We had the opportunity to interview Tomohiko Sho, the Producer and President of Omega Force Division, about their upcoming title Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Sho provided fascinating insights into the game’s development, design choices, and new features that fans and newcomers alike can look forward to. The interview revealed a thoughtful approach to modernizing the franchise while staying true to its roots.

New Protagonist and Storytelling Approach

One of the most significant changes in Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the introduction of the “Unnamed Hero,” a fixed protagonist through which players will experience the story. Sho explained that this design choice was made to make the complex narrative of the Three Kingdoms more accessible, especially for Western players unfamiliar with the historical context.

“Our primary intention behind designing the ‘Unnamed Hero’ was to make the story more accessible for players unfamiliar with the history of the Three Kingdoms, especially Western players,” Sho stated. He further elaborated on the reasoning behind a fixed character design: “This decision not only helps to maintain the consistency of the character’s background and narrative but also allows us to seamlessly unfold the original storyline.”

The game’s structure allows players to interact with various historical figures as an independent character before choosing a faction to join. Sho explained, “At a certain point in the game, players will have the choice to join the faction of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Quan, after which the story will unfold from the perspective of the chosen faction. This is one of the major innovations of the game, giving players more freedom to choose and experience different storylines.”

Combat System Revamp

Sho revealed that the combat system has been refined to strike a balance between offense and defense. This change harkens back to earlier installments in the series, aiming to provide players with not only the thrill of defeating numerous enemies but also the satisfaction of overcoming challenging battles.

“In line with the game’s title, Origin, we wanted to return to the roots of the series,” Sho explained. “This time, we hope players will not only enjoy the thrill of defeating hordes of enemies but also feel the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming tough battle challenges.”

The combat system now includes actions such as blocking and countering in addition to basic attacks, adding depth to the gameplay. Sho emphasized that this change was a deliberate move away from the pure “hack-and-slash” style of recent entries, aiming to provide a more balanced and engaging combat experience.

Gameplay Structure and Exploration in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

While not an open-world game, Dynasty Warriors: Origins will feature a large continent map where players can engage in battles at specific points. Sho estimated that 70-80% of the game will focus on combat, with the remaining 20-30% dedicated to exploration, character development, and interactions.

“Players will move across a large continent map and engage in battles at specific points, where the actual combat will take place on specialized battle maps,” Sho clarified. This structure allows for a focused narrative experience while still providing opportunities for exploration and character progression outside of combat scenarios.

Character Redesigns and Historical Figures

The game features some notable character redesigns, such as Zhang Jiao’s more refined appearance. Sho explained the reasoning behind this particular change: “Since Zhang Jiao plays a key role in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, we’ve given him a larger narrative presence and more detailed characterization. The Yellow Turban Rebellion storyline is told over an entire chapter, and to better align his appearance with the narrative, we decided to redesign Zhang Jiao’s look to better fit his character’s development.”

Players will also have the opportunity to temporarily control nine playable historical figures during battles, including prominent leaders like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. “During battles, if certain conditions are met, players will be able to temporarily control other Three Kingdoms generals,” Sho revealed, adding an exciting dimension to the gameplay.

Branching Storylines and Replayability of Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Dynasty Warriors: Origins continues the series’ tradition of “if scenarios.” Players can choose to align with different factions, significantly impacting the narrative. To enhance replayability and allow players to experience various storylines without replaying the entire game, save points have been implemented at key decision moments.

“To make it easier for players to experience the full storyline, we’ve included save points that allow players to return to key decision moments and explore alternative storylines without having to replay the entire game,” Sho explained. This feature ensures that players can fully explore the game’s branching narratives without the need for multiple complete playthroughs.

Sho concluded the interview by emphasizing that Dynasty Warriors: Origins is designed to appeal to both history enthusiasts and those new to the Three Kingdoms story. “Whether you know the story of the Three Kingdoms or not, we believe you’ll find something to enjoy in this game. We warmly invite all players to experience it for themselves!” he enthused, extending an invitation to players in Southeast Asia and beyond to dive into this new chapter of the Dynasty Warriors saga.