With the release of Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered being right around the corner, Omega Force producer Tomohiko Sho was kind enough to answer some of our burning questions, such as how the classic game can handle newer gameplay systems like Evasion and Perfect Power Guard, and even what its success could mean for other older games in the Warriors franchise.
Dynasty Warriors 3 has previously been described as the most-requested remaster in the series. Beyond that fan demand, what made Dynasty Warriors 3 the right game to revisit rather than Dynasty Warriors 4, 5, or another classic entry?
Among the requests for remasters of the PS2 era Dynasty Warriors games, there were many requests for Dynasty Warriors 3, Dynasty Warriors 4, and Dynasty Warriors 5. The reason we chose Dynasty Warriors 3 was that it was the entry in which many of the key elements that would go on to form the foundation of later games in the series were firmly established. And personally, it is also a very memorable title for me because it was the first game I worked on with full responsibility for the project as a game designer.
The remaster adds mechanics such as Evasion, Just Evasion, and Perfect Power Guard, while also allowing players to switch back towards a more classic experience. How difficult was it to modernise the combat without fundamentally changing what Dynasty Warriors 3 feels like?
It was extremely difficult. Because the range of actions available to the player changes significantly, it wasn’t realistic to completely match the combat to each of the difficulties, so we chose to accept that to a certain extent. Even so, whether players choose the more modern feel or something closer to the original, we still needed to achieve the intended gameplay feel and difficulty across a wide variety of situations, and that was something we struggled with considerably.
Dynasty Warriors games have changed enormously in terms of enemy density, combat speed, officer encounters, and battlefield design since the PS2 era. Which aspects of Dynasty Warriors 3 did the team consider essential to preserve even if they might feel unusual by modern standards?
If I had to put it in a couple words… this may not be the best way to phrase it and might be misunderstood, but in a positive sense, I’d say it is the “almost unfair level of difficulty” and the “silliness.” Of course, the exhilarating feeling of 1 vs. 1000 is an unwavering core of the series, but we also placed great importance on preserving the underlying appeal that could only exist, and be enjoyed, because of the sensibilities and action game design of that era.
Weapon Fusion is a fairly substantial addition to the original progression system. What prompted its inclusion, and how much does it change the way players build and develop individual officers compared to the original game?
Weapon Fusion was probably the one major feature that the director and the development team members wanted to add. Those who know the original game well will understand this, but when it came to what were known as unique weapons, there had long been feedback that some were difficult to use depending on the officer, or that they had different attributes, so we added Weapon Fusion in response to those requests. As for progression and character builds, given the large number of officers, we have adjusted the systems so that characters can be developed more easily in line with modern sensibilities.
The remaster is adding entirely new scenarios rather than simply recreating the original game and Xtreme Legends. What kinds of opportunities did revisiting Dynasty Warriors 3 give the team to explore battles or character perspectives that couldn’t be included in the original release?
As for the new scenarios… even though this is a remaster, we felt that players would want some new content. So, with that in mind, we created them around the concept of offering more “hypothetical (what if)” scenarios that we couldn’t at the time, while also making them highly challenging and rewarding to play. Back then, because the game was as a pure action game, there was almost no explanation of the world or the individual officers. In this version, we have supplemented those aspects, and I think that allows players to enjoy the game with a greater sense of immersion.
Ziluan from Dynasty Warriors: Origins is appearing in the remaster. How did the team approach integrating such a modern Dynasty Warriors character into a game whose design and roster originated more than two decades ago?
By the end of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Ziluan became an extremely powerful character, capable of switching between a wide variety of weapons, using powerful Arts, and unleashing True Musou Ranbu attacks that could almost be considered ultimate moves. In this game, we adjusted him so that his actions would not feel out of place alongside the other officers, while also ensuring that his overall strength remained balanced with the rest of the roster.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins brought a significant number of new and returning players to the franchise. Has its reception changed the way Omega Force thinks about preserving and reintroducing older Dynasty Warriors games?
We are certainly conscious of those who have played Dynasty Warriors: Origins, but to be honest, I don’t think it fundamentally changed our approach. Omega Force has always developed the Dynasty Warriors series with the intention of delivering what we believe is the best possible version of Dynasty Warriors for that particular time. I think that principle has remained unchanged and will continue to remain unchanged going forward.
If Complete Edition Remastered performs well, could this become the beginning of a broader effort to preserve older Warriors titles – whether through more Dynasty Warriors remasters or revisiting games from series such as Samurai Warriors?
If Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered performs well, then of course I think the possibility of remastering other older titles and series will increase. In fact, I am sincerely hoping that it performs well enough to make that possible! And naturally, this is not limited to the Dynasty Warriors series. I believe it could also open up possibilities for other titles in the broader Warriors franchise.
What resolutions and frame rates does Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered target on PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2?
The frame rate for PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S is 60 FPS. On both PS5 and PS5 Pro, the game outputs at 4K resolution using upscaling technology. Xbox Series X also outputs at 4K using upscaling technology, while Xbox Series S is upscaled to 1080p. On Nintendo Switch 2, TV Mode outputs at 2560×1440, while Handheld Mode outputs at 1920×1080 using upscaling technology. To avoid creating a significantly different gameplay experience, the Switch 2 version has also been adjusted to handle the same number of characters as the other platforms while running at a variable frame rate of 30 ~ 60 FPS.
What specific enhancements does the PS5 Pro version offer, and are there any notable visual or performance compromises on Series S or Switch 2?
On PS5 Pro, the graphics have been enhanced using a higher internal resolution than on PS5, as well as upscaling with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). We have also adjusted the mesh quality using Nanite so that it can achieve a higher level of detail than on PS5. In terms of visuals, the Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions differ in areas such as mesh detail and vegetation density. They also differ in that they do not use Lumen for dynamic global illumination and instead use ad hoc lighting adjustments created by our artists. And as mentioned earlier, the performance specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2 version are as described above.
