Oh no It's Lu Bu!

As a longtime fan of the Musou genre since DW4 on the PS2, I can confidently say DWO is the best entry in the series.

The game introduces a new amnesiac protagonist with fresh refined combat system that includes the new Bravery mechanic, Squad Tactics, Combat Arts, Perfect Parry, Evade and QTE Combos for great gameplay.

The storytelling is solid, offering great replayability, and there are moments where you’ll truly feel the intensity of battle—facing "large forces" armies that give you goosebumps. It's an epic experience that immerses you in the chaos of war like never before, surpassing any previous titles in the series.

However, there are a few drawbacks. The lack of a traditional Musou Mode or Story Mode is disappointing, and some iconic characters no longer have their unique weapons, which feels like a step back from past entries. Additionally, the limited selection of weapons and skins for the main character is a missed opportunity to offer more variety.

Overall recommended for all those interested in the genre and who are eager to annihilate thousands of enemies.

I have played a few musou here and there but never finished any until this very day. Dynasty Warriors: Origins (DW:O) offers a fresh reboot of the Three Kingdoms saga, starting from the Yellow Turban Rebellion and progressing to the later stages of the Three Kingdoms era. While my personal interest in the historical period is far from being invested in, it is hard to ignore the rich foundation this era provides for compelling drama. The game’s portrayal of key figures such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Cao Cao is notably engaging, although I found the narrative to be somewhat overstretched, making it feel like the story dragged on longer than necessary.

Having not played the previous nine entries in the Dynasty Warriors series, nor the various Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, the Three Kingdoms setting seems already oversaturated to me. I don't know how I would exactly feel if I were to play all those games back to back in recent years. However, DW:O should serve as a solid starting point for anyone new to the franchise, providing a refreshed take on the period’s tumultuous events. The inclusion of duels, a feature that I very much enjoyed, stands out as a highlight. The encounter with Lu Bu, in particular, was a challenging experience.

Though the map and mission design seemingly follow a familiar pattern from past titles, they are still engaging enough to sustain interest. The variety of weapons available adds a decent layer of depth to combat, while the bond system with officers—a feature somewhat akin to that in Rise of the Ronin, this is the closest example I could give—is welcome. The overworld map is serviceable, but nothing revolutionary. However, the post-game content is substantial, offering players an opportunity to continue exploring the world though I already had a burn out at that point.

Art chains and musou attacks with the partner officers are essentially dope. Additionally, the ability to control partner officers is a nice break for your character. While these features certainly elevate the experience, I daresay the overall impact is not necessarily groundbreaking.

At the end of the day, I don't even know how do you review a ♥♥♥ musou. The genre is inherently repetitive, focusing on HnS combat with massive hordes of enemies. While DW:O refines many aspects of this formula and offers some compelling new features, it doesn't transcend the fundamental nature of its genre. The eagle eye-like (where you can survey the battlefield) seemed like it would lead to interesting scenarios (there were some missions where you needed to break the 'magic') but it really didn't which was... disillusioning I guess.

Well, it’s fun, it has some depth, and it’s satisfying, but ultimately, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

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