In the doldrums of winter, I’ve reached for comfort media — which, for me, means Chinese historical dramas. And while the elaborate costumes and overly sweet romances are enjoyable, sometimes a girl wants something with a little more teeth. Dynasty Warriors: Origins has given me exactly what I needed.

In Dynasty Warriors Origins, the Battle of Niuzhu is a pivotal clash in Chapter 4, where Sun Ce begins his ambitious conquest of Jiangdong.

Origins is a classic Musou game through and through, featuring high-energy rock music, and legions of grunts to cut down as easily as blades of grass. That said, Origins is far from a by-the-books Dynasty Warriors game.