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

Dynasty Warriors: Origins ups the ante with significantly more challenging enemy encounters. Producer Tomohiko Sho's directive to the development team was simple yet impactful: "Go and kill the player." This article delves into the reasoning behind this design choice and its effect 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 convey the brutal reality of war, where both player and enemy alike face life-or-death struggles.

While the difficulty is elevated, Sho emphasized a focus on rewarding challenges rather than frustrating ones. The game's design aims for a satisfying sense of accomplishment, even for players less experienced with action games. He acknowledged the difficulty in balancing the series' signature "musou" exhilaration with the realistic portrayal of warfare.

A Return to Roots: The "Origins" Title

The unconventional title, eschewing the traditional numerical designation (it would have been Dynasty Warriors 10), is significant. Dynasty Warriors: Origins marks the first non-numbered entry in the franchise's history.

This "Origins" moniker also 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 interview with TheGamer, Sho confirmed the story concludes with the pivotal Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs). The decision aimed for a more thorough and intense exploration of this crucial period.

Arriving seven years after the last main entry, Dynasty Warriors: Origins remains faithful to the source material while introducing an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero. The game is set against the backdrop of warring factions in Han Dynasty China. Released on January 17th, it's available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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