Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 is now available in Europe, a full two years after the release of it’s predecessor. While on the surface this sequel may seemingly be more-or-less than same game as the first release in the crossover series, as is often the case with Dynasty Warriors titles, the substance of the improvements lies within the actual gameplay itself.

            While the bulk of the game is based upon the widened Dynasty Warriors ruleset established on the first title, in which players must march across battlefields capturing Fields and defeating characters and Bosses, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is much more explorative with the possibilities set by the bare bones rules. Directing the player through landscapes with a carrot-on-a-stick, scripted events are much more dramatic and each and every mission feels fresh. That in itself is quite something, given the other enhancements Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 has been subject to.

            The numbers have been expanded dramatically for each and every back-of-the-box statistic you could possibly think of. More characters, maps, mission variation, Gundam suits, customisation options and the addition on an online multi-player component, Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 expands on every strength of it’s predecessor. The Menu System has been refined so as to alert players to all the options available to them prior to battle, and most will find themselves tailoring each Gundam to their personal preference over time.

            The combat has also received a great deal of refinement, being smoother and quicker than before and with a great deal of balancing between Mobile Suits and playable characters. Basic enemies are more active than before, and finding a necessary Field has been made considerably easier thanks to an on-screen highlight. Fighting Bosses has also been made more interesting, as instead of every simultaneous clash rewarding both player and Boss with an Attack Power-Up, a Quick-Time Entry sequence will appear and deliver varying results depending on the outcome.

            The visuals appear smoother and more detailed than those of Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, though none more so than the environmental detail. Maps are presented with just as much charm as the main Dynasty Warriors bloodline titles, and the number of enemies they deal-out at once has been increased significantly. Thankfully, one of the major issues with the aural quality of the first title, the mid-battle character sound bytes, has been improved upon also, and while may some may still find their number far too limited, series fans will undoubtedly take note of, and be thankful for, the newly expanded selection.

            Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 is a more than worthy successor to 2007’s enjoyable Dynasty Warriors: Gundam improving upon each and every aspect of the original title. It may still have difficulty converting those who believe every edition of Koei’s flagship series remains incredibly similar, but for fans of either Dynasty Warriors or Gundam, there’s little better on the Current-Generation.

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