This morning, Koei-Tecmo released a sneak preview of Dynasty Warriors 9 concept art and screenshots. Dynasty Warriors 9 will be the latest installment of the hack-‘n’-slash franchise that takes place in a fictionalized version of the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. The series was original a spin-off of Koei’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a strategy game set in the same era. Dynasty Warriors has exceeded its parent games in popularity, and has spawned anime series as well as a movie.
A very large cast of playable characters with various move sets and weapons have been strong features in the past. If you’ve never played a Dynasty Warriors game (and don’t mind a little artistic license being taken with historial figures), now might be a great time to give it a try. You have plenty of time to catch up; Dynasty Warriors 9 was only 40% done at the beginning of this month.
The game will be mission-based, as in the past. However, instead of selecting locations on a map, the player will be able to travel on an open-world map. There will be missions that advance the overall plot, as well as one-offs. The larger environments will open up some new methods for invading and controlling territory. For example, bows will have an increased range, and grappling hooks will be available for the first time. In keeping with another timely gaming trend, Dynasty Warriors 9 will have weather events that affect battle.
We’re still waiting for additional character art details. Dynasty Warriors characters in the past have had highly elaborate (and dare I say impractical?) costumes. Here’s a preview image of Cheng Pu. Cosplayers, start your engines!
Keep checking back for more updates, and take a look at our coverage of Dynasty Warriors 8 here.
