One GunDAM Good Game

It's time once again for the GAME OF THE WEEK! This week's game, as indicated by the terribly punny title, is Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3. For those not familiar with Dynasty Warriors, it is a series of games that basically come down to "Hey, you're in a battle in feudal China. Go hack and slash your way through thousands of enemies! Story? Why would you want that?!?!"

Now, this game is totally different from the normal series... It's set in the GUNDAM universe - an anime series about giant robots fighting with guns and lightsa - oh, BEAM sabers... totally different thing.

Beam Saber - (n.) Basically a light saber, except not.

So, this is your typically dynasty warriors game - kill tons of things, take over command points, kill some more things. I happen to really love these games. There's something cathartic about destroying a bunch of robots without worrying too much about stats or story. There is a customization aspect to the game, but seeing as your guns don't do too much damage, it basically consists of pumping as many points in to melee as you can. But that's fine. That's perfectly alright. Because this game isn't about being huge and complicated. It's not about getting to know and love the characters (most likely you'll hate them, after hearing the same 3 lines over and over and over and over). It's about hacky slashy fun, and you know what? That's fucking great. After playing Fallout: New Vegas last week, this is a welcome break from character building, weight management, and dps.

If this wasn't enough to make you want this game, then you need help that I can't provide.

The story is basically just a vehicle to explain why the different Mobile Suit pilots are all in the same place when their universes are on split timelines, or from many years apart. So that's really all there is to say there. The sound... Well, the sound effects are good, but man the dialogue is exactly what you'd expect from a hack 'n' slash based on a Japanese manga. So there's that.



The overall game play is pretty simple. Move with left thumb stick, press Square a whole lot, then press Triangle every once in a while for a power attack(or X then Y, depending on your system) with Circle (B) for your unblockable holy shit destroy everything in my immediate vicinity special move. Sure, your thumbs are gonna hate you when you get done, but it's still an easy to master, easy to play game.


Really, there's not much more to say about it, except that it has 3 of the 5 pilots from Gundam Wing - inarguably the best Mobile Suit: Gundam Series - and a whole hell of a lot more characters and a veritable shit ton of mobile suits to try out. Although, if you're buying this game, you're probably playing it for a particular character/mobile suit, so you'll most likely just play that one all the time. Still a great amount of choice, though.

Sure, he looks like a little girl, but his Gundam has a friggin' LASER SCYTHE

So, at the end of the day is this a great game? No. Does it have great story? Nope. Does it have good graphics? Nope. But, is it a ton of fun? Yes. Yes it is.