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"The Jet Gamer" Game Review: Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2
8 years ago
You have to expect at least one or two warriors’ games every review year.
Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2
I do usually enjoy my Warriors’ games so here we go again with another entry into the vast Warrior’s series. This time, we are finally returning to the Gundam version and now I will be reviewing the second Warriors Gundam game. I reviewed the first one last year and now we have the second in the series. Is this game an improvement on the series or is it more of the same? Let us take a closer look shall we?
Gameplay
The bulk of the gameplay of this game, compared to the last warriors’ game, is really not that different. Though that isn’t surprising as the bulk of warriors games all follow the same format, just with different settings and stories to go along with them. You run around a battlefield attacking foot soldiers and officers and conquering the various enemy fields to make them your own while trying to eventually take out whomever the main objective or target of the battle. This is all good and works the way many warriors games have always worked. That’s the thing though, there isn’t much new added here, but sadly, one of the big new concepts that was added to the general gameplay of this game isn’t the best idea in my opinion. Other than the basic run around, attacking enemies and conquering fields, there are now giant enemies as well. Some Gundam’s are now two or three times your size, for example, the first one you encounter being Big Zam, will proceed to pretty much kick yours and your allies butt very quickly if you aren’t careful. To fight big enemies, you have to do some tricky foot work to take them down. Big enemies will pretty much shrug off normal attacks and will do very little damage. You have to wait for the right time to attack. These large enemies have weak spots and openings when they are attacking. Your Gundam can charge up and attack with a smash attack which first, can for a very short time show the openings and weak spots, but it will close again real quick. However, if you use a smash attack or a special attack on them when their openings are showing, the large Gundam will fall over onto their back and they are wide open to finally be attacked for greater damage. However, this isn’t always easy to do, and in the meantime, these large enemies are kicking out big damage. While yes, you are in danger as well, your allies are the bigger concern. They will just rush up to these enemies and attack them like normal instead of attacking at the right time. If allies get into your fights with the large enemies, there is a good chance they are going to be taken out, which in many missions will leave you failing the mission. Plus, large enemy attacks often lock you to the field so getting health can be tricky as often the only way to get more is to attack the foot soldiers at the same time as you are dodging the large enemy. Yeah, this is pretty frustrating and honestly, while having big enemies is a neat idea, it is your allies that are going to cause so much frustration. You can dodge attacks and slowly heal if need be, though your allies constantly dying from either the giant enemy or from other things and you not being able to help them due to being locked down can be quite annoying. I think they could have executed this better for sure. While giant enemies aren’t always a problem, constantly locking you to fields or stupid AI allies can really ruin it for you. Now, when it comes to the modes of the game, there is official mode, which is basically the normal story mode from the first game that follows the events of the anime with four different characters. Yes, just four characters. While each story mode has many more missions than the first game, and the story of the anime is shown more, there are just four characters to use, Amuro, Char, Kamille, and Judau. Not exactly sure why they wanted to just do four characters here at all. There is still mission mode though, which is where you get to use all the various characters throughout the anime series. There is just one thing though, unlike the first game that had an overall story that the characters all took part in, this time, mission mode is just each character doing five story missions that don’t really have much connection to each other character, along with lots of friendship and side missions to just gain relationships with other pilots and make your Gundams better. Yeah, it feels like the side mode has taken quite a nosedive as well. While this mode is just more of the same stuff, it just feels like it could get a little dull after a while, which I will talk more about later. Really over all, while there is still some fun in this game, it just feels like they didn’t add as much as most series advancements in the Warriors series tend to add. It almost feels like things were taken away in some ways, while only some new things were added. Yeah, while the game still feels like a warriors game, it just doesn’t have that unique punch that makes it really worth it, but not really bad either.
Story
The story in the main mode is pretty much the same as the first game, it is just expanded upon, which you expect in the warriors games. Each warriors game is like there, where the next game in the series expands slightly on the first main modes story to keep adding more and more to it to keep it interesting. This game does this, but it is the side mode that is so disappointing. The side mode in the first game was this interesting unique story that while you were playing the same story over and over from many different angles, it was interesting to watch and listen to. In this game, it is just bits and pieces of different stories all over the place that are over so quickly that they really don’t feel like they are having much of an impact at all overall. While I get what they were trying to do, I just wasn’t that impressed really with the way they went about it. Maybe it’s just me, but I liked the way they did it in the first game where it was showing an overall unique story from different people’s prospective. This game just has everyone having these little side stories that don’t really connect at all, and it has people fighting with each other that normally wouldn’t be without any explanation why and such. This just seems so confusing really. I don’t know why it was about this game, but really, while the story wasn’t that bad and the main mode did add something as it always should, the side mode was just a bit of a step back in my opinion.
