trope I wasn’t thrilled to see repeated here is the amnesiac hero. The main character slowly recovers their memories as the story progresses, which runs parallel to the main plot. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t a fan of the protagonist’s lack of personality, but as the game went on, I got used to it and focused more on completing objectives. The combat system is dynamic and engaging, with the ability to switch characters and use multiple weapons. It starts simple but gradually introduces new skills, encouraging players to experiment with different attacks to keep things fresh. Beyond the usual combos, the game also includes parry and dodge mechanics that, when timed right, can lead to devastating counterattacks.
Overall, I’d rate Dynasty Warriors: Origins highly compared to recent entries in the series. Koei Tecmo has found a formula that works well for the franchise, and I’m excited to see where they take it next. This game feels packed with content, and it makes the long wait after the disappointing Dynasty Warriors 9 feel worth it. It’s a solid step forward for the series and a great sign of what’s to come.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins breathes new life into the long-running series by returning to its roots while embracing modern advancements. With its custom Katana Engine, the game delivers smooth, chaotic battles featuring hundreds of enemies on screen, all while maintaining impressive performance across a range of hardware, including the Steam Deck. The visuals are a step up, with detailed character models and fluid animations, supported by modern features like DLSS, FSR, and Frame Generation. The shift to a nameless protagonist and branching storylines adds a fresh twist, though the character’s lack of personality may leave some players wanting more. The combat remains the star of the show, offering satisfying, over-the-top action with deep combo systems and flashy special moves. While not without its flaws, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a triumphant return to form, setting the stage for a bright future for the franchise.
