Dynasty Warriors: Origins Review – Best Gameplay in 20 Years

Title	Dynasty Warriors: Origins
Released	January 17, 2025
Developer(s):	Omega Force
Publisher(s):	Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
Platform(s):
Genre	Hack & Slash, Action RPG, Musou
Rating	T

Completed on PC on Wayfarer (Normal)

HowLongToBeat Time: 37.5h (Main + Extras) | My Clear Time: 42hr 3min

Background

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins returned to the franchise’s tactical action roots on January 17, 2025, for Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and PC. After the mixed reception of Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires, Producer Tomohiko Sho and the team embraced a “back to basics” approach. The focus shifted to individual battles and characters, delivering the exhilaration of large-scale combat.

The game moves away from an open world, opting for a focused world map with “10 times more troops on-screen,” creating a chaotic yet strategically rich battlefield.

Origins also draws inspiration from a canceled Dynasty Warriors 10. Programmer Masamichi Oba shared that this scrapped project, based on Dynasty Warriors 7, would have featured a massive character roster. While that game didn’t make it to release, key elements, like a simplified world map and stronger narrative focus, found a home in Origins. Oba noted, “Some of the ideas in the canceled title made it into Origins, such as making the game easier to understand for those unfamiliar with Romance of the Three Kingdoms” (Bueno, 2025).

A notable decision for Origins is its amnesiac protagonist, offering a fresh take on the series. Sho explained, “Since the protagonist has amnesia, they’re able to start at the same level as the player, discovering the world and its characters together” (Parker, 2024). This approach balances accessibility with depth, letting players enjoy the rich narrative and multiple endings tied to Wei, Wu, and Shu factions.

With refined gameplay, denser battlefields, and a reimagined focus on storytelling, Dynasty Warriors: Origins feels like a spiritual rebirth for the franchise, all while honoring its tactical action legacy.

The development team for Dynasty Warriors: Origins includes:

Experience

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I’ve been a fan of the Dynasty Warriors series and Omega Force’s musou games for years, starting with Dynasty Warriors 3 and continuing through Dynasty Warriors 4 and 8: Xtreme Legends. My journey with Koei Tecmo expanded to titles like Ninja Gaiden Black, Fire Emblem Warriors, Warriors Orochi 3, and Berserk and the Band of the Hawk.

While I’ve enjoyed many of their franchises, including Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Nioh, I skipped Dynasty Warriors 9, which dampened my enthusiasm for the series. That said, my excitement for Dynasty Warriors: Origins marks the first time since 8: Xtreme Legends in 2014 that I’ve been truly eager for a new entry.

Impressions

Introduction

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins opens with a gripping cinematic, showcasing a land ravaged by drought and harsh weather, leading to widespread famine. As starvation claims countless lives, those in power seize the opportunity to exploit the situation, raising taxes and further deepening the suffering. This somber backdrop sets the stage for the rebellion to come, as we witness our nameless protagonist stepping in to defend a peasant from certain death—marking the beginning of their journey.

Gameplay and Mechanics

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The core of Dynasty Warriors: Origins is its refined gameplay, which introduces several exciting mechanics to elevate the action:

Defensive Options

• Evade Mechanic with invincible frames.
• Perfect Evades can be triggered by using the evade at the exact moment of an attack, like Bayonetta’s Witch Time, granting a temporary advantage.
• Parries are available, allowing you to damage an officer’s break gauge.

Weapon System

• Weapon Rarity inspired by Nioh, with color-coded ratings and reinforcement levels.
  • Max reinforcement level is +99, increasing damage output.
  • Reinforcement unlocked after beating the game; weapons drop when defeating officers or completing tasks.

Combat Moves

• The protagonist can assign up to four moves to the A/B/X/Y buttons and RB:
  • Battle Arts (regular special moves).
  • Special Arts (interrupt and stagger officers, even when they’re about to launch a Battle Art).
  • Evasive Arts include moves like a whirlwind kick with invincible frames or a counterattack that teleports you into the air.
  • Assaults are performed upon breaking an officer’s guard gauge and do a special finisher that changes based upon the weapon type equipped, when it’s the last bit of their life.

Skill Tree

• Unlocks as you progress, offering:
  • Passive bonuses (e.g., attack and defense strength).
  • Increased bravery (special meter) for more frequent use of Battle and Special Arts.
  • Additional Battle and Special Arts.

Equipment Slots

• Similar to Action RPGs, you can equip items that offer various bonuses like:
  • Increased health or damage percentage.
  • High-risk, high-reward items (e.g., take 100% more damage but earn 50% more rewards).

World Map and Missions

• The World Map lets you:
  • Select missions, interact with characters, and unlock waypoints for fast travel.
  • Visit shops to buy healing items and weapons.
  • Complete missions in each province to increase its liberation meter, unlocking rewards like new Battle Arts or horses.

Horse Mechanics

• Horses can be summoned almost instantly:
  • Once summoned, you’re immediately mounted and ready for action.
  • The game features a dashing mechanic with a visible meter showing your dash availability.

Tactics

• Assign up to three tactics to the X/Y/B buttons, used with LT.
• Command Types:
  • Attack Commands range from spear walls to throwing boulders and firing fire arrows.
  • Defensive Commands can help defend an area or protect a specific person.
  • Buffing Commands empower nearby allies, boosting attack, defense, and more.

Weapons

• While Dynasty Warriors doesn’t offer an extensive roster of playable characters, it lets you live out your power fantasy through a wide variety of weapons, each with its own unique moveset.
  • Weapon Types: Lances, spears, wheels, swords, podaos, twin pikes, staves, serpent blades, gauntlets, and post-game halberds.
  • Each weapon has unique combos and specific Arts, and you can unlock universal arts to customize your playstyle.
  • Each weapon can be tested and practiced with outside of missions as much as you want.

