Musou games have now been around for over two and a half decades, and I think it’s fair to say the genre is one of the most controversial in gaming. It’s a genre that you either love or hate, with fans delighting over the satisfaction of killing thousands in a single battle and detractors saying they’re too simple. In recent years I’ve tried to do everything I can to convert the detractors to the cause, and thanks to the modern more complex takes on Musou combat have succeeded multiple times. For some though those modern games have taken some of the joy of Musou away, and they yearn for simpler days with all their favourite Three Kingdoms friends. Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is absolutely for those people.
This polished version of a 2001 game is very much back to Musou basics, and as you’d expect follows that traditional and somewhat embellished Three Kingdoms narrative. You can play through this historical story from a whole lot of perspectives, with over forty different characters to unlock and play as across its various modes. It’s very weird to go back to such a freeform Musou game where you play as whoever you want in 2026, and I was excited to choose my character and get slashing.
Once my sufficiently camp claw welding warrior was chosen I jumped into a battle, and was transported back to a simpler time in gaming. When people say that all Dynasty Warriors games involve is hitting light attack a few times followed by heavy attack, this is what they’re talking about. Sure you can also block and dodge to avoid taking damage, but when dealing with most basic foes you don’t really need to worry about that. It’s wild how alien the combat feels when you play modern Musous, because they’ve come such a long way.
Regardless of how the combat feels compared to modern titles though, I just can’t deny how satisfying it still is to slice through thousands of foes in a single battle. With a sprawling battlefield ahead of you and a map full of enemy officers and forces clashing, running (or galloping if you’ve got a horse) between groups of guys and smacking them around just feels great. The scale of the battles still feels as exciting as many modern games in the genre, and in 2001 it must have felt like witchcraft.
Despite the simplicity of the combat there’s actually quite a lot you can do on the battlefield. Riding horses to get around is entertaining, as is using them to plough through dozens of enemy idiots. The bow gives you a ranged option in combat, and although never essential is always there when you need it. There are also loads of buff items and healing items that litter the land, and utilising them will make tougher stages much more manageable.
Nobody could ever moan about the amount of content in Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered, because this is so much to do. Every single character has their own story mode to complete, which is at least seven missions long. There’s also a free play mode where you can play different missions as whoever you want, including the beloved Yellow Turban Rebellion. There’s even a challenge mode with some interesting time attack options, for those wanting to challenge themselves. The entire game can be played co-op with friends too, which is a lovely touch.
I must admit that almost every aspect of Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered felt a bit lacking to me compared to my beloved modern titles, but there’s one thing that the recent titles have lost. The campy and outright terrible voice acting is beyond delightful, and makes for such a sillier experience. It’s a shame that the later games in the series take themselves so much more seriously, because this vibe is perfect for a Musou.
It was fun going back for a little look at the origins of the Dynasty Warriors series, but it did just make me appreciate the newer better games so much more. The usually flashy combos felt quote bland by comparison, and the Musou attacks even more so. The lack of different systems for things like guard breaking just makes everything feel a bit one note too, and made me long for other games.
Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered will be adored by those who miss the classic Dynasty Warriors experience, but for me it was just a bit lacking. It’s certainly not even close to being one of the best Musou game I’ve played in the last seven or eight years, which just shows how far the genre has come. If you’re nostalgic for the PS2 era though you’ll likely appreciate it more, just don’t sleep on the modern titles when you’re done.
