Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 Co-Op Review

Review System(s): XBox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2
Jason "OrigamiPanther" Love Friday 03rd of July 2009 05:10 PM  
 

 

There is a theorem that states “an infinite number of monkeys hitting keys at random on an infinite number of typewriters for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type the complete works of William Shakespeare.”  The theorem is intended to demonstrate the perils of trying to define infinity by using a finite, though vast, number.  Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 takes this theorem to heart and seems to depend upon the fact that if you do the same actions over and over and over again, you may eventually find a rewarding experience lurking somewhere in the depths.  Unfortunately, Gundam 2 is not Hamlet and the play experience is more akin to using Yahoo’s babelfish to translate a book written in English to another language, to another, and yet another before finally translating it back.  

Being a Dynasty Warriors game, Gundam 2 has the same four game mechanics that are present in that series: hack and slash action, the ability to choose your character from a cast of dozens, an RPG-type mechanic where characters gain levels and collect items to grow stronger, and the ability to do all of the above with a friend [Alas, poor Yorick].  These mechanics then come together in what has been the basic game play throughout the series’ lifespan, i.e., choose a character, run through a series of missions defeating enemies by the hundreds, beat the game, rinse and repeat with a new character.  In Gundam 2, the formula stays the same, but the changes to the game mechanics leads to a wholly different, and seemingly never-ending, experience. [and now how hated in my imagination it is]  

 

Starting with the character selection in the “Official” (read “story”) mode, the first notable change is that rather than having dozens of characters from which to choose, you only have four.  The reasoning behind this, aside from trying to keep a tight story experience, is that you are able to choose which “mobile suit” (read “giant fighting robot”) your character will pilot.  This makes sense within the overall setting, however, it’s not quite that simple.  When you play through a story mode with a character for the first time, you are limited to whatever mobile suits that character would have at that point in the story.  Often this means that as you progress through a story mode, your mobile suit will suddenly change and all the upgrades that you had acquired to that point are lost.  So while your pilot keeps his or her experience level and bonuses, your mobile suit (the thing that’s pretty much doing all of the action) resets to a base level at a point in the campaign where enemies stop hurling rocks at you, and start launching rockets. [The festoons and the arrows of outrageous fortuin (sic)]



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Reader Comments

bapenguin at 10:14 PM on 7.3.2009
Something tells me the header image Mike created is infinitely more fun and awesome than the game.
 
Tino at 01:40 PM on 7.4.2009
The Dynasty Warriors series is a strange phenomenon. Half of everyone ABSOLUTELY HATES THEM due to the repetitive and droll nature of the game while the other half totally embraces them.

Personally, I love the game to pieces and it's a high point in the Dynasty Warriors series however in terms of innovation and emerging game play it doesn't bring much to the table.
 
OrigamiPanther at 09:22 AM on 7.6.2009
Agreed and I actually like the Dynasty Warriors games. Despite their repetitive nature, you actually feel like you're doing something each time you beat/play through it. For the most part, too, they've slowly gotten better with each iteration.

This game, though, smashes that sense of accomplishment/progress to pieces, burns the pieces, and blows the ashes in your face.
 
pheriannath at 09:25 AM on 7.6.2009
I like the DW series as well, and what I played of Gundam didn't "get" it right. It takes all of the worst parts of the games and exacerbates them.
 
Agentfyre at 10:46 AM on 7.6.2009
Wow Bapenguin, you're a really good writer! I hope you get paid for your reviews. I gotta check out some of the others now...

As for DW, I never tried it, but after reading what others have said I just might have to now.
 
pheriannath at 11:13 AM on 7.6.2009
Nick (bapenguin) didn't write this review, Jason (origamipanther) did.
 
Agentfyre at 11:22 AM on 7.6.2009
Oh, dang...how did I miss that... Sorry about that.

Anyways...uh...thanks for posting it?

Wait...is Origamipanther from Co-Optimus? I can't find a link to any other site. If so, I still think it's a great review.
 
pheriannath at 11:34 AM on 7.6.2009
Co-Optimus Staff:

Nick - bapenguin
Mike (me) - pheriannath
Marc - djinniman
Jason - origamipanther
Jim - txhurricane
Kat - shadowkatregn
Loren - agtfox
 
Agentfyre at 11:47 AM on 7.6.2009
Thank you! It's nice to meet you. I love the site. It's what I've been looking for for a long time.
 
hedgehogaj at 12:41 PM on 7.6.2009
After playing the first game I had no desire to even try this one. If for no other reason than the AI on your team is completely incompetent. Which I realize is in line with the Gundam storyline, but unless I can teleport, it's a crap game mechanic. Also trying to make ranged combat an important part of a beat-um-up is just a bad idea.
 
OrigamiPanther at 03:20 PM on 7.6.2009

Welcome to the site! Glad you enjoyed the review and wanted to add to Mike's post that there's a link to our Staff page located at the very bottom of the site so you can check out the great writing done by the other staffers of Co-Optimus.
 
Agentfyre at 05:02 PM on 7.6.2009
Sweet, thanks!
 



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