Dynasty Warriors 2

"3D Final Fight meats the Three Kingdoms"

This was the first game I got for my PS2, and while it may be looked over for other, more hyped games, this one is simply fun to play.

The game is based apon the Romance of the three Kingdoms, which was the story of 3 kingdoms who want to rule all of China (and who does not?). Set in around 200 AC, the games warriors use weapons that fit the time (Swords, Axes, spears, etc). You pick one of over 20 warriors, split between the 3 kingdoms (and a few rouge ones, like Lu Bu). From there, you head out onto the ultimate battlefield...

Unlike Final Fight, where its just you against a series of enemies, the game puts you on a giant field filled with enemies, friends, and items to find. If you've ever played RTS's like Starcraft, then imagine this. Instead of playing the grand commander of you forces, you are just one little man who gets to experience the chaos (and I mean CHAOS) first hand. Don't worry, your much more powerful then half of the chaps out there, most of them you can kill in 2-4 hits.

Put what would be the challenge if your job was to move from one part of the field to the other, killing hoards of super weak 'warriors'. As you make you path through the battle, you will run into enemies that look and act different from the other enemies. These are other warriors like you, and when killed, will drop little swords or shields for you to pick up.

These swords and shields bring a type of RPG character growth to the game. When you pick these up, they increase your stats, like attacking and defense. The more powerful the enemy, the more stat points you get. These upgrades come in forms of 1,2,4,8 points a piece. After a while, you'll begin to notice just how much these help.

So you've just finished the battle, and now its time for you evaluation. The game gives you points based on how many people you killed (this number will sometimes range between 300-1000), notable enemies (the ones that dropped the upgrades, remember), and how fast you finished the mission. These points go towards raising you rank in your kingdom, giving you access to more soldiers for your own private force (you start with 2, but can get 8 later on).

Graphics 8/10

For a PS2 launch title, these are pretty good. Soldiers are well detailed (For once, to honor Washington, you can see the whites of their eyes before you kill them!). And the battle animations are incredibly solid.

Sound 8/10

The game uses Techno/Something from some group in Japan/China/God knows where for the game, and it sets the pace very well. Sound effects, on the other hand, get very repetitive (prepare to here the same death cry from you victims over and over again...).

Control 9/10

This is solid. The buttons have a very good jump/attack/special feel to them, and you'll rarely throw your Dual Shock at the screen for problems in this area. Blocking attacks, however, is hell, but you won't do much of that anyway...

Edutainment 9/10

What better way to learn about the conquest of Cao Cao then to play as one of his generals (or himself, when you unlock him), and help him take control of the country!!! The game however, does have the problem of, what if you beat the game with one the 2 kingdoms that did not win it...

Depth 6/10

Once you max one characters stats, that is it. Not much left to do in the game...

Overall 8/10

A strong game, but not the greatest. Would make a good rental. If you really like the 3 Kingdoms, or Final Fight-like games, then you should like this game...

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/20/02, Updated 04/20/02