Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam delivers the signature hack-and-slash gameplay that fans of Koei’s Warriors series have come to expect, but with a distinct mecha twist. Players take control of iconic mobile suits from the Gundam universe, blasting through waves of enemy units with beam sabers, rifles, and specialized weapons. The core combat loop revolves around chaining combos, deploying special attacks, and managing your suit’s boost gauge to hover or briefly fly across the battlefield.

The game offers two campaign modes: one follows the established chronology of the original Gundam anime series, while the other presents a brand-new storyline exclusive to this release. Each mission tasks you with reaching objectives, rescuing allies, or defeating powerful boss mobile suits. Between stages, you can switch between unlocked suits, customizing your roster to fit different combat roles—long-range artillery, close-quarters brawlers, or agile scouts.

Controls feel intuitive for those familiar with third-person Warriors titles, yet newcomers might need time to master the balance between ground combos and aerial maneuvers. The addition of flight mechanics adds verticality to encounters, allowing you to dodge enemy swarms or rain fire from above. Unlockable upgrades, weapon enhancements, and pilot skills keep progression satisfying, encouraging you to revisit earlier missions with newly acquired gear.

Graphics

On its original platforms, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam showcases sharp model work for each mobile suit, capturing the angular lines and distinctive color schemes that define the Gundam series. Textures on the PS2 port are a bit softer compared to later console iterations, but the overall fidelity remains impressive for its generation. Explosions, particle effects, and beam trails dazzle the screen during large-scale clashes, reinforcing the cinematic feel of anime battles.

Environments span deserts, urban sprawls, and space colonies, each rendered with adequate detail. While some stage backdrops can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs, dynamic weather effects and day-night cycles in certain scenarios add visual variety. The HUD remains uncluttered, providing health, boost, and ammo information without obstructing the battlefield.

Character portraits are beautifully illustrated in dialogue sequences, lending emotional weight to key story moments. Cutscenes blend in-engine footage with static art panels, maintaining immersion even when hardware limitations prevent full-motion animation. Overall, the graphics strike a satisfying balance between performance and presentation, ensuring that large enemy hordes don’t compromise frame rate.

Story

The main campaign faithfully adapts pivotal arcs from the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime, allowing veteran fans to replay classic battles like the OYW (One Year War) showdown at A Baoa Qu. Key pilot interactions, betrayals, and heroic sacrifices are all present, giving newcomers a taste of the franchise’s foundational drama. Voiceovers (in Japanese with optional English subtitles) further enhance authenticity.

The alternate “Original Story” campaign introduces fresh narrative threads that branch off established lore. You’ll encounter new characters and mobile suits while uncovering covert plots that intersect with familiar events. Though not as tightly paced as the anime’s source material, this mode provides additional context and unlockable suits exclusive to the PS2 Japanese port.

Dialogue exchanges are well-written and often carry the emotional weight typical of Gundam’s militaristic and ideological conflicts. However, players primarily driven by action may find some exposition-heavy segments slow the pace. Thankfully, the ability to skip through lengthy cutscenes ensures that combat-focused gamers can jump straight back into the fray.

Overall Experience

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam succeeds at marrying the signature Warriors gameplay with the expansive Gundam universe. If you’ve ever wanted to pilot an RX-78-2 or a Zaku II en masse, mowing down squads of enemy MS feels tremendously satisfying. The boost and flight mechanics add a fresh layer to the time-tested formula, making traversal and combat more dynamic than in most hack-and-slash titles.

The dual-campaign structure offers plenty of replay value: relive anime milestones or forge your own Gundam saga. Although some mission objectives can become repetitive—escorts and base captures are staples—the ever-growing roster of mobile suits, combined with unlockable bonuses in the Japanese PS2 port, keeps the experience engaging. Customization options for weapons and pilot skills also reward completionists.

Ultimately, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is a must-play for fans of either franchise. It captures the thrill of large-scale Gundam combat while retaining the accessible, combo-driven approach of Dynasty Warriors. Newcomers should be prepared for occasional texture pop-ins and repeated mission types, but the sheer spectacle of piloting giant robots in epic battles outweighs minor technical limitations. For anyone seeking a thrilling mecha hack-and-slash adventure, this title delivers in spades.

Retro Replay Score

6.2/10