Dynasty Warriors Origins – PlayStation 5 – a highly anticipated return

I bought Dynasty Warriors: Origins on PlayStation 5 when it was first released on 17 January 2025, and right away it was clear this was more than just another entry in a long-running franchise. The game quickly became an instant hit, with many of the physical copies of the game out of stock across EB Games, JB Hi-Fi and other major electronics stores around Australia. For longtime fans like me the excitement was twofold: would this game live up to its promise, and could it redeem the series following a fairly rough ride with Dynasty Warriors 9?

Highlights	Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a thrilling return to form for the franchise, with refined combat, sweeping battles and a focused story that reinvigorates the Three Kingdoms saga.
Cost	$89 at release
Purchase	PlayStation version on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48ChgFE Xbox version on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ITSrdT

Learning from Past Mistakes

Let’s be honest: Dynasty Warriors 9 (or Dynasty Warriors 8 in Japan) was a misstep. The open world concept sounded exciting on paper but delivered a disappointing experience. The combat system felt underdeveloped, with too many quick-time style button presses rather than satisfying musou chaos, and the expansive battlefields while grand were incohesive, lacking meaningful structure or story impact. Many players – myself included – found that the build-up of expectations collapsed under its own ambition. The fact that Origins was widely known to be potentially the last game in the series added pressure.

Developed by Omega Force and published by KOEI Tecmo, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is actually the tenth mainline instalment in the franchise, but you’ll often hear that it was originally going to be Dynasty Warriors 10. Decisions were made to change the approach, to take a gamble on a fresh direction – and it seems that gamble has paid off in spades. Gematsu+3Wikipedia+3Xbox Wire+3

A Sense of Awe Reborn

From my first sessions I felt a familiar rush: this was the Dynasty Warriors I remembered back in the day. In its best moments Origins feels refreshing, much like how I first experienced the awe-inspiring series with Dynasty Warriors 2, with epic soundtracks, large scale battlefields and a level of intensity I haven’t felt in a Dynasty Warriors game in such a long time. The rush of running straight into thousands of soldiers, commanding my own charge, feeling the tide of battle shift beneath me – it all came back.

A More Focused Storytelling Approach

The game zeroes in on the earlier sections of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era, covering from the Yellow Turban Rebellion through to the Battle of Chibi. While this is shorter than previous entries – earlier games often went much further, all the way to the Wu Zhang Plains and with Dynasty Warriors 7 and 8 even to the fall of Cheng Du and the Jin faction’s victory – the condensed story felt like the right choice. In my playthrough the story being tighter meant I could appreciate characters more, their motivations, and the impact their actions had on the map, the three kingdoms and the unfolding drama.

This approach also allowed the game to do things I had not quite experienced before – especially the Yellow Turban Rebellion. I could see where the battles were taking place in China, how the map evolved, and how the events tied together in a way that felt far more coherent. Other entries sometimes spread too thin across huge timelines and hundreds of characters, and lost focus as a result.

Introducing the Protagonist and Branching Paths

Part of the new direction is that Origins introduces a central protagonist, Ziluan, an amnesiac wanderer who knows only that he must find a hero who will unite China. He becomes decisive in major events: personally defeating the Yellow Turban leader Zhang Jiao, killing several of the Ten Eunuchs and assisting Wang Yun in the assassination plot against Dong Zhuo. Alongside him is a youthful healer, Yuanhua, who uses incense to help him recover his memories, and three enigmatic figures from his past who assist, advise or oppose his journey. Wikipedia+1

Better still the game features branching storylines in which you identify Liu Bei, Cao Cao or Sun Jian (and later Sun Ce and Sun Quan) as the hero Ziluan is seeking. Your choice determines which faction you join, which battles you play and which characters may form bonds with and assist you in battle. Each branch then splits into two endings: one that follows the classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms plot up to the immediate aftermath of Battle of Red Cliffs, and another that asks you to complete tougher objectives to change the outcome of a battle or avert the death of a historical figure – yielding a more favourable position for your chosen faction into the next era. Wikipedia+1

This level of choice brings enhanced replay value. It also means the game no longer feels like the same campaign re-skinned. For fans who had grown tired of repetitive “select character and do the same missions” structure, this was a welcome change.

Battlefields and Scale That Thrill

The battlefields feel massive and alive. Some of the marquee locations include Hulao Gate, Xia Pi, Chi Bi and more. The ability to set up an offensive charge with masses of NPCs felt great. As the developer’s marketing promised, you fight against huge forces — 1 vs 1000 action remains the core thrill of the series. KOEI TECMO AMERICA+1

The game’s visuals and sense of scale made me feel immersed in those sweeping conflicts. What the earlier games sometimes lacked – a sense of direction or purpose behind the battlefield – Origins addresses. Each mission feels tied to the story, the terrain matters, the battles link emotionally with characters’ motivations and bigger goals. Because the story is more condensed and curated, each battlefield carries weight.

