The Dynasty Warriors series, traditionally a linear hack-and-slash experience, saw a departure with Dynasty Warriors 9's open world. This raised questions about whether Dynasty Warriors: Origins would follow suit. The answer is no. Dynasty Warriors: Origins does not feature an open world.
The inclusion of open worlds in recent AAA titles hasn't always been beneficial. Dynasty Warriors 9's expansive, yet largely empty, world serves as a prime example of a poorly implemented open-world mechanic. The vastness diluted the impact of large-scale battles.
Unlike its predecessor, Dynasty Warriors: Origins opts for a more streamlined approach. It offers a condensed overworld map representing ancient China. Players navigate this compact map, visiting towns to acquire weapons and items, rest at inns, and interact with NPCs to initiate side quests, discover resources (like Pyroxene and Old Coins), engage in optional battles, and trigger story cutscenes. While this overworld might seem rudimentary, it's a significant improvement over the largely unproductive open world of Dynasty Warriors 9. Its small size makes traversing it quick and easy, rendering the fast travel option largely unnecessary.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
