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

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 heightened difficulty.

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 enhanced 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 undeniably increased, Sho emphasized a focus on rewarding challenges rather than frustrating ones. The design aims to provide a sense of accomplishment, even for players less experienced with action games. He acknowledged the significant challenge of balancing the series' signature "musou" exhilaration (defeating hordes of enemies) with the grittier realism of a battlefield.

A Return to Roots: "Origins"

The absence of a sequential number in the title – a first for the series – is noteworthy. Instead of Dynasty Warriors 10, the game is titled Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This reflects a deliberate focus on the early stages of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms narrative, covering events only up to the Battle of Chibi (Battle of Red Cliffs).

In an interview at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show with TheGamer, Sho explained this decision: The team wanted to meticulously craft a deeply immersive experience centered on this pivotal historical moment.

Arriving seven years after the previous main installment, Dynasty Warriors: Origins introduces an original protagonist, the Nameless Hero, navigating the power struggles of Han Dynasty China. Based on the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the game blends historical events with fictional elements.

Released January 17th, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.