Refined Roster and Weapon Systems

One of the big changes I appreciated: while there are fewer playable weapons than some previous entries, that turned out to be a sensible design decision. The development team pared back the roster and focused on one playable character (Ziluan) who can be assisted occasionally by guest characters such as Guan Yu, Zhou Yu and Xiahou Dun. I thought prior games’ large rosters had introduced too much complexity, too many clone characters and some questionable weapon choices. With this game’s setup the weapons feel like they belong, many of them genuinely different from one another, and each feels meaningful.

Less is more in this regard: the game trades breadth for depth. The weapon types feel distinct; upgrades, bond mechanics and gear choices feed into the system in satisfying ways. I felt myself genuinely choosing gear rather than just working through a long list of variants.

Smart Use of an Overworld

Another decision I loved was the inclusion of an overworld. Rather than the fully open world approach of Dynasty Warriors 9 (which many critics felt was too empty), Origins gives a navigable world map that shows off the size of the game and offers enough visuals and things to do without the overbearing open world trappings. According to the developer it still retains the epic 1,000 vs 1 action but within structured missions and skirmishes that tie into the story and world. Xbox Wire+1

In the overworld I found myself taking side missions, forging bonds with officers, exploring vantage points and preparing for the next large battle. The sense of preparation and pacing between missions added more weight to the major battles. The game doesn’t feel like “go from one huge mission to another” — there’s breathing room, there’s build-up, there’s tension.

Polishing Combat Mechanics

What impressed me most is how the Omega Force team took the time to polish the combat mechanics and streamline the experience. While still rooted in the musou hack-and-slash tradition, there is now greater nuance: blocks, parries, evades play into major fights; there are special “Battle Arts” you unlock; the pacing is tighter and more satisfying. Reviewers noted this as a highlight. Xbox Wire+1

In my sessions I found that when facing impressive enemy officers or massive charges the combat didn’t collapse under chaos. It remained readable, exciting and responsive. The boss fights felt meaningful and the smaller skirmishes helped build up your character’s strength and gear. For longtime fans who felt that prior games had lost that “feel” of the series, this felt like a return.

Room for Improvement

Of course, no game is perfect. While Origins does many things right, there are some gripes to report. The decision not to voice Ziluan (the protagonist) at all struck me as a missed opportunity. His story is perhaps weaker than some would like, and though the branching narrative is a step up, the underlying character development of Ziluan felt muted compared with some of the larger cast that previous entries allowed. Some players have noted that the lack of cooperative play is a minus (you cannot play local or online co-op missions) and others have commented that the post-game and side content, while robust, is less sprawling than some of the previous entries. Reddit

If you go into this title expecting every feature of prior games (huge rosters, full multiplayer, sprawling timeline) you may feel slightly restrained. But personally I see that as a trade-off for improved focus and quality.

A Reinvigration of the Fan-Base

As a longtime fan, one of the most rewarding aspects was that Dynasty Warriors: Origins feels like it has reinvigorated the franchise, long in need of fresh energy. The balance between old and new is respectful of what fans loved – the sweeping armies, the tactile combat, the romance of the Three Kingdoms – yet introduces meaningful change and a sense of quality not always present in recent instalments. Review outlets agree: critics praised the game for reclaiming lost goodwill and offering a much-needed overhaul of the series. Wikipedia+1

From my perspective, this game brought back that feeling of “yes, this is Dynasty Warriors at its core but better”. The fan community on Reddit reflects this:

“Origins is amazing … the gameplay is ridiculously fun … I absolutely think it is worth it.” Reddit
“By far the most polished and cohesive experience in a DW game I’ve had yet.” Reddit

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been following the Dynasty Warriors franchise for years and have felt gradually disillusioned by the weak entries, then Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a must-play. From its smart focus on a tighter story, to its polished combat mechanics, to its satisfying sense of scale and battlefield impact, it delivers on so many levels. It won’t deliver everything from past games (massive rosters, full co-op) but it trades quantity for quality in a way that will satisfy both returning longtime fans and newcomers alike.

For my part I’m delighted I bought the game at launch: the decision to invest in a title that feels like a genuine return to form has been rewarded. The physical copies selling out around Australia prove that players felt the same. Whether you’re drawn to the historical setting of the Three Kingdoms, the thrill of large-scale musou combat, or the idea of branching narrative choices that actually matter – Origins delivers.

If I were to sum it up: Dynasty Warriors: Origins feels like the series reborn. It takes everything I loved about the older games, refines the systems, introduces meaningful changes and leaves me excited for what comes next. I hope the series continues in this direction.

Please support the website by liking the article or subscribing to the mailing list. The review and the experience above are based on my own views. No commission, freebies or payments have been received.

Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Here are some of my recent articles: