Dynasty Warriors 2

"Yeah...so I killed 4700 people today..."

KOEI has always been a company that has given gamers a taste of strategy in the form of something action-based. In Dynasty Warriors 2, KOEI picks up and does what the first Dynasty Warriors on the original Playstation should have done: Put you in the middle of a massive battlefield and make you fight your way out. It's damn near perfect in every way.

Set in 3rd century China, you take the role of one of China's greatest legendary warriors in an attempt to make history. Giving you several different characters to control, it's an adrenaline rush from beginning to end.

-Visuals 9/10-

Clear, crisp and full of detail, DW 2 plants you in the middle of a civil war, rich with enemy characters to fight off, and different environments to fight through. From the wood wall cities of a rebellion uprising to the snowy fields and mountains, you'll see that PS2 takes full advantage of it's visual capabilities with falling snow, flying arrows, intense battle sequences and up to 30 characters moving, fighting and dying on screen.

-Audio 9/10-

Staying away from orchestra music slow moving tones, DW 2 offers you a fast paced, almost dance type music soundtrack to battle with. Sound effects include clashing swords, falling bodies and horses galloping through the battlefield. You'll find that a good stereo hook-up will bring through a battlefield sound matching that of Braveheart battle scenes.

-Control 9/10-

Precise to the button press, you'll find that battling through a horde of on-coming enemies is easy enough to accomplish. You have a basic attack, a heavy attack a jump and then a special move button which allows you to clear a swath through numerous surrounding enemies. Anyone can use it, from the veteran gamer to the beginning novice.

-Gameplay 9/10-

It's an action game, short and simple. You're pit against outlandish odds, in which you have to be quick on your fingers, and able to get through various bosses that permeate the stages in the form of Generals of the opposing force. With that being said, it's kill or be killed, and along the way you can build up your character status from just a frontline warrior to a General in just a few short stages.

Two modes include Free Mode, which allows you to build up a character of your choice to use in the Questing Mode. By selecting one of several stages {assuming you go through Quest Mode} you can make your warrior a heavy hitter capable of killing off an entire army. The Questing Mode allows you to play through the stages as a story, going through different sections of the land in different situations. Something that will get some players, is that it's not all hack and slash. Get too far from your back-up and you'll find yourself wasted in a circle of enemy soldiers.

-Overall 9/10-

KOEI does an amazing job with Dynasty Warriors 2 that can make people forget that the first Dynasty Warriors was ever made. Amazing visuals, awesome sound, precise control and hack/slash gameplay mixed in with some minimal strategy makes this game a must get for *any* action gamer who owns a PS2. Add this all in with the fact that there are several hidden character to unlock, and you have a game that will be well played for months to come.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/03/01, Updated 05/03/01