The Dynasty Warriors series, known for its linear hack-and-slash gameplay, saw a departure with Dynasty Warriors 9's open-world design, a move met with criticism. This raises the question: Does Dynasty Warriors: Origins follow suit?
Does Dynasty Warriors: Origins Feature an Open World?
No, Dynasty Warriors: Origins does not have an open world.
The recent trend in AAA games towards open worlds doesn't always equate to quality. Dynasty Warriors 9 serves as a prime example; its vast, empty world detracted from the experience, making large-scale battles feel sparse and underwhelming. The open-world mechanic felt forced and unnecessary.
Concerns arose whether Dynasty Warriors: Origins, with its experimental approach, would repeat this mistake. Fortunately, it avoids the open-world trap. Instead, it utilizes a condensed overworld map of ancient China.
This overworld allows players to navigate between missions, visiting towns to acquire weapons and items, and resting at inns. The map's compact size ensures quick traversal (often less than a minute to cross). While a fast travel option exists, its utility is minimal given the map's diminutive scale. Players can interact with NPCs to initiate side quests, discover items (Pyroxene and Old Coins), engage in optional battles to enhance proficiency and recruit soldiers, and trigger cutscenes to advance the storyline. This streamlined approach, though perhaps lacking in depth, is a significant improvement over the emptiness of Dynasty Warriors 9's expansive world.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
