Dynasty Warriors 2
Dynasty Warriors 2by KOEI
Platform: PlayStation2
ESRB Rating: Teen
ASIN: B00004YC3N
Check price @ amazon.com , amazon.ca , amazon.co.uk
GameSpot Review: When Kessen displays thousands of soldiers fighting onscreen, it's not uncommon to wish that you could go down onto the battlefield and actually fight in the battle.Koei seems to have answered that wish with its second PlayStation 2 release, Dynasty Warriors 2. The original Dynasty Warriors is a fighting game for the PlayStation, but the sequel offers a mixed collection of action and strategy-simulation elements.
Dynasty Warriors 2 is based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, in which three kingdoms - Wei, Wu, and Shu - battle each other in China during the second century. Much like in Sega's Spikeout and Yukes' Sword of the Berserk, you'll control a character in a fight against thousands of enemies in a 3D polygonal environment. Initially, you will be able to choose from one of nine characters (three from each kingdom) who all serve as the leading generals of their respective kingdoms. You can unlock about a dozen playable characters upon finishing the game. The health, attack, and defense parameters of each character vary at the start of the game, but ultimately the range of attack (determined by the different weapons) and the fighting style are the only things that differ. The control scheme is straightforward, consisting of jump, attack, and Musou (special attack) buttons. Tapping the attack button two times allows for air combos, three times to stun enemies, and four times for a chain combo. The L1 button is also helpful, since it allows for blocking, strafing, and immediately changing the camera angle to match the direction your player is facing. You can also switch to first-person mode to shoot arrows, which is a handy technique for attacking enemies from a safe distance.
At the beginning of every stage, a map of the battlefield is displayed with the locations and quantities of troops from your kingdom's battalion, as well as those of the enemy. A little bit of strategy helps in playing the game, but as your level increases, you can pretty much overpower enemies all by yourself. Cutting off enemy lines to prevent them from calling in reinforcements and defeating enemy generals to decrease morale are the fastest ways to increase your level and finish the stages quickly. The game is fun and exciting when playing the first two stages, but the game's difficulty increases pretty sharply in the third stage. Luckily, in addition to the main quest mode, the game features a free mode, which lets you replay stages you've already cleared and level up your character in the process. However, the game is repetitive enough as it is, and with only five stages, it can get old fast. There is also an intro edit mode, which lets you place your favorite characters in different scenes in the opening demo, much like in Namco's Soul Calibur.
While you can always find your troops in the field, it seems like your comrades just stand in one area and don't help you in battles more often than not. It's as if they are waiting for you to clear up the front line so they can position themselves further into the enemy territory. Even a simple summon command would have helped. The other concern is that enemy bosses have a tendency to cheat. After being knocked down with a chain combo, they tend to use items to replenish health or to increase attack or defense. You, however, can do that only when you pick up an item from defeated enemies or when you destroy things like crates.
Despite some concerns, the game happens to be one of the most efficient among the PS2 games so far, as the frame rate stays at a constant rate of 60fps. Although the early version of the game had us worried, the final version successfully cut down the slowdown, which now occurs very rarely. It is also a demonstration of how powerful the PS2 hardware is, displaying dozens of soldiers on one screen. There are CG cutscenes with voice-overs between each stage as well, adding plot details. The music is mainly heavy metal rock, and, despite the cool opening intro sequence, the in-game music gets really redundant after a while.
Dynasty Warriors 2's beat-'em-up gameplay is simple enough to make it easy to get in to, and the game is interesting enough to keep you entertained for a while. It's definitely a solid purchase for fans of the genre.--Ike Sato--Copyright © 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.
Customer Reviews:
dynasty warriors 2, November 12, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from MUGGSVILLE, MASS.
IT IS A VERY QUALIFIED GAME BASED ON MY ESPERIENCE WITH IT.AND I HAVE BEAT IT WITH EVERY CHARACTER.
