Review of Dynasty Warriors: Origins: A Successful Reinvention

After having the chance to play Dynasty Warriors: Origins late last year, it quickly became one of the games I was looking forward to the most. Happily, Koei Tecmo has lived up to the hype with their amazing overhaul of the series. What’s not to love here? The game is simply fantastic, providing some of the best action-packed fun I’ve had in a long while.

The Dynasty Warriors franchise has often been known for its button-mashing reputation, though that doesn’t quite capture its essence (increase the difficulty, and suddenly, mashing won’t cut it). But without contest, Dynasty Warriors: Origins offers a richer gameplay experience. Enemies’ AI have become more aggressive, and mastering the art of parrying is essential to gaining an upper hand. When you face off against legendary officers like Lu Bu, it feels truly significant, demanding skills and strategies like never before.

This deepened combat system fits perfectly with the classic Dynasty Warriors landscapes, where tactics now play a key role. The main character can view the battlefield from above and unveil paths through magical attacks, allowing you to assess and aid the fight adequately. There’s a dash of solving puzzles too when you’re tasked to dismantle magical sources to shift the battle’s momentum. This blend allows for an engaging combat experience that embodies elements from character-action games while remaining part of a greater strategy.

The narrative mode is particularly enjoyable, even if it starts off with the familiar trope of an amnesiac warrior. This lack of memories actually serves as a useful tool to introduce the era’s pivotal figures to the player. While the coverage of historical events is only about half of a typical game’s span—leaving opportunities for sequels or expansions—it’s the boss encounters that really stand out. They’re grander and break away from the usual expectations, adding a layer of extravaganza mostly seen in the Warriors spin-offs now featured in the core series.

Customization of the main character isn’t expansive, but you have plenty of room to experiment with battle strategies. The variety of weaponry you can wield is extensive, resembling past games (though, personally, I find a simple longsword suits me well). Plus, there are options to level up through horses and skill trees, and craft items to tip the scale in your favor.

As you progress in the story, you’ll get to pick a companion for your battles. You can take control of these powerful characters who deliver the quintessential Dynasty Warriors power fantasies that fans have come to love. As much as I enjoyed playing the original character, getting the chance to embody historical legends from prior games was an absolute thrill.

What also deserves mention is the excellent overall presentation. The game incorporates an adorable diorama-style overworld for exploration, offering items and optional battles to boost your character’s abilities. It showcases the vastness of ancient China without delving into the excessive complexity of a realistic open world, unlike its predecessor, focusing instead on the battles themselves. This strikes a perfect balance after the previous game struggled with an adequate open-world concept.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins has successfully revamped its gameplay while sharpening its narrative focus, earning its place as arguably the best in the series to date. Although some longtime fans may miss multiplayer and broader personalization, the enriching story mode and enhanced combat more than compensate. Whether you’re a long-time follower or just stepping in, Origins is worth exploring and stands out as the first great release of 2025.

Note: This review is based on a PS5 copy provided by the publishers, with gameplay conducted on version 1.001.000.