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Dynasty Warriors: Origins Switch 2 Review
Rally 'Round The Flag
The latest entry in Koei Tecmo and Omega Force's Dynasty Warriors series has stormed onto the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing with it a rousing tale of heroes vying for the favor of the heavens, chaotic battles that pit one against thousands, and an emperor's worth of content. With its endlessly entertaining action and excellent performance, Dynasty Warriors: Origins on Switch 2 is a must-have for fans of the genre and a perfect fit for players looking to get the most out of the system.
Adapting roughly the first half of Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , the story takes players from the peasant revolt of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs, as the Han Dynasty loses its grip on the realm and warlords spring up to replace it, blazing a path to the future through bold promises and spilled blood. Players take on the role of Ziluan, a wandering warrior with amnesia who devotes his blade to those who further the cause of peace. As the story progresses and control of the realm is divided between three heroes, Ziluan begins to remember the duty he was once entrusted with and joins the leader that he believes will be the one to unify the land. Players can choose between the idealistic Liu Bei, the pragmatic Cao Cao, and the fearless Sun Jian, as they fight under the banner of the righteous and tear down all that stand in their way.
[caption id="attachment_182964" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The enemy of my enemy will be my enemy tomorrow.[/caption]
At every turn, old alliances are broken and new ones are forged, as the chaos of war turns yesterday's comrades into today's enemies. Political intrigue and surprising twists await players regardless of which path they choose, and true to the Origins title, those unfamiliar with the source material and this era of history are eased into its world slowly. The story covers a tremendous amount of ground, yet it manages to treat individual characters and arcs gracefully. Antagonists like the revolutionary Zhang Jiao and the conqueror Dong Zhuo are portrayed with a deft touch, showing how ambition leads both the just and the strong astray. Though both the source material and the game favor Liu Bei, the game portrays his rivals as being worthy of leadership in their own ways. Through its thoughtful writing and well-rounded cast, the story beautifully portrays changing times, clashing ideals, and the sacrifices that must be made on the road to peace.
Ziluan, being an original character made just for the game, acts as a proxy for players by letting them march alongside legends like Guan Yu and Lu Bu, and though the lack of voice acting for him makes his scenes somewhat awkward, it is a small price to pay for the added immersion and freedom of choice that comes with his inclusion. However, the subplot dealing with his past is rather trite, and it takes what was otherwise an acceptable avatar character and makes him feel forced by spending an unnecessary amount of screen time on him. The fact that his character and the concepts featured in his story have no historical basis makes them stand out even more. Pitfalls typical of this character type also rear their head throughout, such as Ziluan being regularly met with an overabundance of praise and admiration by the entire cast, which further disconnects him from the grounded tone and historical setting.
[caption id="attachment_182965" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Might makes right.[/caption]
Despite having spawned countless games and an entire genre based on its large-scale battles and blood-pumping hack n' slash combat, the Dynasty Warriors formula continues to excite. The decision to cut the roster down to just one playable character recenters the series, allowing for a narrower but deeper battle system. Ziluan is peerless in both offense and defense, with the dodge, parry, and Battle Art mechanics turning him into a one-man army. The dodge and parry work as they do in most action games featuring them, yet their inclusion feels significant because of the freedom and power that they grant players upon mastery. Meanwhile, the cooldown-based Battle Arts allow players to consistently string together powerful attacks instead of relying on just light and heavy attacks or having to wait until the Rage and Musou gauges are full to feel the rush the combat is meant to provide.
That would be satisfying enough on its own, yet there are even more options available to players, such as issuing orders to a detachment of guards to disrupt the enemy or temporarily taking control of one of the era's most legendary warriors to inflict major damage on their ranks. To make up for the one-man roster, Ziluan is also able to cycle between several weapon types, each transforming his move set, often with a unique gimmick that justifies using one weapon over another in a given situation. With battles often changing objectives partway and tenacious bosses leading the foe into the fray, that adaptability becomes key to victory. Through these mechanics and systems working in tandem, combat becomes rhythmic and free flowing, with players weaving through enemy formations like flowers in the breeze, all to strike where it hurts most with the full brunt of their thorns.
Weapon usage grants EXP towards weapon proficiency, which, once leveled up, rewards players with new attacks, new skill branches on the skill tree, and better stats. The EXP needed to reach the next rank for a weapon type grows considerably between ranks, encouraging players to use all weapon types to grow stronger more consistently. Skill points for the skill tree are awarded for performing well in battle, though more can be obtained by fulfilling certain requests from comrades, such as defeating a certain number of enemies with a specific attack. Additional Battle Arts can also be purchased from shops, obtained from NPCs around the world map, learnt from the skill tree, or unlocked by maxing out bonds with comrades.
