Just like the DW games before it, Gundam 2 has you running around huge maps leading to a seemingly endless supply of baddies. Each of the maps have zones that beam enemies into the game, defeat a set amount of enemies in these zones and your allies will then hold the ground, allowing you to move on. Each level has a set completion and failure requirement, failure is if you, a specific Gundam or capital ship gets blown up and the win is based around taking out a specific enemy. These requirements change as you play through each level into the occasional save and protect but mostly they are the same fight, fight and more fighting.

 

 

The main story for DW:G2 is based in the Original Gundam timeline, the Earth Federation is at war with Zeon who are fighting for independence, a 13 year old boy comes across a test Gundam and gets involved in the battle, turning the tide against the incoming Zeon war machines. The main game mode focuses on four of the shows characters and their stories including Amuro Ray, Kamille and Char.

 

DW:G2 is essentially a huge hack and slash game set over many levels. Each Gundam has a melee and a ranged attack and by mixing these two moves you are able to pull off numerous combos. You also have a special move that requires to be fully charged before unleashing a powerful move on the unsuspecting enemies. On top of the endless look-alike mechs and the occasional character, on certain levels you will also have to defeat a huge Gundam, these act as the larger bosses and take a real beating. The games fighting style changes slightly to accommodate the huge mechs by locking your sights on them so essentially you are just strafing around them and popping in close for a few attacks. Your basic attacks do no real damage so using charge and power attacks is required. Each boss has a set attack pattern, the first boss I came across has a huge beam cannon which he spins around, causing a huge circle of destruction. To take out these huge mechs your HUD will show weak points to attack, hit these and the boss will topple, allowing you to unleash whatever you have in reserve. Whilst this does change the pace of the continual sword swinging it feels a bit alien to the franchise and is a real pain to get the hang of, especially with the fact that if you die you have to start the whole level again, which happened to me a few times, even on the easiest difficulty level.

 

The overall presentation is every Gundam fans dream, in between levels there are short paragraphs detailing other story lines from the shows episodes. The cut scenes are a mixture of some impressive 3D graphics and animated conversations between characters. There is also a library which acts as a huge Gundam encyclopaedia with character bios, Gundam specs and music from the show.

 

Whilst the story mode keeps you on a well tread track the Missions mode opens up the game immensely. You have over 62 Gundams to play and unlock and while initially you can only pilot your characters main Gundam there are missions made specifically for collecting licenses, new parts and also making new friends and enemies on the battlefield. There is a staggering variance in each of the Gundams with each having their own unique look and weapons ranging through the whole Gundam universe.

 

 

In both game modes you collect parts for both your and other Gundam from certain downed enemies. At the end of each level you are shown your spoils of war and at this point you can decide on whether to keep the parts to upgrade later or dispose of them. With only one upgrade at a time available for areas like legs and arms you need to be wary of what you tinker with. Each Gundam part can be upgraded to a maximum of level 4, which it has to be said offers some amazing firepower and moves.

 

DE:G2 somehow manages to deal with a crazy amount of characters on screen, with absolutely no slowdown, my only graphical niggle is that the levels do tend to look a bit bland and do not have the greatest draw distance.

 

At the time of writing this review DW:G2 does have an online mode with four different game types, though the problem I have is that so far there has not been another soul to play against, so if your looking for a quick drop in skirmish don't expect anyone else to be there, though this should change as the games fans will no doubt decent online at some point.

 

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 is a solid step in the right direction for the series allowing new and old fans to get to grips with the huge universe Gundam has to offer. Whilst the gameplay is repetitive it is good to see Koei do a hack an slash game so well.