Viewing Single Post From: Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review

Viewing Single Post From: Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review
MegaXtreme	Dec 16 2008, 08:28 AM
Currently under leave of absence Posts: 1,060 Group: Members Member #12,803 Joined: January 22, 2008 Gender Male	Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 ESRB Rating: T for Teen for Fantasy Violence and Mild Language Publisher: Koei and Namco-Bandai Games Developer: Omega Force Supports: HD 720p Players: 1-2 offline Collector's Edition: No Note: I have owned and played both versions of the game, so I will be comparing somewhat. Okay, Dynasty Warriors is obviously known for its overbearing amount of violence and hacking and slashing. It's seen many, MANY entries, and every single time, it's been based on the Three Kingdoms era and loosely based on the novel that captures the time period. They've even turned to the Sengoku period of Japan for their Samurai Warriors franchise, which plays similarly. For this entry, however, Koei wanted to try something a little more, let's say, "modern", with their formula. So, what license do they turn to? Why, they turned to the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, owned by Namco-Bandai. They joined forces, and what we get is the lazily-named Dynasty Warriors: Gundam. But forget the uninspired name, how good is it? For starters, the game is divided into a few modes of play. In fact, there's not one, but TWO story modes. Yup, that's right. One is called the Official Mode, and it's based on the official storylines used in the different Gundam animes. It touches from Mobile Suit Gundam with Amuro Ray and Char Aznable, to Zeta Gundam with Kamille Bidan, and even Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ with Judau Ashta. There's only six playable pilots in Official Mode overall, so series hardcores may be disappointed that you'll only get around 10 hours overall out of it. Whether the stories actually do match up, I can't say, since I have never watched a Gundam TV show in my life, but the storylines were pretty simple to follow, and the missions given were entertaining, to say the least. The real meat of the game lies in the Original Mode, which is an original storyline made just for the game that mashes up every franchise in the game, including the ones listed earlier, as well as Gundam Wing, G Gundam, and even Turn A Gundam. You'll get to play as 16 pilots and 18 Mobile Suits overall, which is a decent amount of content. Every pilot has their own original storyline, as well, dealing with a mysterious red planet that is heading towards Earth, and everyone is trying to vie for power over it. Series hardcores are going to enjoy it, most likely, as they'll get to see their favorite characters face-off against each other, and strange bedfellows will also be made along the way. So, with the story out of the way, how does it play? It has its deepest comparison being Dynasty Warriors 2, the first one in the franchise being a hack n' slash. The reason being is because you can only have combos reach 4 hits. Whether you hit Square four times or use a charge attack at the end, just like DW games of yore, the most you'll get is four hits. You'll eventually hit 12 hit combos as you level up your Mobile Suit, but you do your four hit combo, then it loops over again for a total of 8 hits, then as you level up more, it will reach 12 hits, with your combo looping three times total.. It's more of a cheap cop out than it is intuitive, but it doesn't break the game by any means. However, short combos or not, the game plays absolutely stunningly. I have always wanted a game like Dynasty Warriors with giant robots and crowds of them to slash and smash through, and this game delivers flawlessly. As repetitive as it may be, there's no denying how entertaining and addictive it can get. the game utilizes a base system a la the Empires games in the Warriors franchise, and by taking them, you can make spawn points for troops on your side, turning the tide in your favor somewhat. The reason I say "somewhat" is because, like every other DW game, your A.I. partners aren't very strong, emphasizing the "one man army" aspect of the series. This game is actually one of the most difficult yet, in fact, the most difficult since Dynasty Warriors 3. On normal difficulty, you're bound to find an enemy Mobile Suit who is going to kick your metal butt across the far reaches of space, and even crowds of peons are going to keep swinging. One-on-one fights are actually the hardest, as they can easily lay into you, and they'll take a lot of hits to take down, escalating the difficulty even further. Thankfully, the Interim Save system from previous DW games is implemented, so you can save before a tough part, alleviating the frustration of having to restart over again. So, it has the DW system with an admittedly tough difficulty, so that's a definite plus for those of us who have never set eyes on a Gundam show. One quibble of the game system, however, is that almost everyone uses beam swords, but do have different looking moves and effectiveness for each, which helps to give some variety. It's too bad there are clones, like Gundam Mark II and the Black Mark II, for example. This kinda bogs down the Mobile Suit selection with some similar movesets. Outside of the core gameplay modes, you have a VS Mode and a Gallery for your perusal. VS Mode has you and a friend facing off against each other is games like killing the most peons, for example. It's not all that fun and won't make the experience, so it's best ignored. It's not even online, anyways, so you can only play locally. However, there is co-op on both of the story modes, so you can have some great fun with friends, as Warriors games are always better with a friend. The Gallery unlocks pilots, Mobile Suits, ships, artwork, voice tracks, and music for you to view and listen to. As you unlock more pilots and Mobile Suits and complete stories, you'll unlock more and more of the Gallery. Getting 100% in the pilot and Mobile Suit galleries will even net you some Achievements on the Xbox 360 version, so it's probably worth your while. For the PS3 version, however, it's about how big of a fan of the Gundam franchises you are that rests on whether or not you unlock all of it. While DW and SW games started to fall off visually towards the end of their lifecycle, DW: Gundam looks absolutely great. There may be a couple of dull textures in outdoor areas here and there, but the Mobile Suits look fantastic, the explosions fit well, and laser and beam effects look flashy. The characters in conversations retain their anime looks, as they're only 2D portraits with moving mouths, but it definitely helps to retain it's anime looks. The menus looks well done, and overall, this is a sharp-looking package. Best of all, with a game like this, the framerate never drops, even in big crowds, but there is noticeable pop-in in the distance. