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

Dynasty Warriors: Origins ups the ante with significantly tougher enemy encounters. Producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team? A simple, yet impactful, "Go and kill the player." This article delves into the reasoning behind this design choice and its impact on the game.

A Deadlier Battlefield: "Go and Kill the Player"

The increased enemy strength in Dynasty Warriors: Origins isn't arbitrary. According to an interview with PlayStation.Blog, producer Sho aimed for heightened realism. The goal was to make the player feel the pressure not just as the protagonist, but also as a participant in a brutal, life-or-death conflict where enemies fight with equal ferocity.

While the challenge is elevated, Sho emphasized a balance between difficulty and accessibility. The game's design incorporates a progression system that allows players to gradually overcome obstacles, fostering a sense of accomplishment. He acknowledged the difficulty of merging the classic "musou" exhilaration of mowing down hordes of enemies with the more realistic portrayal of a war-torn battlefield.

A Return to Roots: The Meaning of "Origins"

The absence of a sequential number in the title, a first for the series, is significant. Instead of Dynasty Warriors 10, the game is titled Dynasty Warriors: Origins, emphasizing its focus on the early stages of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

In a Tokyo Game Show 2024 interview with TheGamer, Sho clarified that the game's narrative concludes with the Battle of Chibi (Red Cliffs). This concentrated approach allows for a more detailed and intense portrayal of this pivotal historical moment. "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 installment, Dynasty Warriors: Origins introduces an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of Han Dynasty China. Released January 17th, the game is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Read Game8's review for a more in-depth analysis!