Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered Reviews
With Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, Koei Tecmo goes back to a title that set the bases for the Musou format.
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered takes the landmark 2001 release and brings it into the modern era.
Amid so many quick cash-ins that prey on nostalgia, this is a remaster done right. Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is a fantastic modernisation that completely overhauls the visuals of the original game while adding smart new features and quality of life improvements, making it just as fun and enthralling as it was a quarter of a century ago.
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered brings a PS2 legend to modern hardware with a complete technical overhaul, rock-solid frame rates, and its iconic cheesy voice acting left completely intact. While old-school map pacing and brutal archers show the game's age, optional modern dodge controls and deep co-op gameplay make it an absolute blast for nostalgia seekers.
I think revisiting an old Dynasty Warriors title like this is sure to satisfy the nostalgic cravings of most fans — but even with the modern additions, this deliberately old-school action game can feel like a slog at times.
Although Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is not the best Warriors game available on the Switch 2, its focus on and dedication to the Musou combat gameplay spearheaded by the original version is admirable and appreciated.
When Dynasty Warriors 3 first released, in 2001, it was really only the second Dynasty Warriors game in its now-recognisable 1 vs. 1,000 Musou guise...
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is the best way to experience the game, and is a must try for Warriors fans.
DYNASTY WARRIORS 3: Complete Edition Remastered builds on the foundation of the original DYNASTY WARRIORS 3, and that foundation is as solid today as it was in 2002. It’s an amazingly good time, and once I turn the game on, I can’t stop playing.
I wouldn’t recommend this to someone as their first-ever Warriors title, but if you came to the series later and have enjoyed anything from, say, Dynasty Warriors 8 through Origins, here’s a perfect opportunity to go back and see what the oldest fans have been enjoying for more than 25 years now.
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered achieves its goal of breathing new life into a classic Dynasty Warriors experience, but with no changes to the gameplay, it soon begins to feel too basic and repetitive.
A pair of classic Musou games remastered for a new generation
It's a pretty good game with occasional levels of frustration and some slightly-anachronistic game design. But that's also why it works. This game was born in an era of experimentation and pushing what could be done on the hardware of its time, and this remaster is the best presentation of a game which laid the foundation for the musou-rich landscape we enjoy today.
While there are lots of modern accessibility features that are appreciated to tailor the experience, the core feeling of Dynasty Warriors 3 remains the same even in 2026, and that is credit to Koei for not tinkering too much with what fans wanted in this remaster. The characters are all here, their move sets, and their weapons, the same unique weapon unlock requirements, the same delightful music. However, although it is excellent to be able to take the experience on the go in a way nobody could have envisaged back in 2001, a highly variable framerate and blurry resolution and textures – particularly undocked – brings the aesthetics a little too close to replicating the old days of the PS2. There is hope, though, that Koei will roll out some patches and improve things on that front, and if they do there is honestly very little to complain about with Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered. It's no exaggeration that for fans of the genre, there are many who will once again get dozens and dozens of hours of gameplay out of this new version. Hopefully this is just the start of things to come for reinventing these iconic Dynasty Warriors games.
A more or less good game from 25 years ago. Good for someone who wants to revisit the past, but if you are looking for something even remotely modern, look elsewhere.
Review in Italian | Read full review
...this release is a thing of beauty. It preserves what made the original so special while giving players the chance to experience it in a way that feels closer to how I remember it... a must-buy in my book.
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered makes it easy to see why this game was important to the series, even if some of its age is impossible to hide. Newer Musou games are smoother and more elaborate, but there is still something incredibly satisfying about cutting through an entire battlefield with one warrior and an oversized weapon. Fans will probably get the most out of this return, while newcomers might want to start somewhere more modern. I knew enough history to know none of this was how warfare actually worked, but that’s never been the point. Sometimes a man just needs a very large spear.
The new mechanics and inclusion of Xtreme Legends add value to Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, but they are not enough to overcome its dated movement, pacing, combat variety, and visuals. The remaster seems primarily aimed at bringing back longtime fans who may have lost track of the series amid its many releases, while overlooking newcomers who could otherwise discover the Musou genre through this classic. Veterans and fans of straightforward hack-and-slash gameplay may enjoy a nostalgic return to the PlayStation 2 era, but players accustomed to modern mechanics and more complex challenges will likely find it difficult to connect with a game that feels stuck in the past.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
DYNASTY WARRIORS 3: Complete Edition Remastered is exactly what a remaster should be. It modernises the look and feel without losing the spirit and charm of the original, and it reminds everyone why they fell for the series in the first place. Some parts still show their age, namely the shortage of combos, but it never gets in the way of how much fun the game is to play.
Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered is a case of “I want to, but I can’t.” For the 25th anniversary of the game that laid the groundwork and put the series on the map—and especially after the release of Dynasty Warriors Origins… I’m sorry, but I expected more. The content from Xtreme Legends and the additions of Lu Bu and Ziluan, as well as the ability to switch between control schemes, are great additions for an anniversary. But the rest… falls short. The graphics are improved, but they’re the kind that could easily run on a Nintendo Switch—they don’t warrant a 25-year wait.
Review in Spanish | Read full review