[caption id="attachment_182966" align="aligncenter" width="640"] March across the realm and bring it closer to unity with each step.[/caption]
Optional battles are scattered across the map, offering smaller skirmishes that are good for grinding EXP and skill points. A few side quests, including one dealing with Ziluan's memories, are also available for those looking for a break from the main story. However, the most compelling of the optional content is completing all three routes, as they differ significantly and each have different strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Sun Jian's route misses out on some of the game's more historically significant battles, but it also tells a more approachable and heartfelt story than that of Liu Bei or Cao Cao's routes. All three routes also include what-if scenarios that change the fate of a character or outcome of a battle from what it is historically meant to be by performing certain actions, which brings more variety to the mix.
Players can expect the Switch 2 battery to get around two hours and thirty minutes out of the game in handheld mode. Completing the first route may take around twenty-five to thirty hours, while completing all three roughly tallies up to forty. Progress carries over between campaigns, allowing for breezy repeat playthroughs and for players to continue honing their skills after the credits have rolled. The postgame can push playtime up to and past one hundred hours through unlocking every skill on the tree, maxing out proficiency on all weapons, replaying from the start on the Ultimate Warrior difficulty for a true challenge, and more. Skill checks are dispersed throughout, with one of them being hard enough to potentially end a playthrough, though they are never unfair and can be blown past by players willing to engage with all of the game's mechanics. The new Visions of Four Heroes DLC that can be purchased separately brings even more content and challenges for those who are left craving more.
Voice acting is a mixed bag, with the English cast having both standout and laughably bad performances. It also struggles with keeping pronunciations of names consistent across the cast and across every scene. The Japanese cast is more balanced in its quality, but it has a fatal flaw in that the abundance of in-battle dialogue's subtitles are pushed off to the side where they're hard to read in the thick of combat. Meanwhile, Chinese voices are absent, at least in the North American release, which may be a disappointment for certain players.
[caption id="attachment_183462" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Rise above all others to become unmatched under the heavens.[/caption]
What is unlikely to disappoint, however, is the electric guitar-dominated soundtrack that makes each battle twice as epic. Though famed series composer Masayoshi Sasaki, also known as MASA, retired from Koei Tecmo in 2022, his successors have followed up on his work commendably. Iconic tracks like "EVE" from Dynasty Warriors 4 have been remixed, while many of the new ones hold their own against the classics. It's easy to get sucked into battles because of the soundtrack, and it's when players sync with the rhythm of the combat and the music simultaneously that they feel most like an unstoppable warrior, letting instinct and the beat guide their blade to victory.
When it comes to performance, the Switch 2 version offers players the choice between a locked thirty frames per second and a variable frame rate that shoots for sixty. The former works as expected, but the latter is impressive in both docked and handheld play. Though it is kept back by the inconsistency inherent to an unlocked frame rate, many players may find themselves choosing this mode for the entire playthrough, just for the battles where it stays close to sixty from start to finish, which is more often than one might think. This setting occasionally leads to pop-in and blurry textures, but it isn't jarring enough to be a problem. With that and some scattered long load times as the exceptions, the game looks and feels next-gen, which makes it even more inviting than it already was.
Wounded only by minor flaws, Dynasty Warriors: Origins for Switch 2 offers a banquet of content to those willing to follow its path of conquest to the top. From a grand narrative to addictive combat to music and visuals that deliver, it wins the war by succeeding on every front. Good for both quick portable sessions and binging on the big screen, as well as causal and hardcore play, it stands above many of its rivals for being capable of winning the hearts of many. Fans of the genre who have yet to experience the game will find much to appreciate about it, while newcomers and skeptics may find themselves persuaded by it to awaken the warrior within them and head into battle with the wind at their backs.
Disclosure: This review is based on a free copy of the game provided by the publisher.
The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Switch 2 Review appeared first on RPGamer .
Jan 31
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Switch 2 Review – Portable Musou MayhemDynasty Warriors: Origins is a great fit for the Nintendo Switch 2, although it's not quite the same experience as the original release.
The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Switch 2 Review – Portable Musou Mayhem appeared first on COGconnected .
Jan 16
Dynasty Warriors: Origins confidently slashes its way onto the Switch 2The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins confidently slashes its way onto the Switch 2 appeared first on Checkpoint .
