In video games, there is something satisfying about looking down at a mass of enemies, weapon at the ready, and then annihilating them. The Dynasty Warriors franchise has filled that need for the past 17 years. The sheer number of enemy combatants that have been laid to rest throughout that time is unfathomable. So much life wasted and yet, so much fun to be had. Dynasty Warriors has changed little since its beginning, perhaps because they may have gotten it right the first time.
#HelpsNotHarms Twitter Campaign Fights Back Against Scaremongering
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn is the fourth title in the Dynasty Warriors Gundam series. The game was previously released in Japan in late 2013 and is just now available as a digital download for the PS3. It transports the DW mechanic out of the Three Kingdoms era and puts it firmly in the future and as such, opens up a world of gameplay possibilities.
There are two things you notice first when you fire up Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn: one, nobody is speaking in English; and two, there are a lot of Mobile Suits and Pilots to select from. On the first, this is the first of the series to get a North American release without an English dub. This never takes away from the game and can be directly attributed to the second thing: the breadth of this game is astonishing. The total number of suits sits at roughly 120, with more available as Day One DLC. Each and every Pilot not only has his or her own unique moves and combinations, but has combinations with every other Pilot. One could lose more hours than anticipated in creating the perfect Pilot/Gundam/Partner combination.
Destiny Collectors Editions Announced
My exposure to the Gundam series, one of the most iconic anime and manga series ever, was and is slight. My awareness extends to pretty much 'giant space robots with swords'. The game culls from several of the Mobile Suit Gundam series, such as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Zeta Gundam, First Gundam and others and splices in cut scenes from them. There are at least two canon time-lines in the Gundam universe, both of which are featured here. Non-fans may have a hard time keeping up with the patched together cutscenes.
The bottom line on Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn is right there in the title. If you like either Dynasty Warriors or Mobile Suit Gundam, well, this is the game for you. The action is easy to learn (hit button repeatedly) but also allows for a bit of nuance and customization, something I appreciate greatly in titles. It helps keep the gameplay fresh. The story would only be engaging to the Gundam faithful, but the gameplay will be enough to keep even casual players coming back again and again.
At the end of the day, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn still giant robots beating up on other giant robots with giant swords, and who among us cannot enjoy that?
---
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn was reviewed from a PS3 code provided by the publisher. The game is now available in the PSN store for $39.99.
