Dynasty Warriors 2

"Kill people while learning about ancient China."

I like to call this game ''Romance Of The Three Stooges'' because of the sheer amount of chaos going on at any point in this wonderful title from Koei. Hundreds and hundreds of enemies coming at you, and it's up to you to stop them, find their leader, and assassinate him to further your faction's cause.

Gameplay:

You like selectable characters? How about around two dozen from the various warring Chinese provinces? You like mass carnage with an easy and intuitive control scheme? Got you covered. You want to convey your mass destruction with a lance? Or maybe an axe? How about a cutlass or a sabre? Done and done. Oh, you prefer bows and arrows? Every character gets a set of those. Combos, super moves, a Final Fantasy-style rage meter, it's all here.

And speaking of RPGs, DW even has a bit of that thrown in, too. You fight between minor but slickly made cutscenes, and each time you kill a high-ranking officer, you get a permanent power-up to strengthen your character. Here lies the crux of Dynasty Warriors- the gameplay is so smooth and enjoyable, you'll play over and over to get your characters' stats maxed out. It's truly THAT much fun.

Graphics:

This was a PS2 launcher, so don't expect The Bouncer-caliber looks here (don't EVER compare that putrid The Bouncer to DW). Some popup, fogging, and jaggies are to be expected, but on the whole you will not be disappointed. Particularly to be commended are the characters themselves; armor glistening in the noonday sun, hair wafting in the breeze, each and every sword-slash and axe-hack clearly and painstakingly motion captured. And it ain't bad watching the peons' death animation either.

Sound:

Well, Koei's never been known as a musical powerhouse, have they? An above-average score is punctuated, however, with wonderful voicing and sound effects. The crowds swell with battle fury, and your hear their cheers as they race towards you, hungry for the kill. Metal blades and wooden staffs clank and thud menacingly, almost as if in the room with you. Your ears won't be stunned by DW, but they won't be disappointed.

Overall? This was THE PS2 launch title for me. Hours upon hours of running around giant gaming areas, looking for each soldier to whack, generals to thwart, and secret plot points to unearth. If you like your action fast and furious but with a twinge of ancient history, dig deep into Dynasty Warriors. ''For the good of the land!''

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/24/01, Updated 06/24/01