Game:

Dynasty Warriors 3 (2001)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 3:16:44

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4

General info here: https://pastebin.com/9XVJyHV9
Link to playlist with all the playthroughs: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAP_HRkMmTI50Ms_tQ14MwPjP_ceTw5yY

Note: This playthrough uses a relatively recently discovered patch, which disables the auto lock-on system that normally locks the player onto the first enemy they hit with a normal attack, making it impossible to turn afterwards. (see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHUzuyzu1k4)

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Cao Cao's regular musou attack has the fun property of triggering KO screams on every hit.

Hardly a surprise to anyone who's played this game - Cao Cao's unique weapon is busted.
There is only one challenge here, and that is making it through YTR while getting the unique weapon. After that, it's just C6'ing everything to death.
The weapon comes with Attack / Bow Attack / Mounted Attack / Range, and a death element on every hit of C6.
The death element and the range bonus propel Cao Cao into the top ranks. Especially without the auto lock there is no need to do the strategies that let you avoid it without the patch.

At low health, landing every hit of C6 and then using True Musou is a combo that can kill pretty much anything from full health.
The C6 attack itself is too slow so the enemy can guard it, however if they have enough health left, the death element damage can either break their guard on the first hit or even be enough to go straight through as if they weren't guarding at all.
The attack also puts the enemy into a sliding stun state, so they can never retaliate once hit, and so unlike Xiaoqiao's death element, Cao Cao doesn't have to worry about playable officers using Musou once the combo counter reaches 6.
The death element damage against officers depends on how much health they have left, so don't use it on them once they're close to zero, as the death element cannot KO officers in this game.

In an original unmodified game, what you could do is attack early before the enemy reaches you or simply attack backwards into the camera, and only turn at the enemy once the C6 starts - the charge attack hits will not trigger the lock-on and so you're free to turn for the entire thing. Now with the patch this isn't needed so the attack is even better.

The weapon requirements are to defeat Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang without any gates being closed, both allied and enemy. A bigger problem than the gate requirement is making it through in the first place. With the basic weapon Cao Cao doesn't have much range or a strong attack to abuse easily. It's recommended to defeat Zhang Bao first and then Zhang Liang, as the supply unit with the weapon spawns north of Zhang Liang's starting position.


The stages after YTR are all a breeze, and even with having to go through three extra stages, the playthrough is only 3 hours as Cao Cao can clear everything crazy fast.

By the way - yes the scream at the end of C6 really does cut off abruptly like that.

At this point:
31/32 Characters Done
12/12 Rare Items Obtained
13/13 Regular Items are at or above 75% of their maximum value

Chapters:
00:00 Start
00:17 Yellow Turban Rebellion
29:11 The Battle at Hu Lao Gate
47:23 The Battle at Wan Castle
01:00:45 The Battle at Guan Du
01:19:47 The Battle at Chi Bi
01:43:52 The Battle at Tong Gate
01:57:45 The Battle at He Fei
02:12:24 The Battle at Mt. Ding Jun
02:27:17 The Siege of He Fei Castle
02:46:37 The Battle at Wu Zhang Plains
03:12:12 Ending (Text)
03:13:39 Ending (Cutscenes)

Other Statistics