There have been multiple entries in the long-running Dynasty Warriors series, also known as the Musou series, and among these entries are a number of spinoffs focusing on other franchises such as the Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Persona, Gundam and more. The Musou series has changed its formula each time, in order to incorporate elements of the series it is adapting at the time, resulting in some unique entries, while also experimenting in its various main series with ideas like team building and unique interactions. There seems to be no limit to what can be done with a Musou game and one franchise whose fans have wanted a Musou version is Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40 000 series.
Now, this may seem like a simple matter, take some space marine characters, and throw them into a battlefield wiping out a horde of enemies while using a basic storyline. That could work well, but there is another option that would be a much better route to take. A Warhammer 40 000 Musou game could instead be an adaptation of The Horus Heresy series, the long-running series that serves as the backstory for why the setting is the way it is.
Different battles could be depicted here, such as battles from the Great Crusade where the 18 legions were all under the Imperium’s banner, as well as battles from the Heresy itself such as Istvaan III and V and the Battle of Calth. Characters who are fan favourites can appear, such as Sigismund, Garviel Loken, Nathaniel Garro and more, not to mention all of the Primarchs. There would be a wide variety of diverse playstyles, with Librarians, assault marines, the forces of the Mechanicus, and the Imperial Army, which would give players a truly memorable experience.
RPG elements could also be added, such as Librarians getting access to new abilities, customization of weapons, and more, taking influence from Persona and Dragon Quest’s Musou games. This would fit rather well, considering there are already many warriors games with an RPG tinge and Warhammer is no stranger to RPGs. This would also help invest players more into the story and the story is why the Horus Heresy was so impactful.
This game could even have various alternate story modes like previous Warriors/Musou games so the Heresy has a different outcome. Maybe the Burning of Prospero goes differently for instance, or perhaps Fulgrim is not corrupted by the Laer blade. As for the canonical Heresy, players could act out not just the fights but also the interactions between characters as well as use a variety of weapons, such as long range guns and more.
When Persona was given a Musou game, that title ended up being a unique hybrid of two different games, while the first Hyrule Warriors managed to bring in action-adventure elements from the main Zelda series. There is no reason a Horus Heresy warriors series could not find a way to include the space combat and Titan battles in an interactive way and allow players to truly become immersed in the story while still enjoying the fighting sections. Perhaps a narrative section as well that will let players build unique teams and have different interactions, while creative versions of the iconic scenes of the series play out, all leading up to the final battle on the Vengeful Spirit.
The Horus Heresy has received some games before, but a Musou game could truly show off how amazing that series was and how much of an impact it had on fans. This is something that would appeal to fans and nonfans alike and even help get newcomers into Warhammer. It is something Games Workshop and Koei Tecmo should look into.
Disclaimer: The above editorial is the sole opinion of the author