Video Game Vintage Title: Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, originally released in Japan as Gundam Musou , is a video game based on the Gundam anime series. It was developed by Koei and published by Namco Bandai. Its gameplay is derived from Koei's popular Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series. 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, 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.

The game was originally released on March 1, 2007 in Japan 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. 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.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Plot

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).

ReceptionOn 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. Japanese game magazine Famitsu gave the game a total score of 33 out of 40.

English reviews have been either lukewarm or mixed with an average critic rating of 64% for the PS3 version and 60% for the Xbox 360 and Game Informer giving it a 5 out of 10. X-Play of G4 Tech TV Gave the game a solid rate of 3 out of 5 star, while GameTrailers.com gave the game 5.3 in average. Finally, IGN gave the game a score of 6.8 out of 10 and Eurogamer gave the game a score of 8 out of 10.

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