Dynasty Warriors: Origins Review - A Meaningful Comeback

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a clever test run: it trims the series’ fat while pumping up what really works. Losing a huge roster will make some fans grumble, and the half-baked personal arc is a swing and a miss, but the fighting itself is the best the series has ever thrown down.

For the die-hards who buy PS5 adventure games, it’s a welcome return to core mechanics, spiced up just enough to feel fresh. Newbies will find it the perfect dive in: easy to pick up, sleek, and full of those huge, over-the-top clashes that define the whole Musou vibe.

Is it the Dynasty Warriors sequel we pictured? Nope. But maybe it’s the one we really needed as fans of the franchise (or at least of the genre).

Thanks to the sandbox flavor sewn into the game, no two brawls ever unfold the same way.

Enemy patrols swap routes, friends switch up their tactics, and out-of-nowhere moments—like snagging a base seconds before the countdown—fire up the whole match. Toss in unlockable weapon moves, character ties that unlock funky perks, and hard modes that make you live and breathe the mechanics, and you’ve got a game that never runs out of hours.

Play Your Way: Be the General of Your Own War

Forget the straight-line missions. Dynast Warriors: Origins opens the door and lets you waltz in however you like. The whole battlefield is your chess set, and every play—whether you’re patching up a buddy or sneaking a raid that rattles the whole enemy line—changes the tempo of the fight.

This freedom is a rush. One mission, you’re carefully shredding enemy outposts, sapping their numbers before the big boss shows up. Next, you could skip the forts completely and focus on senior officers, snatching their command like a thief in the night. The game doesn’t shove you to the right answer; it just says, “What do you see?” and lets you run with it.

Tripping an enemy flank or sealing off a getaway never feels like a rerun, and the enemy squad reacts like they’ve actually got brains.

Real Allies, Real Impact: Finally No More Cannon Fodder

One of the best upgrades in Dynasty Warriors: Origins is that your buddies actually matter. Earlier Dynasty Warriors games treated friendly troops like fancy wallpaper: nice to look at, but never doing the work. This time, though, they fight like they mean it. When their spirit is up, they bust the front line, snatch bases, and even throw down with enemy leaders—sometimes without a single order from you.

Those moments feel natural and earned. You watch the squad regroup after a tough win, and then you run shoulder to shoulder with them as they roll the map forward. That rush is so satisfying. Plus, it makes you think: do you let them mop up the little guys so you can nail the big threat, or do you jump in to close the fight quickly?

Sure, it’s not perfect. Allies can still get swamped if the enemy grabs the speed, and their tactics can go haywire in crowded fights. Still, those slips don’t dim how big a step forward this is for the whole series.

Super Boring Hero: Huge Wasted Chance

If I had to pick one huge miss in Origins, it’s the empty hero. The "Wanderer" is a quiet, memory-wiped fighter who feels more like a stuffed figure with a sword than a person. Everybody from peons to emperors in the Three Kingdoms sees them as a miracle, but the Wanderer never shows a single quirk—no banter outside fights, no layered past, and no growth except “get memories back.”

This silent-hero trick could fly if the game really sold a you-are-the-hero vibe. The problem is, the Wanderer comes with mapped-out ties and a shoved-in spotlight. Why does Cao Cao treat them like twins? Why does Lu Bu nod with respect? The game keeps mum, and the hero winds up a tourist glued to the tour of a better epic.

It stings more because the real historical crew pops off the screen. Cao Cao schemes with bite, Liu Bei dreams with fire, and Sun Quan balances with calm—next to them, the Wanderer fades like an erased pencil mark.

A new main character, a more down-to-earth story, and nonstop action make it fresh for brand-new players and perfect for anyone who’s owned a copy since the PS2, particularly those who buy cheap PS4 games. That’s why I’m saying Origins is the best the series has ever been—and the best map we could ask for as Musou games level up.

The New Dynasty: A Narrative Reboot

Origins gets things right by kicking off with brand-new storytelling that reinvigorates a classic series. Rather than dropping a huge lineup of heroes and an endless timeline, the game puts the spotlight on one original hero. This switch means the plot gets tighter and more personal, letting players who’ve never touched the Three Kingdoms era finally grasp the complex legends without feeling lost.

The game’s quieter, more down-to-earth vibe ends up being its biggest win. Classic legends are reframed, leaving behind the over-the-top stereotypes they often fall into. Take Lu Bu, for instance: he’s still a fearsome warrior, but now we see the doubts and backstory that keep him human. Zhang Jiao and Dong Zhuo also step out of the shadows, showing sides that breathe history into every choice. When players choose where to lend their swords, the choice hits harder, charged with real conflict. This fresh, layered storytelling is what separates Origins from older titles, letting it wave the banner of a brand-new saga all its own.

Evolving the Musou Formula: The Perfect Blend

Dynasty Warriors games are all about that thrill of being a one-person army, ramming through endless bad guys until the KO counter hits the roof. Origins nails that classic, satisfying rumble of blades and bodies flying, letting one swing send foes tumbling, and the numbers climb into the thousands. That rush is why the series keeps kicking, and Origins serves it hot.

But hang on—this time, the game doesn’t just lean on old favorites. It wisely stirs in a fresh layer of strategy. Now you’re not just a lone hero; you’re the boss of your own small army. You can give your troops orders mid-battle, which brings the kind of depth that earlier games didn’t dare offer. Mixing this squad command with the series’ trademark brawling makes every fight feel livelier and smarter, pushing the franchise a step ahead while keeping the soul of Musou. It’s the exact evolution Dynasty Warriors 9 missed, and Origins hits the mark.

Unmatched Value and Replay Kick

Origins is flat-out the best bang for your gaming buck, because it keeps asking for more time. After you finish the main story—around 28 hours if you’re moving—there’s doorway after doorway that can easily stretch that 28 to 80 or even 100. Seriously. You’ve got hidden coins tucked in walls, dozens of weapons begging to hit the max upgrade, and every character needing a hearty friendship level-up. Plus, the fresh job-like system means the weapon you strap on doesn’t just look cooler; it totally reshapes your moves and combos. So, if you swap a spear for a hammer, it’s a brand-new game in the same world. Replay equals megaton.