Romance of the me kingdoms
Dynasty Warriors: Origins.
It’s a great premise, honestly.
A battle might take eight minutes.
The three consecutive bonding cutscenes before the next might take ten.
It’s an energy that persists throughout.
You’re so courageous, bro.
I’m not sure whether to value compassion or strength or tactics but you get it, bro.
‘Musou’ translates from Japanese to something like “peerless” or “the only one”.
Here’s a letter that made me laugh:
You get a lot of letters.
They help lend personality to the unnamed thousands fighting alongside you.
The letters often contain gifts, too.
I don’t know how that farmer managed to afford this magic defense amulet, but I’m grateful.
Battles are about cadence.
Abridged fighting game parry-and-combo rhythms.
Rock opera swells and lulls.
Defeat the character signalling for the charge.
Defeat enough archers to prevent a volley.
The minor victory of a captured camp cementing your hold on the western flank.
You learn to make sacrifices.
Zhang Feididbuy me a very large beef bowl, so I suppose I owe him.
Unless it’s Han Dang.
He’s a Sun family general, all male pattern baldness and comically low self-esteem.
He means everything to me.
You’ll get notified: Han Dang is facing tough fight.
Can’t be everywhere, and can’t do everything.
And so the musou, army-of-one concept is perhaps examined, maybe refuted, definitely played with.
It’s usually a terrible idea.
Motivated armies mean stronger, more aggressive characters and deadlier retinues with more frequent tactical maneuvers.
‘Tactics’ is pushing it, but it’s definitely about being part of something bigger than yourself.
I take time to appreciate the sweeping draw distance.
Thumping, muddy horse hooves.
Fire arrows screaming defiantly in the rain.
I pause to take stock.
Do I have time for a solo base run to push our lines forward?
Does someone need help?
I go to unpause, but it takes me a moment.
When you pause, all the channels but lead and rhythm guitar are silenced.
I am convinced nobody has shredded this hard since records began.
Although, as I said, fighting like a god is discouraged.
I’m both disappointed and appreciative.
So instead you have moments of collaboration.
Protecting a fellow general so they can unleash their own tactic.
There are nine weapons in all, gathered from battles or vendors.
The chakram’s were a favourite.
you might spend the interim spinning and catching airborne chakrams, powering them up if you time it correctly.
Then there’s the staff that has an infinite spin combo.
When I discovered it, I decided it was the best day of my life.
Sometimes, it really is just about knocking out a thousand men.
There’s no co-op, but “fun with mates” is always a cop out anyway.
Dynasty Warriors Origins is great fun without mates, and you’ll make enough in the game anyway.
The scarcity helps reinforce their legend.
Later, I spoke to him as part of an optional bonding scene.
He told me how happy and content he was to just support his companions from the background.
I feel the same, although I still wish he’d got to experience more lone heroism.
I was always excited for him when he’d take down an enemy general without my help.
It was a real source of tension throughout.
And just like that, I’m excited about Dynasty Warriors again.
This review is based on a review code provided by the publisher.
