# Retro Game: Dynasty Wars ## Overview *Dynasty Wars* is a classic side-scrolling action game that puts you in the heart of ancient China's most turbulent era. Based on the legendary *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* epic, you take control of one of four legendary heroes—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, or Zhao Yun—on a quest to defeat the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo. Mounted on your trusty steed, you must charge through enemy armies, clashing with soldiers, archers, and powerful enemy generals in epic battles. ## Background While often confused with Koei's later *Dynasty Warriors* series due to its similar name and theme, *Dynasty Wars* is a classic from Capcom, released for the Famicom in 1989. It is a home console adaptation of Capcom's arcade game of the same name, which itself was based on the popular Japanese manga *Tenchi wo Kurau* ("The Devouring of Heaven and Earth"). This game is a foundational title for historical beat 'em ups and is considered a spiritual predecessor to the massive army battles that the *Dynasty Warriors* series would later popularize. ## Gameplay The gameplay in *Dynasty Wars* is a unique blend of side-scrolling beat 'em up action and light role-playing elements. The majority of the game is played on horseback. You have a standard attack with your weapon and can use special tactical attacks (like calling for an ambush or setting fires) by consuming scrolls found along the way. The most innovative feature is its experience system. Defeating enemies causes them to drop blue orbs, which grant experience points. As you collect these orbs and fill your experience bar, your character will level up, increasing your maximum health and attack power. This adds a compelling layer of progression, encouraging players to defeat every enemy to become strong enough to face the formidable bosses at the end of each stage.