Dynasty Warriors is 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 was based on a Chinese novel focusing on the end of the Han dynasty. However, the series really hit its stride with Dynasty 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.