"Dynasty Warriors: Origins Team Told to 'Kill the Player'"

Dynasty Warriors: Origins brings a fresh intensity to its gameplay with waves of enemies that are significantly harder to defeat. This change stems from a directive given by producer Tomohiko Sho to his development team: "Go and kill the player." Dive deeper to understand the reasoning behind this bold move in the latest installment of the series!

Programmed To "Go And Kill The Player"

In Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the action is ramped up with tougher and more formidable enemies, as instructed by producer Tomohiko Sho. His directive was clear: "This time, go and kill the player." During an interview with PlayStation.Blog, Sho explained that the development team's goal was to inject a greater sense of realism into the game. He emphasized that on the battlefield, not only the player's character is fighting for survival, but so are the enemy soldiers and generals.

While the difficulty level has increased, Sho ensured that the game does not become overwhelmingly challenging. Instead, he focused on creating rewarding challenges that allow players to experience a sense of achievement upon overcoming them. "Even if you're not that skilled in action games, by learning the mechanics step by step, you can play comfortably and feel a sense of success," he said. Balancing the traditional "musou" genre's exhilaration of defeating numerous enemies with the realism of a war-torn battlefield was a significant challenge for the team.

Returning To Its "Origins"

A notable shift in Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the departure from the series' traditional numbering system. Instead of being called Dynasty Warriors 10, it breaks the convention as the first non-numbered title in the franchise. The title "Origins" underscores the game's focus on the first half of the epic novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, specifically up to the Battle of Chibi, also known as the Battle of the Red Cliffs. In an interview with TheGamer at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show, Sho highlighted the team's intent to provide a thorough and intense narrative centered around this pivotal moment in the story.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins marks the return of the main series after a seven-year hiatus. Based on the renowned Chinese novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the game delves into the historical and fictional events of the Han Dynasty-era China. Players follow the journey of the original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating through a vast and war-torn landscape where various factions vie for power.

Released on January 17th, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is now available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

For an in-depth review of the game, check out Game8’s coverage below!