Choices

• As you progress, you’ll need to side with a faction to advance the story, affecting who you fight in other factions.
  • The game features altering fate points where you must battle powerful forces to save characters from death.
  • There are three regular endings and three true endings per faction.

Replayability

• After completing the game, Ultimate Warrior difficulty unlocks, offering special weapons and the most challenging encounters.
  • Unlock new horses, including Lu Bu’s Red Hare, for a fresh challenge.

Art & Audio

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins, sports a range of biomes from wintry mountains to summer springs as you traverse the world map. All of the officers have distinct color coordination that matches with the expectations of their faction and what fellow seasoned Dynasty Warriors‘ fans are accustomed to. Details on the weapons are rich, and sparks fly when parrying blows. The outfits and characters look great, especially Diaochan and Zhenji.

The music is a triumph, featuring remixes of fan-favorite tracks like EVE from Dynasty Warriors 4 and Capricious Wind from Dynasty Warriors 8. The dynamic soundtrack also adapts to in-game conditions, heightening the tension and excitement whether you’re on the brink of victory or facing defeat.

Beyond the remixes, new standout tracks like Stick to Your Belief and Against the Destructive Tyranny enrich the experience, creating a perfect blend of nostalgia and fresh energy. The music doesn’t just complement the action—it amplifies it.

Story & Writing

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins offers more than just thrilling battles; its emotionally charged narrative immerses players in a world torn apart by famine and exploitation. At its core is the rise of a nameless protagonist, who is thrust into a brutal world where corruption and political power shape history. The writing adopts a tragic, melodramatic tone, echoing ancient epics and linking personal struggles to the broader scope of rebellion.

As the story unfolds, players delve into the motivations of key characters, especially the protagonist’s evolving relationships with figures like Diaochan and Zhenji. While the plot occasionally loses momentum in the later stages of the Wu route, the stakes remain high, and the character development is compelling. For newcomers to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the blank slate protagonist serves as an accessible entry point, helping them connect with the game’s historical drama.

Unique Features and Mechanics

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Noteworthy additions to Dynasty Warriors: Origins include the introduction of special arts, battle arts, and other unique moves, all of which can be mapped for a customizable experience. Some arts are even universal across different weapons, creating a dynamic layer of gameplay. While it evokes comparisons to the freedom of God Hand, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of full-controller integration but still delivers a satisfying depth.

The inclusion of parries in Origins, combined with the ability to swap weapons mid-mission, introduces a level of strategic freedom previously unexplored in the series. These mechanics add a fresh layer of complexity and flexibility, keeping battles exciting and unpredictable.

Seiyuu Performances

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins boasts a talented cast of seiyuus, with Jun Fukuyama bringing depth to the protagonist and Yohei Azakami infusing energy into his role. K?suke Toriumi and Hitomi Ueda deliver memorable performances that enhance the game’s immersive narrative, making each character feel authentic and engaging.

Verdict

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins reinvents the series’ core mechanics, balancing the familiar with the new. The addition of evasive options, refined weapons, and tactical depth enhances gameplay, rewarding skill while staying accessible. Though the limited roster may feel restrictive, the focus on weapon customization offers plenty of ways to tailor your playstyle.

Visually, the game excels with vibrant environments, dynamic character designs, and explosive combat effects. The remixed classic tracks and adaptive soundtrack complement the action perfectly. While the story has multiple endings, it suffers from pacing issues, and the mission structure feels familiar to longtime fans.

While Origins lacks post-game depth compared to other titles, its gameplay ranks among the best since Dynasty Warriors 4 (2003). With expanded rosters and further refinement, future entries could define the series.

For both nostalgic fans and newcomers, Dynasty Warriors: Origins blends modern gameplay with classic action for a compelling adventure and a masterful foundation to work from in future titles.

TLDR

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Pros

• Engaging Gameplay Balance: Strikes the best balance between familiar Dynasty Warriors mechanics and fresh innovations, with added tactical layers.
•  Refined Combat Mechanics: Enhanced weapon systems and evasive options reward skillful play while maintaining accessibility for newcomers.
•  Vibrant Visuals: Gorgeous environments, detailed character designs, and flashy combat effects enhance the experience.
• Engaging Soundtrack: Remixes of classic tracks and an adaptive soundtrack that complements the action.

Cons

• Limited Roster: Lacks the expansive character roster fans expect from the series, with a primary focus on the protagonist and limited partner use.
• Weak Post-Game Content: Lacks the same level of post-game content or variety found in other titles of the series.
• Familiar Mission Structure: The core mission structure may feel overly familiar to long-time series veterans, with limited innovation.

References

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1. Dynasty Warriors: Origins Trailer
2. Bueno, D. (2025, January 13). Koei Tecmo Canceled a New Dynasty Warriors Game Before Origins. Siliconera. https://www.siliconera.com/koei-tecmo-canceled-a-new-dynasty-warriors-game-before-origins/
3. Parker, J. (2024, November 22). “There aren’t just three” — Dynasty Warriors Origins producer Tomohiko Sho on endings, story length, being a franchise rebirth, and more (Exclusive). Sportskeeda. https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/news-there-aren-t-just-three-dynasty-warriors-origins-producer-tomohiko-sho-endings-story-length-franchise-rebirth-exclusive
4. EVE – Masato Koike
5. Capricious Wind – Masato Koike
6. Stick To Your Belief – Masato Koike
7. Against The Destructive Tyranny – Masato Koike