Game: Dynasty Warriors: Origins
Genre: Action, Adventure
System: Steam (Windows) (also available on Xbox & PS5)
Developer|Publisher: Omega Force | KOEI TECMO
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $ 69.99 | UK £ 64.99 | EU € 69,99
Release Date: January 17th, 2025
A review code was provided, and many thanks to ICO Partners.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins – A Return to Glory
Back when the PS2 launched, I vividly recall visiting my cousin’s house, where she showed off her brand-new console and games. Among them was Dynasty Warriors 2, an action game that completely blew me away. The concept of being a lone warrior battling hundreds of enemies on-screen was mind-blowing. It felt like stepping into the pages of an epic war story, with you as the hero turning the tide of battle.
While I remained a fan of the Dynasty Warriors series for years, the magic began to fade as subsequent entries felt repetitive and overly iterative. The sense of awe I experienced with the second game became harder to find. Enter Dynasty Warriors: Origins, a game that rekindles the series’ original spark and injects new life into the franchise. By going back to its roots while adding modern flourishes, Origins delivers the epic scale, fast-paced combat, and sense of immersion that first made the series a fan favourite.
The Nameless Wanderer
As with every entry in the series, Dynasty Warriors: Origins draws its narrative from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the famous Chinese historical novel. This time, however, you don’t play as one of the many historical figures but instead step into the shoes of a nameless wanderer. You can name your character and view the legendary events of the Three Kingdoms era through their perspective.
This fresh angle allows you to meet familiar characters from the series as you journey across the land, occasionally taking control of these iconic warriors during key moments. Dialogue scenes let you choose responses, though these choices rarely impact the story until midway through the game when you’re forced to pick a faction to side with. At this point, the story takes a dramatic turn, adding replay value as you’ll want to experience it from the other factions’ perspectives.
The game is fully voice-acted in both English and Japanese, with the English dub delivering a surprisingly solid performance.
Hack-and-Slash with a Twist
The core Dynasty Warriors formula of mowing down hordes of enemies is alive and well in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Combat retains its iconic power fantasy, letting you feel like an unstoppable force of nature. From the beginning, you have access to a variety of combos, charged moves, and the classic Musou attack that clears swathes of enemies in one satisfying strike. New moves can be unlocked in time. A new mechanic to the series is the ability to use special sight to observe the battlefield for secrets and hidden paths. This allows you to take a little breather of the action to get a lay of the land.
But Origins spices things up with additional mechanics. A block and parry system adds a layer of strategy, while a dodge mechanic grants much-needed flexibility during frantic battles. Larger skirmishes often culminate in encounters with commanders, where the gameplay shifts to more focused, one-on-one duels. Here, locking the camera onto your opponent heightens the stakes and makes these fights feel weightier.
One of the coolest features is how the battlefield reacts to your victories. When you defeat an army, the remaining soldiers will surrender, dropping their weapons in a show of submission. It’s a small detail, but it goes a long way in immersing you in the chaos and drama of war.
Levelling Up
Unlike previous games where you controlled multiple characters, Dynasty Warriors: Origins focuses on a single protagonist, and this change works in its favour. Your character can wield multiple weapon types, each of which you can level up proficiency, encouraging experimentation with different builds.
Skill points are earned by completing battles and side objectives and can be spent on a skill tree, allowing you to tailor your character’s abilities to suit your playstyle. Side missions, offered by officers across the map, range from defeating enemies in specific ways to completing a set number of parries. These challenges can be tackled at your own pace, making progression feel rewarding without overwhelming you.
Presentation
Graphically, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is stunning. Battles look and feel massive, with hundreds of enemies filling the screen at once. The game excels at presenting armies in organized lines, marching toward you before clashing in a chaotic melee.
The environments are more detailed than in previous entries, offering a variety of landscapes to explore. From lush farmland to dense bamboo forests and sprawling battlefields, the world feels alive and immersive.
The soundtrack, a staple of the series, blends its signature rock-inspired tracks with fresh renditions that evoke a sense of nostalgia while feeling modern. It’s like hearing an old favourite band play new takes on their classic hits.
On the Steam Deck
I played a significant portion of the game on the Steam Deck, and it performed admirably. Even at 30 FPS, the game felt smooth and responsive, though there was occasional pop-in at the edges of the screen. The ability to play such an epic game in handheld mode is a treat, and the small technical trade-offs are well worth it.
Conclusion: Dynasty Warriors is Back!
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a triumphant return for the series, delivering everything fans loved about the early entries while refining the formula with modern touches. The combat is as exhilarating as ever, the visuals are impressive, and the focus on a single protagonist adds a fresh perspective to the familiar story.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, this is a game well worth your time. For me, playing Origins felt like reconnecting with an old friend, and I couldn’t be happier about it. A free demo is also available on Steam.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up 
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