20 years, 20 gazillion grunts wrecked
Amazingly, it’s been 20 years since the debut of RPG-brawler series Dynasty Warriors. To celebrate two full decades of field-clearing brawls and 1 vs. 10,000 action, publisher Koei Tecmo has released a birthday video looking back at the franchise’s storied history.
The “original” Dynasty Warriors was a weapon-based one-on-one fighter that launched for the PlayStation back in 1997. Koei Tecmo, however, chose to recognise the series’ true “birth” with the launch of 2000’s Dynasty Warriors 2 for the PlayStation 2. Dynasty Warriors 2 reinvented the series as the en masse brawler we know today, impressing audiences with its blend of period melodrama and epic battle scenes.
Over the ensuing years, the series has continued to grow and grow, having seen nine mainline entries alongside a wide variety of expansions and spin-offs. Koei Tecmo has also utilised Dynasty Warriors’ gameplay for a series of similar titles incorporating popular brands such as One Piece, Fist of the North Star, The Legend of Zelda, and even Gundam.
The latest mainline entry, Dynasty Warriors 9, is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.