Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Official North American PS3 cover
Developer(s) Omega Force
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Games
Series Dynasty Warriors
Platform(s) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2
Release date(s)
  • JP March 1, 2007
  • NA August 28, 2007
  • UK November 9, 2007
Genre(s) Action role-playing game, Hack and slash
Mode(s) 1-2 players
Distribution BD-ROM, DVD-ROM

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, originally released in Japan as Gundam Musou (ガンダム無双 Gandamu Musō), is a video game based on the Gundam anime series. It was developed by Omega Force and published by Bandai Namco Games. Its gameplay is derived from Koei's popular Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series.[1] The "Official Mode" of the game is based primarily on the Universal Century timeline, with mecha from Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ appearing in the game,[2] as well as a few units from Mobile Suit Variations Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory appearing as non-playable ally and enemy units. The "Original Mode" of the game also features mecha from the non-UC series Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and ∀ Gundam. A newly designed non-SD Musha Gundam designed by Hajime Katoki is also included.[3]

The game was originally released on March 1, 2007 in Japan[4] exclusively for the PlayStation 3 with the name Gundam Musou. A North American version was released on August 28, 2007, for both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 under the name Dynasty Warriors: Gundam [5] with English localization by AltJapan Co., Ltd.[6] Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is the second next-gen Gundam game released in North America, following Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire. A Japanese Xbox 360 version was released in Japan on 10/25/2007 under the name of Gundam Musou International. Unlike the Japanese PlayStation 3 edition, Gundam Musou International features both Japanese and English voice overs.

An expanded port for PlayStation 2 called Gundam Musou Special was released on February 28, 2008 in Japan, featuring new scenarios and mobile suits.[7]

Differences from previous Dynasty Warriors games

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam follows in the style of previous Dynasty Warriors games as an action-oriented hack 'n' slash with some tactical elements. The biggest difference between Dynasty Warriors: Gundam and Koei's Dynasty Warriors series is the core content; rather than using characters and story from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the games draw their material from across the various Gundam anime series.

There are also numerous changes in actual gameplay. The player is given more ranged combat options than in other Dynasty Warriors games, although melee combat is still the main focus of the game. Characters in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam are also much more mobile, using the Gundam's thrusters to dash, jump in mid-air, and (for some mecha) even fly.

Modes of play

RX-178 fires hyper bazooka at MS-07 Gouf mobile suit.

The single-player mode of Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is divided into two sections, Official Mode and Original Mode. Official Mode features six playable characters in stages set within the continuity of the Gundam Universal Century timeline. More specifically, they are events taken from the original Mobile Suit Gundam television series and its sequels Zeta Gundam and ZZ Gundam. Original Mode, by contrast, features an original, non-canonical storyline in which teams of mobile suit pilots composed of the three aforementioned Universal Century series and three alternate universe series (G Gundam, Gundam Wing and Turn-A Gundam) investigate a mysterious planet headed on a collision course with Earth; however, the story behind Original Mode is almost the same as the crossover manga Mobile Suit Vs. Gigantis' Counterattack, only with Musha Gundam replacing Gigantis (or Ideon in true case).

In both Official and Original Mode, some characters will switch from one mobile suit to another for certain stages. Depending on the mode, player's can choose pilots and mecha independent of each other, allowing the ability to use any combination of man and machine. Completing a character's Original Mode will allow the player to replay any of the stages from that character's Official Mode using any unlocked mobile suit. Certain characters can be unlocked in original mode only by completing another original mode character's story. Something that long time Gundam fans will appreciate is Official Mode's "Outcome feature". The outcome feature gives you the chance to save or spare certain pilots or allies of their predetermined deaths, for example: Saving Emma Sheen before her Mobile Suit is destroyed or too damaged will allow her to be involved in battles that she originally would not have been a part of (like Emma joining the Drop on Jaburo instead of staying on board the Argama).

Sequels

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 are tactical action video games based on the Gundam anime series, and the sequels to 2007's Dynasty Warriors: Gundam. Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 was released in Japan on December 18, 2008, April 21, 2009 in North America, and in Europe on April 24, 2009.[8] Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 was released on December 16, 2010 in Japan, June 28, 2011 in North America, July 1, 2011 in Europe, and it was released in Australia on July 12, 2011. A fourth title, Shin Gundam Musou was released on December 19, 2013 in Japan for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita,[9] and was released in North America on July 1, 2014 and Europe on June 27, 2014 as Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn. The Western release, however, is only for PlayStation 3 and only a digital-download release for North America. It also has no English audio track, a first for a Gundam game released in North America.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS3) 61.49%[10]
(X360) 57.85%[11]
Metacritic(PS3) 60/100[12]
(X360) 55/100[13]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid6/10[14]
Electronic Gaming Monthly5.67/10[15]
Eurogamer8/10[16]
Famitsu33/40[17]
Game Informer5/10[18]
GamePro[19]
Game RevolutionC[20]
GameSpot5/10[21]
GameSpy[22]
GameTrailers5.1/10[23]
GameZone(X360) 6.9/10[24]
(PS3) 5.5/10[25]
IGN6.8/10[26]
Official Xbox Magazine6/10[27]

On the first day of its release, the Japanese version (Gundam Musou) sold over a 100,000 copies, making it the first PS3 title to do so on its first day. Also, the game sold about 70 percent of its 170,000 -180,000 launch day shipments, making it rank third in overall sales — after Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire.[28] Japanese game magazine Famitsu gave the game a total score of 33 out of 40.[17]

English reviews were either lukewarm or mixed. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 61.49% and 60 out of 100 for the PS3 version,[10][12] and 57.85% and 55 out of 100 for the Xbox 360 version.[11][13]

As of July 9, 2008, the game has sold 275,812 copies in Japan.[29]

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (December 20, 2006). "New Gundam Game for PS3". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (January 5, 2007). "First Details: Gundam Musou". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Gundam Musou Famitsu news". Gunota Headlines. February 20, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  4. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (January 8, 2007). "Gundam Musou Dated". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  5. ↑ Dunham, Jeremy (May 9, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Announced". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Game Browser: AltJapan Co., Ltd". MobyGames. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Gundam Musou Special".
  8. ↑ "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 Release Information for PlayStation 3". GameFAQs. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-04/shin-gundam-musou/dynasty-warriors/gundam-debuts-on-december-19
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam for Xbox 360". GameRankings. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  14. ↑ Sterling, Jim (November 28, 2007). "Destructoid review: Dynasty Warriors Gundam (X360)". Destructoid. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  15. ↑ EGM staff (September 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam". Electronic Gaming Monthly (219): 92.
  16. ↑ McCarthy, Dave (November 9, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (PS3)". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Gundam Musou Info". GameBrink. Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  18. ↑ Vore, Bryan (October 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam". Game Informer (174). Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  19. ↑ Ouroboros (August 28, 2007). "Review: Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (X360)". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ Andrien, Chris (October 2, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review (X360)". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ Navarro, Alex (August 30, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review". GameSpot. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  22. ↑ Graziani, Gabe (September 7, 2007). "GameSpy: Dynasty Warriors: Gundam". GameSpy. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review". GameTrailers. September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  24. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (September 23, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors:GUNDAM - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  25. ↑ Valentino, Nick (September 21, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors:GUNDAM Review - PlayStation 3". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  26. ↑ Clements, Ryan (August 31, 2007). "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam". Official Xbox Magazine: 81. October 2007.
  28. ↑ "Gundam Musou Sets PS3 Sales Record". Kotaku. March 5, 2007. Archived from the original on March 7, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  29. ↑ Famitsu, volume 1020

External links