Dynasty Warriors Devs Ordered to "Slay the Player"

Dynasty Warriors: Origins ups the ante with significantly more challenging enemies. Producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team? A simple, yet impactful, "Go and kill the player." This article delves into the design choices behind this heightened difficulty.

A Deadlier Battlefield: "Go and Kill the Player"

In an interview with PlayStation.Blog, Sho explained the reasoning behind the tougher foes. The goal was to inject greater realism into the combat. The developers aimed to convey the brutal reality of warfare, where both player and enemy alike face genuine peril.

While increasing the difficulty, Sho emphasized a balance to avoid frustrating players. The challenges are designed to be rewarding and achievable, fostering a sense of accomplishment. He stated, "Even if you're not that good at action games, if you learn them in order, you can play comfortably and feel a sense of success." The challenge lay in merging the classic "musou" exhilaration with a more realistic war setting.

A Return to Roots: "Origins"

A notable departure from tradition is the absence of a sequential number in the title. Instead of Dynasty Warriors 10, the game is titled Dynasty Warriors: Origins, marking the first unnumbered entry in the series.

This "Origins" designation highlights the game's focus on the first half of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, unlike previous installments which covered the entire narrative. In a Tokyo Game Show 2024 interview with TheGamer, Sho confirmed the storyline concludes with the Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs). He explained, "We really wanted to be thorough and intense in telling this story; it’s one of the epic points, so we’re only focusing on up until that point."

Arriving seven years after the last main entry, Dynasty Warriors: Origins stays true to its source material, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a blend of historical fact and fiction depicting Han Dynasty China. The game introduces an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of warring factions.

Released January 17th, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Check out Game8's review for a more in-depth look!