Hot on the heels of January’sDynasty Warriors: Origins, Koei Tecmo surprised fans with the reveal and shadow drop of theDynasty Warriorsspin-offWarriors: Abyssat Sony’s recent State of Play showcase. An action roguelike set in theDynasty Warriorsuniverse,Warriors: Abyssblends the traditional musou gameplay that the franchise is known for with the real-time combat ofHadesand “bullet heaven” elements ofVampire Survivorsto create a compelling package. More than that, though,Warriors: Abysssets a strong example of how experimental genre spin-offs should play to their parent series' strengths.
The combination ofDynasty WarriorsandVampire Survivorsis a concept that, on paper, makes so much sense it’s a wonder that no one has attempted it before, and Koei Tecmo’s first attempt is already showing plenty of promise if Steam user reviews are a reliable metric. Large, tentpole franchises are no stranger to spin-offs that experiment with other genres. But for every one of these left-field experiments that stick the landing, many others lose sight of what makes their parent franchises a hit in the first place. Aside from being a strong action roguelike,Warriors: Abysspaints a picture of how other popular series should approach future spin-offs.
Warriors: Abyss is More Than Just Another Musou Spin-Off
Outside its place as a well-timed follow-up toDynasty Warriors: Origins' substantial success,Warriors: Abyssmarks an important turning point for spin-offs from the mainlineDynasty Warriorsfranchise. While there are far more spin-offDynasty Warriorsgames than there are mainline entries, most of these titles still adhere closely to the musou gameplay that’s the franchise’s trademark, rarely ever experimenting with different genres or mechanics. The last titles to truly step outside familiar genre territory were theDynasty Tacticsgames on PlayStation 2, which are both more than 20 years old at this point.
Warriors: Abyss' accomplishments for theDynasty Warriorsfranchise are twofold. One, mixing musou gameplay within the structure of an action roguelike is something new for the series that still honors the elements oftheDynasty Warriorsfranchisethat have endeared it to fans for decades. Two,Warriors: Abyssis arriving at a time when the bullet heaven/survivor-like subgenre of action roguelikes — games following in the footsteps ofVampire Survivors— are arguably more popular than ever. More than just another game in a legacy franchise with dozens of spin-offs,Warriors: Abyssmixes the classic with the contemporary to potentially reach a broader audience.
Other Franchises Could Benefit From the Warriors: Abyss Approach for Their Spin-Offs
Creating spin-off games that take place in the same universe or use familiar characters from legacy franchises is a common practice in gaming, but the results are often just as mixed as the genre conventions and mechanics included in their design.Warriors: Abyssmakes a strong case for other legacy franchises to play to their series' core strengths while also embracing smaller experiences that can afford to experiment without worrying about recouping a massive budget. The game also features an MSRP more in line with anindie title, which entices risk-averse players to jump in and give it a shot where they might not have otherwise.
It’s an example that franchises likeResident Evilcould stand to follow, especially given how lukewarm most players are to most of that series' spin-offs in comparison to the mainline entries. The same goes for several other majorAAA franchisesthat, for one reason or another, have failed to capture lightning in a bottle with their spin-offs in the way that their mainline entries do. The best spin-offs take familiar characters and settings and transport them into different gameplay loops that still appeal to their core fanbase, andWarriors: Abyssis a great example of how it can, and should, be done.
