Dynasty Warriors: Origins Dev Team Was Instructed to “Go Kill The Player”

Dynasty Warriors: Origins delivers a significantly more challenging experience, thanks to producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team: "Go and kill the player." This philosophy manifests in tougher, more aggressive enemies. Learn more about this shift in the latest Dynasty Warriors installment!

A Deadlier Battlefield: "Go and Kill the Player"

The heightened difficulty in Dynasty Warriors: Origins stems directly from producer Sho's instruction. In an interview with PlayStation.Blog, he explained the goal was to inject greater realism into the combat. The enemy soldiers and generals, he argued, are also fighting for survival, not just the player character.

While increasing the challenge, Sho emphasized a focus on rewarding, not frustrating, difficulty. The design aims to provide satisfying accomplishments, even for players less experienced with action games. He acknowledged the significant challenge of balancing the series' signature "musou" exhilaration (defeating hordes of enemies) with the heightened realism of a brutal war setting.

A Return to its Roots: "Origins"

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

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 story concludes with the Battle of Chibi (Red Cliffs). He explained the decision to concentrate on this pivotal period to provide a more thorough and intense narrative experience.

After a seven-year hiatus, Dynasty Warriors: Origins arrives as the latest main entry. Based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the game features an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of Han Dynasty China.

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

Read Game8's review for further insights!