Set in ancient China during the Three Kingdoms era, Dynasty Warriors is a 3D fighting game that delves into the world of traditional Chinese history and mythology. The game's characters are drawn from this time period, featuring warriors who fought for their respective kingdoms - Shu, Wei, and Wu.
The game's story revolves around the chaos and conflict that erupted after Guang-Wu revived the Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago. Regional conflicts, rival dynasties, and bureaucratic problems plagued China, giving rise to the Yellow Turban Rebels, who wreaked havoc on the country, killing government officials and causing widespread destruction.
Gameplay-wise, Dynasty Warriors focuses on martial arts and weapons tactics, rather than modern fighting-game features like combos and special moves. Players can choose from four groups of characters, each representing one of the main kingdoms or a miscellaneous group, and engage in epic battles that bring to life the thrilling world of ancient Chinese warfare.
Dynasty Warriors was released on June 30, 1997, for the PlayStation console.