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 increased difficulty.
A Deadlier Battlefield: "Go and Kill the Player"
The enhanced enemy AI in Dynasty Warriors: Origins aims for a heightened sense of realism. The battles are no longer a one-sided affair; enemy soldiers and generals fight with a ferocity mirroring the player's own struggle for survival. This design decision, as revealed in a PlayStation.Blog interview with Sho, was key to achieving this objective.
While boosting the challenge, Sho emphasized a focus on rewarding, not frustrating, gameplay. The difficulty curve is designed to be progressively challenging, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment for players of all skill levels. He acknowledged the significant hurdle of balancing the series' signature "musou" exhilaration (the thrill of mowing down countless foes) with the grittier realism of a true battlefield.
A Return to the Roots: "Origins"
A notable departure from tradition is the absence of a numerical title. This marks the first non-numbered entry in the Dynasty Warriors series, which would have otherwise been titled Dynasty Warriors 10.
The "Origins" subtitle underscores the game's focus on the first half of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, unlike previous installments that covered the entire narrative. In a Tokyo Game Show 2024 interview with TheGamer, Sho confirmed that the story concludes with the pivotal Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs). This concentrated narrative approach allowed for a more thorough and intense portrayal of this crucial period.
Following a seven-year hiatus, Dynasty Warriors: Origins represents the latest main installment in the franchise. Based on the classic Chinese novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the game features an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of Han Dynasty China.
Released on January 17th, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
