Summary
Dynasty Warriorsis a long-lasting series, having debuted in 1997. It was a fighting game spun off from Koei’s strategy game,Romance of the Three Kingdoms,which wasbased on a Chinese novel focusing on the end of the Han dynasty. However, the series really hit its stride withDynasty Warriors 2. This sequel took what was originally a fighting game, and transformed it into a hack-and-slash beat-em-up where a singular warrior could take on hundreds of foes with their sheer power. This mechanic, combined with the free-roaming elements of the game, made a successful formula that produced numerous sequels and spin-offs.
Many of these spin-offs were based on third-party properties, starting withFist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage, aWarriors-style game making use of characters originating from theFist of the North Starmanga. Since then, numerous Japanese properties have been given a similar spin-off, such asOne Piece,The Legend of Zelda, andFire Emblem. Many of these games also received sequels of their own. With the continued longevity of the greaterWarriorsfranchise, it seems these spin-offs also won’t be going anywhere soon. Here are some franchises that deserve theWarriorstreatment.
As mentioned above, there are multiple licensedWarriorsfranchises based on Nintendo properties. In a way, Kirby could be a fairly unique choice to focus on for such a game. With a variety of possible enemies to translate over, Kirby could adhere to the strategy of his previous games, and take on numerous forms during a battle based on enemies he inhales, with each having a signature combo attack.
Other notableKirbycharacters like King Dedede, Meta Knight, and perhaps even Bandana Waddle Dee, could also be playable characters. Meta Knight in particular seems like he could pull off some pretty devastating combo attacks. However, these additional fighters should not be as huge as the averageWarriorsroster (preferably sitting somewhere closer toHyrule Warriors), as a greater amount of focus should go towards Kirby’s various forms. If this game were pulled off correctly, it could be a fun, unique addition to the catalog of licensedWarriorsspinoffs.
The SNK seriesSamurai Shodownis a pioneer in weapon-based fighting games. The series is rife with anachronisms ranging from mythical monsters to a Western outlaw with a Winchester rifle. It has accumulated an incredible cast of characters in its several decades of existence. With conventional combatants like Haohmaru, the flagship fighter with a sword that can cause tornados; the priestess whose moveset makes heavy use of her hawk, Mamahaha; and the gigantic Texan ninja with a surprising amount of stealth. As such, many characters have attacks that could translate well into an open-world setting.
Although an exact ideal antagonist is hard to pinpoint, the game has a variety of villains, from which lesser foes can be extrapolated. Whether it’s the corrupting influence of the demon Ambrosia, an evil sorcerer known as “Yuga the Destroyer,” or perhaps a more mortal foe like the military mastermind, Golba, there’s plenty of evil to go around.The only potentially offputting aspect of the affair would be the prospective spinoff’s name, asSamurai Warriorsalready exists as a sister series toDynasty Warriors.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ballwould fit like a glove with theWarriorsmechanics on the merits of the characters' power alone. Many of its weaker characters (such as Krillin and Tien) are already capable of taking on numerous enemies at once. Its strongest characters (including Goku, Vegeta, and the various God-tier fighters) are capable of wiping out entire planets.
With antagonists such as the Red Ribbon Army, the Freiza Force, and Babidi’s unnamed organization, there are many potential characters to fulfill the archetypal grunt roles of variousWarriorsgames as well as make up the antagonistic forces.
This fact, alongside the series' numerous iconic attacks, already maps out several potential ways in which the game could play out. Likemany establishedDragon Ballgames, it could be an original story, making use of the various available characters from throughout the franchise.With theOne Piecespin-off franchise,Pirate Warriorslaying the groundwork for what a shonenWarriorsgame could be, aDragon Ball-themedWarriorscertainly could prove entertaining.
The greaterSuper Marioseries is shown to maintain an audience even when it comes to spin-offs. Whether it’s one of the numerous RPG spin-off games, theMario Partygames, or even just games focusing on characters from other connected series. This diversity leaves several angles from which to go about creating a spin-off.
Bits and pieces of a potential blueprint are mapped out in the form of various abilities several characters have shown throughout the years, in part accumulated from their various games. Whether it’sDonkey Kong letting foes have it with both barrels, Luigi making good use of his poltergust, or even something simpler like Mario flooding foes with flames, the potential for field-clearing finishers persists throughout.
The games also feature a variety of generic enemies to build up the forces with, as well as definite boss units, generally appearing in Bowser’s army. While the variability of theMarioseries leaves an exact shape hard to predict, aWarriorsspinoff could be an interesting prospect for the series.
Final Fantasyis a series that has existed since the late 80s. It has since expanded into numerous mediums,including shows, movies, and radio dramas, among others. It tends to contain a variety of different characters within each installment, making which cast to draw from hard to determine. However, to some extent, a blueprint for such a crossover exists withinDissidia, a spinoff fighting game series, which features a few characters from eachFinal Fantasygame to create a substantial cast.
Like otherWarriorsspin-offs from licensed RPGs (such asFire EmblemandPersona),Dissidiaalso contains RPG elements within its gameplay, allowing for some synergy to the respective games' roots even when the exact genre is different.Dissidia’s newest installment,NT, emphasizes a 3v3 system that lets AI control two characters on the player’s side. This mechanic is similar to manyWarriorsgames where computer-controlled allies act alongside the player in many scenarios.
While not every element inDissidiaimmediately translates over to a properWarriorsspin-offgame, certain aspects overlap, many with the same general goal of giving an RPG feel to a game in an entirely separate genre.