Graphics
The game has the standard graphics that you expect in a warriors game along with some cutscenes here and there that look alright. Nothing is really impressive and such, but there is nothing bad here either. You don’t see any sort of clipping nor slowdown that are often times pretty common in these warriors games. It actually looks rather glitch free. There may have been like what one moment where something odd happens, but if that is all there is, that’s pretty much glitch free to me. Then there is the standard graphics, they do the job while making everyone look unique when it comes to the character models and gundams. The cutscenes are okay and really just get straight to the point and do what you want them to do. I must say, the graphics looks good, but aren’t just the amazing stand out that they could be. Really, I’m not surprised, but I thought it could be better. So really, the game looks pretty good, but I just always wish it could be a little better, as there are many areas that are just simply plain and simple. It is just the two fighters and an empty area either on the ground or up in space. That’s a common thing with these games. You gotta keep them simple really to cram more people onto the screen at one time. They did a good job on doing that, but I still wish these series would add that extra detail if they could.
Sound
The music of this game is your standard warriors’ music. The rock music that you normally get in these games is good and does a good job of being background distraction music that can, when you notice it, get you into that pumped up state to keep on fighting. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked the music in these games, and this one is no exception. The voices are good and are very well done. They aren’t drowned out by the music and they take center stage so you don’t miss any of the story at all due to the music or sound effects. The only downside to the sound is that many of the voice clips are reused quite often and you are going to be hearing some of the same lines over and over again as you play the main story and especially in the side mode where, while they did make some unique voice clips for it, there is so much reuse, that you are going to be hearing that way more often than the unique stuff. That’s what you get when you don’t make a unique story mode like the first game did for its non anime story mode. While it is good to hear actual voice acting at times, I just wish they had taken the time to add a lot more of it and make it more unique is all.
Control
Control is good and honestly, I don’t have many complaints about it. The few things I do have to say are honestly just about the combo system with the buttons. It is the same in all warriors’ games though, so you have to sort of be used to it at this point. What I mean is that to do certain moves you have to press the buttons a certain number of times or in certain combinations to get certain things to happen. You are going to run into times where you want to just mash the button instead of trying the different combinations, which can be great additions when done at the right time and even extend combo’s to where you don’t give the enemy a chance to block. You are just going to have to get used to it. It is more something the player has to learn and get used to as it is not the fault of the game at all. I’ve seen this in many games, and while yes I would like it simpler sometimes, I get why they did it and it is more on me than it is the game. So overall, the controls are good and match all the other games as they should.
Replay Value
The replay value is where this game does take another small hit. Why it does, you have likely figured out by this point, but it does have to do with the side story mode not being the best It could be and that it is a lot of just grinding and doing missions over and over again doing little side things really. I get that it is supposed to be a mode you do this in, but it could have been done in a more interesting way and in a way that made you want to use more of the characters as well instead of just doing the mini stories and switching to other characters. There is also the fact that this game can be very cheap at times when it comes to those large enemies. When the AI is constantly doing dumb things around them to where it then costs you a mission to where you are getting game overs all the time, you are going to become very frustrated. I don’t think I’ve had a warriors game in quite some time cost me as many game over’s as this one has. While some of the early games are hard and can be frustrating, that was sometimes more to make up for the limitations of not being able to add as much as they wanted, so they made the games harder. In this game, often time it is cheap AI or sometimes bosses being way too hard, even on easier difficulties that it sometimes just makes this game feel frustrating at times. There were actually times I wanted to get very mad at this game and there were sometimes I actually did. That’s not a good sign when even on normal you are having such a hard time, due to the AI either being cheap or stupid depending on what side you are talking about. While there is a lot to do in the game, which does keep this from being lower than it could be, I really do have to say that I think they could have done better. While there is a lot to do, it is just doing the same things over and over again. It is more just filler than making you feel like you are accomplishing something. I’m just so surprised really. Maybe it’s me in some areas, but I do think this game could have been so much better with just a few changes to certain areas.
Overall, while this is still a good game, there are definitely some flaws that make this game be better. If the AI wasn’t dumb about certain situations they get into, and the difficulty of the AI sometimes wasn’t a problem, you might be able to continue playing this game for a longer period of time. This would be especially so if the replay value was better due to the extra mode being sort of a disappointment compared to the first game going all out with their extra mode. Really, the game isn’t bad, but you will have to contend with these small low points and have to be able to stand game over after game over in certain areas. This is an alright game, it just could have been so much better I think. I would still say give it a chance if you enjoy warriors games or are looking for a Gundam game, but I can think of better warriors’ games to let people start with than this one. This one I feel could give a first timer a bad taste compared to other ones. It is still alright really, I just wanted a little more is all.
Overall, in my opinion at least, I give Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 a seven out of ten.