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions look identical, with very little difference, other than some lighting differences, to determine them apart. In the end, neither gets an edge in the looks department and in performance. The sound is one of the highest points of the game and wraps out an already excellent package well. It adds some tracks from the Mobile Suit franchises, as well as some tracks made just for the game. The theme is absolutely great, and in adding it with the well-organized and flashy opening CG, it's bound to get you pumped to slash up some baddies. It's all well-orchestrated, and from dramatic themes, to some 80's rock guitar thrown in, and even the techno sounds of the menus sound absolutely excellent and fit well. The voice acting is hit or miss, as this is consisting of the English dubs. However, the Japanese option is available for series purists, or those who absolutely hate the VA in English, so there's something here for everyone. Honestly, I enjoy the English voice acting, though Master Asia gets a little annoying, at times. Heero Yuy and Amuro Ray sound great, though. The writing is what is to be expected from a game based on an anime, which can give some over-dramatic lines and some that are flat-out cheesy, but all in all, this is a great-sounding package and one of the best soundtracks I've heard in a long, long time. For you money, you're probably wondering if it's worth forking over $60 for a game that you essentially think pastes giant robots over legendary Chinese figures. You're actually rgiht that it does that, as this is tried-and-true DW gameplay, and it plays more than solidly. The game is a rush, it injects enough Gundam in it to differ it, like a Boost button for faster traveling and the ability to fly for some Mobile Suits, as well as fire your laser beams for long range damage, so expect an intense and fun experience. However, fi you never liked DW in the first place, better not even bother. There's a lot of game to be had with many stories between both story modes, as well as Mobile Suits to max out for every single pilot (After completing a pilot's story, they can use any Mobile Suit you want, with some hilarious results in their voice lines, and you have to start over from Level 1 for every Mobile Suit for every pilot. That's a LOT of leveling.), co-op for get-togethers with friends, and a Gallery to complete. The Xbox 360 version gets Achievements, which is its only edge over the PS3. Otherwise, both versions are identical, as stated before. To sum things up, this is the funnest experience I've had all year. Despite games like Super Mario Galaxy coming out the same year, this still takes the cake as Game of the Year for 2007. Combining the addictive gameplay of DW with as neat of a universe as the Gundam universe (This game has gotten me interested in Gundam, by the way) and one hell of a soundtrack, this is one of the best current-gen games you can buy. Those who hate Gundam, Dynasty Warriors, or both need not apply, as this won't convert you, but those that like either or both are bound to enjoy it. This is a must-have, for sure. Presentation: 9/10 Sharp menus, anime-esque lines and presentation, a great opening sequence, and intense and involving music all add up to one great experience. There are no actual scenes from the animes, but there are some cutscenes during missions that involve fighting and talking. Graphics: 9/10 The Mobile Suits look great, the pilots retain their authentic 2D looks, and effects are spectacular, all the while with large crowds of enemies and no slow down to report. There are some noticeable bland texturing and pop-in here and there. Sound: 10/10 The soundtrack is very, VERY strong, and I found myself humming a majority of it while I was away from the game. The English acting is hit or miss, but Japanese is available, so there's something for all. Sound effect fit well and are even from the animes. WIN. Gameplay: 9/10 Bound to get repetitive for everyone, but this is tried-and-true DW gameplay at it's purest and funnest form. While combos are rather small at four hits (eight after looping a second time), it gets VERY addicting, there's parts to collect to boost your Mobile Suit stats and Skills to learn for your pilot, adding a nice wrinkle to the gameplay formula. It's bundles of fun, especially with two players. Lasting Value: 9/10 While only 6 Official Mode stories, those six plus more are available in the neat Original Mode, and every Mobile Suit can be leveled up for each individual pilot, giving a LOT of leveling to do. There's also a Gallery to fill up, co-op to have some fun with, and an uninspired VS Mode that bogs it down content-wise. FINAL SCORE: 9.5/10 Edited by MegaXtreme, Dec 16 2008, 09:30 PM.
	I am currently under leave of absence from the site. I have become tangled up with work and have turned my attention away from the site, as I have unfortunately lost interest and do not have the time to dedicate to it. If you wish to contact me, click on my username to find my MSN and AOL contacts, and I am also on Facebook, as well. Don't worry, I'm not gone forever, and I'll try to be on from time to time when I find the time, and once I regain interest and find more time on my hands, I'll be back. Thank you all for understanding, and see you around. -MegaXtreme

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review · Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (Gundam Musou) Reviews