This hack and slash project has fantasized China’s unique history and characters for decades. To keep this franchise going, KOEI and the Dynasty Warriors developers have always improved its graphics, changed some of its gameplay features, and thrown in some new content. What some fans might have or have not noticed for these past few years is the growing population of women.Yes, new women have been steadily added to this game series. Back in Dynasty Warriors 4, the notorious Wu Dynasty had the most playable females than any other available groups: Shu, Wei, and other. In total, seven playable women (Sun Shangxaing, Da Qiao, Xia Qiao, Yue Ying, Zhen Ji, Dao Chan, and Zhu Rong) fought hard against over twenty male officers.
Despite this awkward disadvantage, gamers should know a few things before judging the developers. For one, finding Chinese women to add requires tremendous research from an era that constantly raged war and destroyed valuable texts. Though some women may have been recorded, their personal actions and positions were probably not that impressive during the time period, except for a few who might not have accurately accomplished their famous deeds.Sometimes, ancient written manuscripts over the same story, event, biography or government policies contradict each other. Among other complications, translators of this same text may interpret these historic findings differently. These interpretations loosely come from the gradual change of writing principles.
Using American writing principles for this explanation, modern rules like placing a colon to list a series did not emerge before the Victorian age. Therefore, translators cannot infer and apply modern writing techniques to older scriptures. So why not skip this hassle and create a fictional character?
One does not simply create a fictional Dynasty Warrior because this simple suggestion ruins the whole point into digging up Chinese history and recreating these heated battle scenes. Fortunately for some, players (who wish to reinvent themselves and partake in this game) may personally customize their own character and place their creations in both the campaign and free mode. Going back to this main discussion, the next concern focuses on how does inserting more women into this franchise justify anything.
Though a direct answer isn’t around, I suspect that the evolution of the gaming industry and growing audiences might have influence the developer’s decisions. With more females joining gaming studios and girls playing modern video games, having a balance ratio of sexes may appeal to both genders. Additionally, the developers may have been already planning to increase the female population, but the Dynasty Warrior staff was deciding on the right candidates.
With multiple women to choose, deciding on one that influences and intertwines with selected plots and officers require time. For example, staff won’t choose a historic woman who has no significant background because she will be regarded as a background beauty who serves no purpose. However, women (who has an enriching tale but does not connect with the other officers, eras, or events) are useless in moving the plot along.
As such, qualified candidates may have been on the drawing board for a while. After much deliberation, the staff’s chosen pick must undergo another process. The team must then plan and develop the playable character’s biography within the game along with others.
Knowing this, fans should appreciate these three new women involved in their latest game. Meet Zhang Chunhua (from the newly added Jin Dynasty), Guan Yingping (Shu Dynasty) and Lu Lingqi (Only with Dynasty Warriors X-treme Legends). Along with these three lovely ladies, twelve others are available as well.
Though one could argue about how these women are perceived, this extensive article focuses on why including women in video games requires time from one of the older franchises. So why should someone address this issue? Some people or feminists believe that women are under-appreciated in video games; some projects may not, but this article only examines this popular franchise.
For those who are curious about this game and its features, each officer, warlord, and lord still has unique weapons (flute, maces, harps, long spears, pike, twin blades, etc.) and still receive weaponry upgrades. Additionally, each individual has an innovative fighting stance and style. To find about the characters or more details about this game, visit Dynasty Warriors website.