Jan 16
The Steam Winter Sale Starts This Week And Includes Discounts On Hades II, Dispatch, Elden Ring Nightreign, And More
It's that time of the year again – snow is falling (in some places), stores are busier than ever, decorations overtake lawns, and the temperatures beg you to stay inside and enjoy some video games. Like every year, Steam is answering the call with its annual Steam Winter Sale and the 2025 edition promises discounts on some of the year's biggest games when it goes live this Thursday, on December 18, at 10 a.m. PT. Though we don't know exact pricing discounts just yet, if you're familiar with this yearly sale, you know the discounts can be quite steep. Steam released a trailer highlighting some of the games that will be on sale. If you were waiting to purchase some of the year's biggest and best releases, this might be your moment because the Steam Winter Sale 2025 includes discounts on Dispatch , Hades II , Elden Ring Nightreign , Kingdom Come: Deliverance II , Borderlands 4 , and more. Here are the other games mentioned in the Steam Winter Sale 2025 trailer: Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Dynasty Warriors: Origins Borderlands 4 – Our Review Dune: Awakening Dying Light: The Beast – Our Review The Last of Us Part II Remastered Rematch Slime Rancher 2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Our Review Megabonk Digimon Story Time Stranger R.E.P.O. Assassin's Creed Shadows – Our Review Marvel's Spider-Man 2 – Our Review RV There Yet? Escape from Duckov Dispatch – Our Review Deltarune Elden Ring Nightreign – Our Review Hades II – Our Review Drive Beyond Horizons The Steam Winter Sale 2025 begins Thursday, December 18, at 10 a.m. PT and will run through January 5. What games are you hoping to pick up? Let us know in the comments below!
Dec 16
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Details Its Upcoming DLC
Koei Tecmo and Omega Force revealed more details about the upcoming DLC for Musou action RPG Dynasty Warriors: Origins . The Visions of Four Heroes DLC, adds new stories, companions, weapons, and more. It will release on January 22, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 for $34.99.
The Visions of Four Heroes DLC features new stories centered around characters Zhang Jiao, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Lu Bu. The stories are “What If” scenarios that allow players to discover new sides to these characters. The DLC also features three new companions: Zhuhe, Diaochan, and a mysterious officer. It adds two new weapons, the bow and rope dart, as well as new arts, skill panels, and trait level cap to existing weapons. Players can also face off against powerful foes in the training ground mode. Those pre-ordering the DLC will receive the Yellow Turban Attire costume.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a hack-and-slash action RPG and the latest entry in Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors series, which is based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms historical novel. Origins sees players controlling a single original hero during the end of the Han dynasty in China with their own story elements introduced to the game. Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version releasing on January 22, 2025. A demo of the game is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Those looking to read more about the game can check out Alex Fuller’s review of its PC version.
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The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Details Its Upcoming DLC appeared first on RPGamer .
Nov 13
DIGITAL PRE-ORDERS FOR DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS VISIONS OF FOUR HEROES ARE NOW LIVEHertfordshire, 12th November 2025 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Omega Force have unveiled brand-new information regarding their tactical action game DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS. As announced previously, a major DLC, is scheduled for release on 22nd January 2026 on Nintendo Switch™ 2, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC via Steam®. Visions of Four […]
The post DIGITAL PRE-ORDERS FOR DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS VISIONS OF FOUR HEROES ARE NOW LIVE appeared first on Capsule Computers .
Nov 13
Dynasty Warriors: Origins – Visions of Four Heroes DLC Adds New Scenario, Evolved 1 vs. 1000 FightsFight alongside Zhang Jiao, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao and Lu Bu with brand new Battle Arts and weapons like the rope dart and bow.
Nov 12
DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS Is Releasing Its First Major DLC in January 2025KOEI TECMO America and Omega Force have revealed that the first major DLC for DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS will arrive on 22 January 2025.
The post DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS Is Releasing Its First Major DLC in January 2025 appeared first on COGconnected .
Nov 12
Dynasty Warriors: Origins will drop a huge DLC to celebrate its Switch 2 releaseTactical action game Dynasty Warriors: Origins has been earning positive feedback after its release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. But the devs had some exciting news recently. On January 22 of next year, they’ll officially make the jump to Switch as well, when Dynasty Warriors: Origins will release a Switch 2 version of the game. On that same day, a large-scale free DLC will drop on all platforms. Though, the devs have refused to share any details, so we don’t even know what the DLC will contain. New content and quality of life updates seem to be a certainty, but perhaps we’ll get a trailer once we’re closer to the due date.
Sep 15
EXPERIENCE THE 1 VS. 1,000 ACTION OF KOEI TECMO’S DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS ON NINTENDO SWITCH 2Fans can experience the thrilling action of latest title in the popular DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise on Nintendo Switch™ 2 alongside a large-scale DLC on 22nd January 2026! Hertfordshire, 12th September 2025 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Omega Force have announced that their exhilarating tactical action game, DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, will be available on […]
The post EXPERIENCE THE 1 VS. 1,000 ACTION OF KOEI TECMO’S DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS ON NINTENDO SWITCH 2 appeared first on Capsule Computers .
Sep 12
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is Coming to Nintendo Switch 2 Alongside DLC on January 22, 2026Despite the DLC also coming to all platforms on the same day as the Switch 2 release, no details about it have been revealed so far.