Gameplay: 6
Story: 7
Graphics: 8
Sound: 8
Control: 9
Replay Value: 5
Overall: 7
Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2
I do usually enjoy my Warriors’ games so here we go again with another entry into the vast Warrior’s series. This time, we are finally returning to the Gundam version and now I will be reviewing the second Warriors Gundam game. I reviewed the first one last year and now we have the second in the series. Is this game an improvement on the series or is it more of the same? Let us take a closer look shall we?
Gameplay
The bulk of the gameplay of this game, compared to the last warriors’ game, is really not that different. Though that isn’t surprising as the bulk of warriors games all follow the same format, just with different settings and stories to go along with them. You run around a battlefield attacking foot soldiers and officers and conquering the various enemy fields to make them your own while trying to eventually take out whomever the main objective or target of the battle. This is all good and works the way many warriors games have always worked. That’s the thing though, there isn’t much new added here, but sadly, one of the big new concepts that was added to the general gameplay of this game isn’t the best idea in my opinion. Other than the basic run around, attacking enemies and conquering fields, there are now giant enemies as well. Some Gundam’s are now two or three times your size, for example, the first one you encounter being Big Zam, will proceed to pretty much kick yours and your allies butt very quickly if you aren’t careful. To fight big enemies, you have to do some tricky foot work to take them down. Big enemies will pretty much shrug off normal attacks and will do very little damage. You have to wait for the right time to attack. These large enemies have weak spots and openings when they are attacking. Your Gundam can charge up and attack with a smash attack which first, can for a very short time show the openings and weak spots, but it will close again real quick. However, if you use a smash attack or a special attack on them when their openings are showing, the large Gundam will fall over onto their back and they are wide open to finally be attacked for greater damage. However, this isn’t always easy to do, and in the meantime, these large enemies are kicking out big damage. While yes, you are in danger as well, your allies are the bigger concern. They will just rush up to these enemies and attack them like normal instead of attacking at the right time. If allies get into your fights with the large enemies, there is a good chance they are going to be taken out, which in many missions will leave you failing the mission. Plus, large enemy attacks often lock you to the field so getting health can be tricky as often the only way to get more is to attack the foot soldiers at the same time as you are dodging the large enemy. Yeah, this is pretty frustrating and honestly, while having big enemies is a neat idea, it is your allies that are going to cause so much frustration. You can dodge attacks and slowly heal if need be, though your allies constantly dying from either the giant enemy or from other things and you not being able to help them due to being locked down can be quite annoying. I think they could have executed this better for sure. While giant enemies aren’t always a problem, constantly locking you to fields or stupid AI allies can really ruin it for you. Now, when it comes to the modes of the game, there is official mode, which is basically the normal story mode from the first game that follows the events of the anime with four different characters. Yes, just four characters. While each story mode has many more missions than the first game, and the story of the anime is shown more, there are just four characters to use, Amuro, Char, Kamille, and Judau. Not exactly sure why they wanted to just do four characters here at all. There is still mission mode though, which is where you get to use all the various characters throughout the anime series. There is just one thing though, unlike the first game that had an overall story that the characters all took part in, this time, mission mode is just each character doing five story missions that don’t really have much connection to each other character, along with lots of friendship and side missions to just gain relationships with other pilots and make your Gundams better. Yeah, it feels like the side mode has taken quite a nosedive as well. While this mode is just more of the same stuff, it just feels like it could get a little dull after a while, which I will talk more about later. Really over all, while there is still some fun in this game, it just feels like they didn’t add as much as most series advancements in the Warriors series tend to add. It almost feels like things were taken away in some ways, while only some new things were added. Yeah, while the game still feels like a warriors game, it just doesn’t have that unique punch that makes it really worth it, but not really bad either.
Story
The story in the main mode is pretty much the same as the first game, it is just expanded upon, which you expect in the warriors games. Each warriors game is like there, where the next game in the series expands slightly on the first main modes story to keep adding more and more to it to keep it interesting. This game does this, but it is the side mode that is so disappointing. The side mode in the first game was this interesting unique story that while you were playing the same story over and over from many different angles, it was interesting to watch and listen to. In this game, it is just bits and pieces of different stories all over the place that are over so quickly that they really don’t feel like they are having much of an impact at all overall. While I get what they were trying to do, I just wasn’t that impressed really with the way they went about it. Maybe it’s just me, but I liked the way they did it in the first game where it was showing an overall unique story from different people’s prospective. This game just has everyone having these little side stories that don’t really connect at all, and it has people fighting with each other that normally wouldn’t be without any explanation why and such. This just seems so confusing really. I don’t know why it was about this game, but really, while the story wasn’t that bad and the main mode did add something as it always should, the side mode was just a bit of a step back in my opinion.
