Dynasty
Warriors: Gundam is a unique game. Not in the way you may hope, and not in the
way you may think by DW’s recent downfall on PlayStation 2. But for the first
time in 10 years, a hack-n-slash, button-mash-filled game has come that
reminds us of the good old days when the X-Men and TMNT beat-’em-ups ruled
arcades. It’s short and not excessively difficult, but it also comes with zero
frame rate issues, is without any major glitches, and contains more action
than any Gundam game before it.
Is this the
perfect Dynasty Warriors game? Far from it. But is it worth playing,
especially if you’re a former arcade junkie? You bet.
Mobile
Suit Destruction
If you’ve
played the DW series before, the Gundam edition is exactly what it sounds
like: the same style of gameplay, camera movement, level design, enemy
onslaughts, etc., as the other DW games but uses a new license. Next-gen power
and a superior engine have made the series play better than ever, but the
ideals haven’t changed.
Given that
this is a Gundam game, many will experience the series for the first time in
this PS3 and Xbox 360 spin-off. If you’re one of those players, here’s the
gist: you control a mobile suit from a classic Gundam series and take on
thousands of enemy suits and bosses in a handful of large-scale battles.
Dozens of suits are visible in almost every location – when enemies cluster
together, you’ll see well over one hundred units crammed onto the screen at
one time.
Two primary
weapons – one cannon and a lightsaber-style sword – give players unlimited
attack abilities. You can fire the cannon repeatedly without repercussion, but
most suits will have to be dealt with using close-combat attacks. That’s when
the hack-n-slash portion of the game is introduced, and as you can imagine, it
does not come to an end. Whether controlling Wing-Zero or some other famous
Gundam, players will slash their way through each level. The occasional cannon
blast is necessary, especially for those blasted enemies that just won’t stay
put. But the majority of the action occurs with the X (sword attack) button.
Every
successful hit from or against an enemy helps charge your suit’s SP attack
meter, which – just like the other DW games – allows you to execute a
multi-directional attack. Unlike DW’s special attacks, however, which were
supernatural versions of real-life moves, these were taken from the Gundam
universe. Heero Yuy’s Wing-Zero is one of the available Gundams, and its SP
attack lets you steer a beam of energy for a few seconds. The beam destroys or
severely damages anything it touches. Loran Cehack’s Turn A Gundam hovers
while dropping bombs. To strike with a multi-hit blast, use Judau Ashta’s Zeta
Gundam, and for a sword assault, the Gundam MK-II (piloted by Kamille Bidan)
is the one to use.
Each suit
may be customized (slightly) using the four skill and three part upgrade
slots. Part upgrades affect the overall performance of the suit, enhancing
either your melee or shot attacks, defense and/or armor capabilities. Skills
increase performance based on the situation. Zero Range Shot increases the
shot damage when fighting closer to the enemy. Heat Up increases the damage in
proportion to the length of the combo. There are dozens of skills, so you’re
likely to find some that meet your needs.
Story
segments are interspersed through each mission, and though I would have loved
to see this game recapture Gundam Wing’s magic, it doesn’t come close to
reaching its status. In fact, none of the new or reiterated stories do. The
game doesn’t provide anything beyond a few terse sentences, most of which have
little to no connection to the characters they were written for. KOEI isn’t
exactly an ace storyteller, but this is also a Namco Bandai property. Bandai,
as in the original creator of Mobile Suit Gundam.
Suits ‘R’
Us
Amidst the
ongoing assault on mankind (and man-made machinery), brief distractions will
be unleashed. They come in the form of sub-bosses – nameless, mid-level
enemies that are often referred to as “guards.” Hefty life meters and the
ability to block most attacks gives them a fighting edge. When facing more
than one, keep an eye on your health meter. Unlike the average cluster, which
can be beaten down and taken out in a couple of hits, going up against
multiple sub-bosses will do a number on your suit.
Damage is
displayed via the aforementioned meter, plus sparks, smoke, and tarnished
metal. If you’re consumed by the action – the non-stop destruction of all
things robotic and metallic – or get lost in the act of tapping the same
button several thousand times, it’s easy to ignore when your own suit is in
danger. Aside from a few moments where I made a mistake or was truly
overwhelmed, this was the only time I died – when distracted by the gameplay
process and/or the array of polys thrown onto the screen.
Mobile
Suit Action, Entertainment… Repetition
Dynasty
Warriors: Gundam is an action-packed button-masher. There are literally
thousands of mobile suit baddies to obliterate. The suit designs are true to
the anime, keeping the series’ cool factor from escaping. And though the CG
intro looks amazing (far more realistic than any of the CG Gundam shows), the
polygon models are the game’s graphical showstopper. Had the story been on par
with Gundam’s heritage, the developers could have used these real-time
graphics to push every scene. Computer-generated images are nice, but this
engine has reduced their significance.
Dynasty
newcomers won’t know it, but mechanically, DWG is a huge step forward. Outside
of aerial attacks and having the ability to hover, these mobile suits can’t do
much more than their “Warrior” counterparts. But while the series had become a
technical mess on PS2, with slowdown, stiff gameplay, lousy controls, and a
horrendous camera angle, the Gundam edition is silky-smooth in each of those
areas.
Unless
you’re a gamer who hates the hack-n-slash genre, you’ll enjoy this spin-off.
But you’ll despise its repetition. Chances are you predicted that – even those
who haven’t played the DW series before must have heard about “X Button
Syndrome.” It was known as “Square Button Syndrome” on PS2, but the symptoms
are the same: press the X button until all victory conditions are met. Victory
conditions may be as varied as “protect your base” or “defeat a specific
enemy,” but what they’re really saying is, “Kill everyone, fight-fight-fight!”
Hence, DWG doesn’t give you much room to breathe. It’s a hack-n-slash game –
albeit, a polished one – and nothing more.
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Gameplay: 6.9
Hack-n-slash
gameplay done right. Thousands of enemies, over a hundred of which can be
visible on screen at any given time, and the coolest mobile suits around. If
the developers could find a way to prevent the game from becoming repetitive,
then the eventual sequel – or the next spin-off – could be amazing.
Graphics:
8.5
Excellent
character models, explosions and other effects make for an eye candy-filled
treat.
Sound: 5.0
The voice-overs
are devoid of excitement, as is the music, which lacks the depth and artistic
value of the soundtracks found in Gundam anime.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Can we say
almost Medium? Dynasty Warriors: Gundam doesn’t offer much of a challenge
beyond other hack-n-slash games, including its non-Gundam predecessors.
Concept: 6.9
Dynasty Warriors:
Gundam scores a few extra points for its top-notch polish. But as a game, it’s
just Dynasty Warriors with Gundam characters.
Multiplayer: 5.0
The same style of
one-on-one multiplayer that was available several years ago on PS2. Not too
exciting.
Overall: 6.9
Good (and bad)
for all that it is, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is a fun, highly polished
hack-n-slash title. The genre has been repetitive from the beginning and this
game does nothing to change that. For that reason – and the game’s simplicity
(press X to win) – most gamers will want to opt for a rental before making a
purchase.
