DWO: Visions of Four Heroes Review on Xbox
Dynasty Warriors: Origins - Visions of Four Heroes, is an add on to the main game.
The premise is from the Inn, you can now access the separate DLC that promises some big choices.
The game boasts four new campaigns exploring alternate histories for Zhang Jiao, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Lu Bu. Two new weapons. Turn-based strategic map battles to assist units and a collection of new costumes for the main character.
Accessibility
With regards to accessibility, the developers have added in a variety of options, such as colour perception settings, map rotation, auto-use meat buns, officer highlight, button remapping, action hints, battle assistance, and subtitle options. Audio options are basic however, so those with auditory issues may struggle.
Gameplay
I gave the main game a ‘’Must Buy’’ due to its clever game mechanics, great story and engaging gameplay. So I was highly intrigued how the dlc would compare and enhance the main game. To enjoy the dlc though, you will have had to complete a number of chapters in order to access the new content. This is due to the whole premise of the dlc taking an alternative look at 4 heroes’ journeys that greatly differ from the main game.
To access Zhang Jiao, Chapter 2 has to have been reached. Dong Zhuo, Chapter 3 has to have been reached. Yuan Shao, Chapter 5 has to have been reached. Lu Bu, Chapter 5 has to have been reached. Both new weapons are also locked behind the new campaigns, with the bow being access from Zhang Jiao campaign, with the rope dart being abit more random with some getting access from Yuan Shao campaign, and others getting it from the Lu Bu campaign.
For me I started with Zhang Jiao alternative story, to see what game mechanics have been tweaked. The first change is that all stages are dynamically scaled to a player’s level, regardless of where they are to ensure that a challenge is always constant. Each campaign provides a collection of story-based battles, with a collection of skirmish battles in between. These skirmishes are another new game mechanic that is similar to a tabletop mode that is set in the worlds mini map, but with multiple groups of allies and enemies groups poised to attack each other.
Each group has its own HP bar over them, alongside with numerical battle values at the top left corner that dictate the overall strength said group. You take a turn to choose which ally’s skirmish you wish to directly engage in, with those that you don’t battle on their own. Once your turn has been done, the enemy then will take their turn and deal some damage to your ally that’s engaged with them. The tactical aspect comes in the form of a collection of special skills each skirmish contains, which can be gained should you win the battle directly with that ally. However, if you chose one ally over another, they may very well be lose said skills, should your allies fall to the might of the enemy, before you can join them. So careful consideration is needed to ensure you gain enough decent special skills for the big end campaign battle.
Special skills varies, from more health, new reinforcement, double damage areas, to raining down fiery boulders on your enemies. They do make the finally battle much more engaging, but in the throws of combat, you can easily forget they exist. But if you do use them and correctly, these can be big battle turners. You don’t have to fully engage in the characters campaign, as there is also non story elements available in the new hub as well. Like the Inn in the main game, the campaigns main hub is situated in a hotel. This explorable hub gives you access to shop menus, and challenges from npcs, similar to that of the main game.
They have also a training ground for every weapon existing and new type, which then rewards you with a few generic weapons with different traits. This will then give players more choice in powering up their favourite weapon types through the Reforge feature in the main game that came as an update after the game’s initial launch. Besides this, the training ground also features harder challenge trials that unlock at level 102, for even more powerful weapons.
Both weapons are high enjoyable to use and each has their own skillset that really make you think carefully for how you attack. For me the bow was the best, for its shear close quarter attacks with powerful distant attacks should you need to disengage. To complement the new weapons, an separate new skill tree is added to the Vision of Four Heroes DLC. However, there is a catch, in that the stat enhancements and special skills unlocked, can only be used to DLC stages. I can understand why as any additional stat enhancements, being taken into the main game, would potentially ruin the balance of the base game. Whilst the new stats and special skills remain locked to the dlc, the actual weapons and battle arts themselves plus general levelling increases are taken across to the main game for your enjoyment.
Graphics
Visually this game looks still looks gorgeous with its varied weather effects, different locations, different size of maps with varying routes and differing numbers of enemies all making each battle a joy to behold. I don’t believe there is any brand-new maps unfortunately, but more a bunch of remixed maps with different times of day, weather conditions, and enemy formations.
Storywise, again for me, this is solid and highly engaging. Each new heroes alternative future is fleshed out incredibly well. They really flesh out each of the characters intent, flaws and misgivings and how things could have played out if only given a chance. There is also alternative endings to at least one characters campaign depending on your choice, which I wont spoil.
A superb edition is the collection of new costumes for the main character, which can be used in the main game. You can now swap colours to match your chosen hero and really feel like you are part of the huge army when the battles take place.
Overall framerate and stability was superb in all of my gameplay, and I saw no tearing or odd visual pop-ins. Depending on the monitor/tv capabilities and if it allows VRR, you can have it run buttery smooth at a stable 80fps on Series X or higher, if you turn off defeated soldiers to remain visible, even in the most intense battle locations. Though I did notice some slowdown when swapping to the new sidekick, but not when keeping with the main player.
Sound
As per the main game, the games sound effects, also oozed oomph, with each hit fully connecting in a enjoyable way. The new weapons here has a meaty weightiness to it when it connects with an npc which will ensure the players senses are excited.
The dlc is fully voiced and again I will say the Japanese voice acting was superior in every way. The music also is superb with its epic battle scores. A variation of electric guitar, flute and piano, the music excels in every way to engage the player and push them forward.
My recommendation again here would be a good quality soundbar to really blast enjoy the cries of your enemies as you plow through hundreds of them.
Verdict
This leads me onto the rating of the dlc:-
Now I rate dlc in order of, avoid, on sale, great purchase and must own. My rating for Visions of Four Heroes, is a ‘’Great Purchase’’.
The add-on dlc creates more meat on the bone of an already worthy meal and is a perfect compliment to the main game in every way. Be you a new player or someone coming back, there is a lot here to keep you engaged.
The dlc is currently priced on Xbox at £28.99 or approx. $35 and depending on skill and patience would give you about 40+hours to complete. There is also replay ability with the training ground, new weapons and boss fights.
Some dlc’s are purely there to sell you more cosmetics with little to no actual gameplay, or the bare minimum. No such with this dlc, as it captures again the spirit of the main game, and expands upon it in a meaningful way.