Dynasty Warriors: GUNDAM Review (XB360)

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is the result of the mashing of two brands, combining the ground-based combat of Dynasty Warriors with the characters and storyline of the hit anime Gundam series. Players choose from various modes, opting to check out familiar storylines from the hit series in Official Mode, trying all new missions in Original Mode or pairing up against a friend in Versus Mode. No matter what you choose, everything comes down to jetting your way into a group of robot soldiers, pulling out a lightsaber-like sword and mowing them down by the hundreds.

In a sense, Gundam is a victim to the same flaw that affects all other Dynasty Warriors games -- the gameplay becomes repetitive very quickly. Players will perform the same combos over and over again, alternating between two attack buttons and, on occasion, activating a special attack that'll clear out dozens of unlucky foes. It still works better than any of the other gameplay types introduced in previous Gundam games, but familiarity sets in way too soon -- even with the multiple Gundam suits (and characters) that become available.

Visually, the game looks decent. Some of the backdrops look underdeveloped, especially when it comes to object draw-in. However, the game is on par with the anime series' style, for the most part. The Gundam animations have personality to spare and some of the weapon effects, particularly the cool laser swords, put on a solid light show.
The music isn't bad at all and the voice acting holds its own, both with the English voice actors and the original Japanese audio track. It feels good to have both options available to select from.

Still, not everything runs perfectly. Aside from repetition, the game has issues with its camera system. Players can use the right analog stick to swivel around and see what's around them, but cheap enemies (particularly bosses) swing away without waiting. That means that someone who's behind you won't hesitate to score a few damaging hits while you attempt to get a look at who's doing the damage. The game does support two player combat in Versus Mode, but Koei and Namco Bandai missed out on a big opportunity with online play. Seriously, it would add a lot to this game, even with its "hack and slash, repeat" style of play.

Nevertheless, a pretty good Gundam-licensed game sure as hell beats out a crappy one. Dynasty Warriors: Gundam pulls off an unexpected win for both franchises. The license is put to good use here with its various missions and good (if not great) presentation. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship, if improvements get made in just the right places.