Sep 12
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Switch 2 Edition, DLC Releasing in JanuaryDynasty Warriors: Origins will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2. The game will hit the console in January, the same day that its large-scale DLC will release.
The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Switch 2 Edition, DLC Releasing in January appeared first on RPGamer .
Sep 12
Koei Tecmo TGS 2025 Booth Will Show 3 Games
Koei Tecmo shared its Tokyo Game Show 2025 booth details on its official site at the end of August 2025, and it is only confirming three games for TGS 2025 this year. One of them will be the upcoming Switch 2 Musou game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. However, while some series will be absent, those may be present in the form of merchandise sold at the event.
Here’s the full list of all the Koei Tecmo TGS 2025 games:
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - Switch 2 - “This Winter”
Ninja Gaiden 4 - PS5, Xbox Series X, PC - October 21, 2025
Nioh 3 - PS5, PC - early 2026
As for the merchandise, here are some of the items based on characters from Koei Tecmo games that will be sold at TGS 2025:
Atelier seriesB5 acrylic plates
Atelier series B2 double suede tapestries
Atelier series mascot soft cushion
Atelier series mini acrylics
Atelier Resleriana B2 tapestries: Atelier Summer 2025
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian acrylic figures
Atelier Yumia acrylic magnets
Atelier Yumia large acrylic figures
Atelier Yumia semi-3D A5 acrylic plate
Atelier Yumia tote bag
DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS domino-style keychain
DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS tote bag
Full graphic t-shirts of Atelier Yumia and DOA Xtreme Venus Vacation
Life-size tapestries of characters from Atelier Sophie 2 and DOA Xtreme Venus Vacation
Logo t-shirts of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Nioh 3
Rubber mouse pads of Atelier Yumia, DOA Xtreme Venus Vacation , Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, and Nioh 3
Venus Vacation PRISM - DOA Xtreme acrylic coasters
Here’s how all those items will look:
Images via Koei Tecmo
We now know three major companies’ plans for TGS 2025. Bandai Namco will feature six games at booth, and a stream dedicated to Jump+ Jumble Rush . Two of the titles at the event in the Family Game Park area will be ones that will be available worldwide by the time the show runs, Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots and Tamagotchi Plaza Switch 2 Edition . Capcom will show eight games at its booth. Of those, the two already available ones are Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6 .
Tokyo Game Show runs September 25-28, 2025.
The post Koei Tecmo TGS 2025 Booth Will Show 3 Games appeared first on Siliconera .
Aug 25
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Developers Eye More Crossovers, Hint at Possible SequelThe creative team behind Dynasty Warriors: Origins is already looking beyond the latest entry, with producer Sho and art director Yoshida revealing both sequel ambitions and an appetite for bold…
The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Developers Eye More Crossovers, Hint at Possible Sequel appeared first on TwistedVoxel .
Aug 8
Dynasty Warriors: Origins DLC in DevelopmentKoei Tecmo and Omega Force revealed that DLC for Dynasty Warriors: Origins is in development. The news comes alongside commemorations for the series's 25th anniversary.
The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins DLC in Development appeared first on RPGamer .
Aug 4
KOEI TECMO CELEBRATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DYNASTY WARRIORS SERIESCelebrate with brand-new content including DLC for DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, a remaster, and more. Hertfordshire, 4th August 2025 – Over the weekend, KOEI TECMO and developer Omega Force kicked off celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the beloved tactical action series, DYNASTY WARRIORS, with the launch of a dedicated 25th Anniversary website and commemorative trailer. […]
The post KOEI TECMO CELEBRATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DYNASTY WARRIORS SERIES appeared first on Capsule Computers .
Aug 4
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is Getting a “Large-Scale” DLC, Classic Dynasty Warriors Remaster AnnouncedWhile Koei Tecmo is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the franchise, it hasn't revealed more details about the DLC or remaster.
Aug 4
Free Play Days – WWE 2K25, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I, Robot, and The AscentThe post Free Play Days – WWE 2K25, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I, Robot, and The Ascent appeared first on Xbox Wire .
Jul 31
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Adds Photo Mode With New UpdateThe update also adds the new Lion Dragon Armor as an outfit, introduces bug fixes, and fixes a Steam Deck-specific FSR3 issue.
Apr 23
Big Games, Big Deals promotion comes to PlayStation Store April 23Big games deserve big deals, and that’s exactly the focus of PlayStation Store’s new promotion, which launches tomorrow, April 23! For a limited time*, you can enjoy price reductions across a selection of titles, including Dynasty Warriors: Origins (20% off), Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (30% off) and many more. Browse a selection of games on […]
Apr 23
Dynasty Warriors: OriginsBecome immersed in exhilarating battles as a nameless hero in the Three Kingdoms
