Dynasty Warriors: Origins Hands-On Preview (2024)

Our hands-on preview for Dynasty Warriors: Origins highlights what makes the latest entry in the long-running series the most ideal version of the series to date. The hack-and-slash franchise is one of Koei Tecmo's defining series, a collection of action games that build off historical events and reimagine them as massive action-packed battles. The Dynasty Warriors series has always benefited from making players feel like a hero amid countless battles, a lone soldier able to turn the tide of a war on their own.

The latest adaptation of the Three Kingdoms epic takes things further than ever. Dynasty Warriors: Origins benefits from the graphical power of the PS5 and modern PCs, with impressive visuals and tight controls making for an idealized version of the game. ScreenRant was invited to play the game at a hands-on preview of Dynasty Warriors: Origins ahead of its release on January 17, 2025 where I interviewed Head of Omega Force and Dynasty Warriors: Origins Producer Tomohiko Sho about how the game realizes that longstanding potential.

An Ideal Dynasty Warriors For Veterans & Rookies Alike

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Is Meant For All Players

During the hands-on preview of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I was impressed how the game's tight action amplifies the impressive technical elements of the game. The action feels familiar to previous Dynasty Warriors games, with a natural flow to the rhythm of combat that makes it easy for newbies as well. Players can deploy powerful combos with relative ease, sending dozens of soldiers flying. There's a natural sense of danger due to the overwhelming nature of the game's combat. However, players never feel underpowered, thanks to tight controls, fast movement, and an increased amount of options in combat style.

According to Tomohiko Sho, finding that balance was vital. Looking back to Dynasty Warrior: Origins' production, Tomohiko reflected how "it really was a matter of trial and error. It was something that our team was really challenging ourselves to try and do... over time it was a lot of testing." He continues:

"I think we got it through that trial and error. We wanted to make something that was both tactical and action-based. Even with the difficulty, it might feel a bit harder, but we wanted to make sure that it's something that really shows those tactical and action elements."

Controlling The Battlefield

Tactical Action Forces Dynasty Warrior: Origins Players To Adapt In The Best Way

The tactical action in Dynasty Warriors: Origins leans more heavily toward the latter, as the game still relies moment to moment on the player's absurd action skills. There is a natural sense of tension in every fight thanks to the tactical approach to the conflict at large. Players can explore a large battlefield, with countless skirmishes playing out all around them. There are times when the player must make a genuine decision in which direction to push the battle since every NPC defeated leaves others free to push their advantage.

It means that every minor skirmish feels more important, helping keep the player's attention on the tactics of the larger battle. "In the past, in the Dynasty Warrior series in general, the tactical elements have been slightly lessened," Tomohiko explained.

"It's been more focused on action. It's been about making sure it's exhilarating. That's something the audience does really enjoy. We've also heard some of the negative notes where people are saying it's a little bit too simplistic. It doesn't feel like there are enough tactics in there... We've taken that feedback and those suggestions and incorporated that into the game."

Cutting Your Way Through History

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Places Players In A Massive Real World Conflict

One of the fun draws of the Dynasty Warriors series is the way the games use real-life history and figures in their adventures. Set earlier in the timeline than many other games in the series, Dynasty Warriors: Origins takes place in the year 183 AD, on the eve of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. With a famine gripping the Chinese Han Dynasty, players step into the role of an amnesic warrior who finds themselves combating powerful warlords and marauding armies. Working alongside fellow warriors like Guan Yu and Zhang Jiao, this mysterious warrior becomes an unexpected hero.

The decision to focus on the Yellow Turban Rebellion was reflective of its timeless qualities, according to Tomohiko.

"I think when you see it, you can see there's a lot of people suffering in it. At the start of the story, it's really something that can really pull you in. That's something common that people will latch onto. There's something common about that struggle, being in a tough position and being able to overcome it, that's very familiar. I think people want to improve things. I think that motivation also resonates with people... It really works as a storytelling element."

An Entire World Of Warriors

Modern Graphics Can Introduce Entire Wars Around Players' Warriors

The most stunning element of Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the visuals. The games have always benefited from eye-catching graphics around its scale and Origins supports larger battlefields and bigger armies than its predecessors. Dynasty Warriors: Origins takes that concept further than ever, with modern gaming technology and hardware allowing for upwards of a 1000 characters on screen at any given time. Some of the battles that were available in our hands-on preview felt notably cinematic as a result, with our character, a single figure, rushing into battle alongside a literal army. It's the core dream of the series, fully realized thanks to modern advancements.

It's a dream come true for Tomohiko, who has been a part of the franchise for years. "We've always wanted to do this with the Dyansty Warriors series. More than twenty years ago, we always knew we wanted you to be surrounded by a whole bunch of soldiers. The technology just wasn't there. Now, with the current generation of consoles, I think with the latest technology, we've been able to really implement that vision that we had since from so many years ago," explains Tomohiko. That sheer scope lends itself naturally to Dyansty Warriors: Origins' gameplay and makes for an exhilarating experience.

What Makes Dynasty Warriors: Origins Work

One Of The Best Dynasty Warrior Games Yet

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a blast to play, and our preview delivered an impressive first look with great graphics and engaging gameplay. Seeing your own allies knocked around by powerful enemies makes dueling them extra rewarding. The tight combat and explosive action make every minor conflict entertaining, especially when 1-on-1 duels break out in the middle of the battlefield. It's the ideal version of a Dynasty Warriors game, and a true realization of the potential of the series.

"[Games] never end up as you initially envision," Tomohiko noted. "With this game, we were able to make something that we'd been planning on. That's really thanks to the hard work of the staff not only implementing these ideas, but being able to go beyond that and provide even more than what I hope for and what I could envision. I think I'm really lucky this time. I'm very fortunate that we ended up being able to create [the Dynasty Warriors: Origins] that we've thought about making for a long time."

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Action

Hack and Slash

Franchise

Dynasty Warriors

Platform(s)

PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC

Released

January 17, 2025

Developer(s)

Omega Force

Publisher(s)

Koei Tecmo

ESRB

Teen // Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol

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