Dynasty Warriors: Origins Takes a Fresh Approach to the Three Kingdoms Era – Interview with Producer Tomohiko Sho

We had the opportunity to interview Tomohiko Sho, the producer of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, who shared insights into the bold new direction for this legendary franchise. The latest installment marks a significant departure from traditional Dynasty Warriors gameplay, featuring a single protagonist and a more focused historical narrative.

A Bold New Direction

Breaking from tradition, Origins adopts a single-protagonist narrative structure, abandoning the series’ previous focus on multiple generals’ biographies. “Simply expanding the roster of generals to cover the long historical period from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the unification of the Jin Dynasty would not only fail to truly capture the depth and charm of the Three Kingdoms history, but it would also struggle to offer players a satisfying action experience,” Sho explained.

The decision to end at the Battle of Red Cliffs was carefully considered. “We chose the Battle of Red Cliffs as the story’s time point mainly because it serves as a very fitting endpoint for Dynasty Warriors: Origins,” Sho revealed. “To be honest, I was actually more inclined to make the game end with the Battle of Hulao Gate. But I also wanted to use this choice to attract more players who are not familiar with the Three Kingdoms.” He noted that “as one of the most famous battles in the Three Kingdoms, the Battle of Red Cliffs can help new players get into the game quickly and spark their interest in the entire Three Kingdoms story.”

Reimagining Historical Figures

The game introduces significant changes to character portrayals, particularly for key figures like Zhang Jiao and Dong Zhuo. “In the past, due to limited hardware capabilities, we often used exaggerated, even anime-style expressions to make the characters stand out,” Sho explained. “This time, we paid particular attention to changing the portrayals of two key characters: Zhang Jiao and Dong Zhuo… If we continued to use the exaggerated and even comedic portrayals from the past, it would certainly fail to capture the depth and gravity of the Three Kingdoms story.” These changes extend to main characters like Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian, who are depicted in their younger years, “still young, full of energy, and had not yet fully formed their ambitions.”

The Return of the Fearsome Lu Bu

Origins brings back Lu Bu’s intimidating presence, reminiscent of earlier Dynasty Warriors titles. “What puzzled me was that Lu Bu seemed to be weaker in those versions, which didn’t quite match the image of the invincible Lu Bu I had in mind,” Sho noted. “When we were developing Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I specifically wanted to bring Lu Bu back to his strongest form, so that long-time players could once again experience the fear of being dominated by Lu Bu.” However, he clarified that “Lu Bu is not an impossible opponent to beat. If players set the difficulty to the easiest level and remember to use defense, Lu Bu won’t be able to damage you.”

Sho’s shared his personal experience with the character in Dynasty Warriors: Origins in the interview: “When I first played the demo version of our game, I lost on my first attempt, but by the second time, I successfully defeated Lu Bu. Then I challenged myself on a higher difficulty, and although I lost on the first try again, I managed to clear it on the second attempt.”

Combat Evolution

The game’s battle system introduces refined defensive and dodging mechanics. “On the normal difficulty of our demo, if players can effectively use both defense and dodge, both actions are quite interesting, and the balance is well done,” Sho explained. “Dodging is an instant action, requiring precise timing to avoid enemy attacks, which makes it more difficult to execute compared to defense. That’s why we made dodging a bit stronger.” He emphasized that “in the game’s easy mode, players can just keep defending, and Lu Bu won’t be able to land a hit. But in normal difficulty, defense doesn’t always block all enemy attacks, making dodging more crucial.”

Sho said during the interview “in battle, players need to pay special attention to the key factors of morale and battle intent” and that in Dynasty Warriors: Origins “once a goal is determined, such as capturing a stronghold, players need to act quickly and use their action game skills to accomplish the objective.” He added that “players must take on the role of a strategic commander, maintaining balance in the battle through quick decision-making and efficient actions. This way, even with higher difficulty levels, the death rate of generals can be effectively reduced, and the situation on the battlefield will be more stable.”

A Modern Protagonist in Ancient China

Origins features a unique protagonist whose design distinctly differs from historical characters. “Since he is an unnamed character with amnesia, his role in the game differs from other Three Kingdoms figures,” Sho explained. “We aimed to ensure his appearance still fits within the historical context, without feeling out of place. So, while his design caters to modern tastes, it also needs to blend with the overall atmosphere of the Three Kingdoms story.” The team carefully considered the character’s presentation, “especially for those with an ‘uncle’ or ‘elderly’ vibe.”

The design process wasn’t without internal debate. The producer admitted that “he wasn’t very fond of the protagonist’s appearance at first, as he wanted the character to present a more mature and composed image. But after considering the overall world view of the game, the image of the Dynasty Warriors series, and the players’ acceptance, the development team—especially the CG team—strongly recommended the protagonist’s current design.”

Looking to the Future

While focused on Origins’ success, Sho expressed openness to future possibilities. “If this game performs well in sales, we will have enough funds and resources to develop sequels,” he stated. He also shared potential plans for future installments, including “possibly offering a customizable character design system where players could freely create the protagonist’s appearance, with options for both male and female characters.” The producer emphasized that “this game not only inherits the classic elements of the Dynasty Warriors series but also introduces many innovations and changes,” hoping players will enjoy these new attempts at evolving the franchise.

The game represents the team’s dedication to evolving the Dynasty Warriors formula while maintaining its core appeal. As Sho concluded in the interview, Dynasty Warriors: Origins aims to attract both series veterans and newcomers, hoping to showcase the rich heritage of the Three Kingdoms era to a global audience through this fresh interpretation of the beloved franchise.