Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 review

We tried. We really, really tried to get to grips with the notion of these sorts of games being massively popular in Japan, where this one, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2, is called Gundam Musou 2 – loads sexier. It’s based on an anime series featuring androgynous pilots fighting each other and accidentally dying/falling in love/wearing sunglasses in space. In theory, it should be the best thing you’ll ever slip into your console. That theory was last seen trapped in a single plane of repetitive movement in deep space.

Stylistically then, Gundam 2 can’t fail to grab you. If you’ve ever watched classic ‘80s cartoons – this will appeal. Overblown mechs in space (and sometimes on arid planets), kicking one another right in the ball bearings, all presented in lovely clashing colours in a vision of space which lends a pleasant purple glow to everything.

If you play videogames – chances are the prospect of intergalactic war and mechs will be close to irresistible. Technically it’s no Metal Gear Solid 4 or Killzone 2, but it has its own charm. There’s no question it’s packed with options – or at least lots of submenus – but the actual gameplay, the bit that sees you pressing buttons (so, so many buttons), doesn’t change one bit.

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There’s no subtlety to it. It’s not simply that you can rely on a single button to get you through the missions; it’s that it makes little difference when you press it, how you press it, or indeed why you press it. What generally happens is this: you jump into a smart space suit (unless you’re Char, who pilots his mech in what looks like Napoleonic uniform) then strap yourself into a smart mech and then jet out into the middle of a teeming mass of incredibly stupid enemy mechs and robots. The sheer quantity of them on screen at any one time is impressive. It’s as though you’re up against a futuristic Terracotta Army, for all the threat they possess as you calmly jet among them.

This means the plan of attack varies not a jot from mission to mission. You boost straight into the center of a cluster of enemies (the boost bar has been extended from the first game’s). Send enough of them flying to fill up your special move bar and then unleash a flurry of unholy metallic fury.

There are seven options in Mission mode, though if you can differentiate between each without being aware of its name you are obviously a greater Gundam aficionado than we are. Story mode lets you choose a single pilot and play through events in his story by mashing like a madman. The new Friendship mode works by, what else, smashing robots; while Free mode lets you swat as many mechs as you like, but it’s just more of the same - hammer attack buttons; repeat over and over.

Apr 21, 2009