Warriors, August 21, 2002
Reviewer: Cameron Colquitt from Richmond,VA USA
I dont own it but just from looking at screenshots and the cover i think its awesome
Hack and Slash, August 13, 2002
Reviewer: mysticalgohan88 from Videogame World
The plot of this game is slim. All that you really do is umm, let me think... Hack and Slash and Hack and Slash. You run around button-mashing so that you can go to the next level. Even with all of the button-mashing and Hacking and Slashing, this game is still very fun and I would recommend renting it if not buying it. The lack of plot is easily made up for by the fun factor of the game. Who knew that pushing X and Y and O and stuff could be so fun. This game is definetly a game that I would reccomend to fellow gamers. The violence in this game is not much because there is no blood and the bodies disappear.
Fun, But Looooooong, May 31, 2002
Reviewer: chad steingraber from Lake Dallas, TX
-Chad Steingraber-
-Paradigm/Infogrames-
-Level Designer/Game Designer/3D Artist on The Terminator: Dawn of Fate-
At this point, Dynasty Warriors 3 is out....there is really no need to even play this one. DW3 is far better with improved gameplay and even multiplayer mode. Don't waste even a rental fee on this, if you really want to see DW2 play....just get DW3, there's not much difference. It's not that it isn't fun or cool...it's just that DW3 is the same thing packed with more fun. The problem I have with this one is, it takes over an hour to beat one level....and there really isn't any save points. That can be aggravating if you don't have a full hour to waste.
Unless your really bored, want to waste your money....or just crazy insane for the series....don't bother with this one at all.
You don't really need this one now that the thirds one's out, May 3, 2002
Reviewer: arlando909
While the third one is better this version is still good. Why is this not as good as the third one? Well, this game was pretty good except that I liked the amount of Freedom in its sequal.
First of all, for every character the first two levels are the same. Then by the third stage it depends on what force you chose. Because each character in the force has the same level, this game doesn't offer much for replay value. Not to mention that there are only eight levels in this one as compared to the third ones 23.
There aren't as many characters in this one either but the mission lay-out is different. However, the main reason why you should pass this up is the difficulty. Because the AI is so bad (thats better in the third one too...) the game is too easy. You can be a one-man (or one woman) army and still take every body out. What's worse is that when fighting Generals when you knock them down they recover health while they're on their back and that really [aggravated] me off.
The Supreme Commanders are also impossible once you get there, but there gaurds are too stupid to take you on anyway. Also you only get two body gaurds and they'll die in about five seconds (literally).
My advice, get Dynasty Warriors 3, its harder, the enemies have more AI and you get eight body gaurds that can actually last in a mission, not to mention that you actually do have an army of your own.
Best ever, March 25, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Chilmark, MA USA
I loved this game. I thought it was kinda historically accurate, but the fun factor is great too. I gave this game five stars. because it was sooooooooooooo much fun. Personnaly I love Kung Fu movies and martial arts books and video games, I also am very intereste4d in Asian history, so if you have the same attitude buy this game, for the love of god, buy this game.
Fun, but..., March 22, 2002
Reviewer: aj_brekus from Denver, CO USA
This game is really fun, but it seems like the whole war is up to you, the other groups aren't as effective as they could be with a little more AI work. And it gets really repetative just hacking your way through hundreds of little dudes that all look the same... If your troops stayed with you instead of lagging behind it would cut down on getting mobbed by the enemy, the only big difficulty in this game.
Mayhem, March 7, 2002
Reviewer: davismj15 from Okinawa, Japan
This game is fun and challenging and it has a high replay value.
Gets old, just rent it., February 11, 2002
Reviewer: unknown indenity from New Jersey
This game was made beautifully, it's graphics are great, and the game is fun AT FIRST. After the 3rd level, you get sick of it. It is just hack and slash, hack and slash. I suggest renting it for a week. That's all the game's timespan is.
| PS2 Games |
| Action & Adventure |
| Fighting |
| Racing & Flying |
| Role Playing |
| Sports & Outdoors |
| Strategy |