Graphics
The game has the standard graphics that you expect in a warriors game along with some cutscenes here and there that look alright. Nothing is really impressive and such, but there is nothing bad here either. You don’t see any sort of clipping nor slowdown that are often times pretty common in these warriors games. It actually looks rather glitch free. There may have been like what one moment where something odd happens, but if that is all there is, that’s pretty much glitch free to me. Then there is the standard graphics, they do the job while making everyone look unique when it comes to the character models and gundams. The cutscenes are okay and really just get straight to the point and do what you want them to do. I must say, the graphics looks good, but aren’t just the amazing stand out that they could be. Really, I’m not surprised, but I thought it could be better. So really, the game looks pretty good, but I just always wish it could be a little better, as there are many areas that are just simply plain and simple. It is just the two fighters and an empty area either on the ground or up in space. That’s a common thing with these games. You gotta keep them simple really to cram more people onto the screen at one time. They did a good job on doing that, but I still wish these series would add that extra detail if they could.
Sound
The music of this game is your standard warriors’ music. The rock music that you normally get in these games is good and does a good job of being background distraction music that can, when you notice it, get you into that pumped up state to keep on fighting. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked the music in these games, and this one is no exception. The voices are good and are very well done. They aren’t drowned out by the music and they take center stage so you don’t miss any of the story at all due to the music or sound effects. The only downside to the sound is that many of the voice clips are reused quite often and you are going to be hearing some of the same lines over and over again as you play the main story and especially in the side mode where, while they did make some unique voice clips for it, there is so much reuse, that you are going to be hearing that way more often than the unique stuff. That’s what you get when you don’t make a unique story mode like the first game did for its non anime story mode. While it is good to hear actual voice acting at times, I just wish they had taken the time to add a lot more of it and make it more unique is all.
Control
Control is good and honestly, I don’t have many complaints about it. The few things I do have to say are honestly just about the combo system with the buttons. It is the same in all warriors’ games though, so you have to sort of be used to it at this point. What I mean is that to do certain moves you have to press the buttons a certain number of times or in certain combinations to get certain things to happen. You are going to run into times where you want to just mash the button instead of trying the different combinations, which can be great additions when done at the right time and even extend combo’s to where you don’t give the enemy a chance to block. You are just going to have to get used to it. It is more something the player has to learn and get used to as it is not the fault of the game at all. I’ve seen this in many games, and while yes I would like it simpler sometimes, I get why they did it and it is more on me than it is the game. So overall, the controls are good and match all the other games as they should.
Replay Value
The replay value is where this game does take another small hit. Why it does, you have likely figured out by this point, but it does have to do with the side story mode not being the best It could be and that it is a lot of just grinding and doing missions over and over again doing little side things really. I get that it is supposed to be a mode you do this in, but it could have been done in a more interesting way and in a way that made you want to use more of the characters as well instead of just doing the mini stories and switching to other characters. There is also the fact that this game can be very cheap at times when it comes to those large enemies. When the AI is constantly doing dumb things around them to where it then costs you a mission to where you are getting game overs all the time, you are going to become very frustrated. I don’t think I’ve had a warriors game in quite some time cost me as many game over’s as this one has. While some of the early games are hard and can be frustrating, that was sometimes more to make up for the limitations of not being able to add as much as they wanted, so they made the games harder. In this game, often time it is cheap AI or sometimes bosses being way too hard, even on easier difficulties that it sometimes just makes this game feel frustrating at times. There were actually times I wanted to get very mad at this game and there were sometimes I actually did. That’s not a good sign when even on normal you are having such a hard time, due to the AI either being cheap or stupid depending on what side you are talking about. While there is a lot to do in the game, which does keep this from being lower than it could be, I really do have to say that I think they could have done better. While there is a lot to do, it is just doing the same things over and over again. It is more just filler than making you feel like you are accomplishing something. I’m just so surprised really. Maybe it’s me in some areas, but I do think this game could have been so much better with just a few changes to certain areas.
Overall, while this is still a good game, there are definitely some flaws that make this game be better. If the AI wasn’t dumb about certain situations they get into, and the difficulty of the AI sometimes wasn’t a problem, you might be able to continue playing this game for a longer period of time. This would be especially so if the replay value was better due to the extra mode being sort of a disappointment compared to the first game going all out with their extra mode. Really, the game isn’t bad, but you will have to contend with these small low points and have to be able to stand game over after game over in certain areas. This is an alright game, it just could have been so much better I think. I would still say give it a chance if you enjoy warriors games or are looking for a Gundam game, but I can think of better warriors’ games to let people start with than this one. This one I feel could give a first timer a bad taste compared to other ones. It is still alright really, I just wanted a little more is all.
Overall, in my opinion at least, I give Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 a seven out of ten.
Gameplay: 6
Story: 7
Graphics: 8
Sound: 8
Control: 9
Replay Value: 5
Overall: 7
