Significantly better than its predecessor, DW:G3 is a much-needed breath of fresh air for Tecmo Koei's spin-off series.

Developer: Tecmo Koei

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Release date: December 16 2010 (JP), June 28 2011 (NA), July 1 2011 (EU), July 12 2011 (AU)

Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3

Genre: Beat ‘em up

Dynasty Warriors and Gundam. The genius who conceptualized the merging of two of Japan's two most popular franchises must have known exactly who he was aiming the Dynasty Warriors: Gundam games at. Chances are that if you're reading this, you've had some hands-on experience with at least one of the above. And if you haven't, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 provides the perfect excuse to get some now.

For those unfamiliar with the subject matter, Gundam (or Mobile Suit Gundam) is an immensely popular Japanese anime show that first aired in the 1980's. The series originally revolved around giant robots armed to the teeth, with Amuro Ray; a rookie Mobile Suit pilot; taking centerstage in each episode as he tangled with the forces of the Principality of Zeon. Dynasty Warriors: Gundam looks at what happens when the gameplay of Tecmo Koei's beat 'em up meets the towering Mobile Suits of Gundam. For Gundam fans, this already sounds like a beautiful combination. And for the most part it is. While DW:G3 does have a few minor flaws, it is a solid game on the whole that makes good use of the Gundam license whilst improving upon the lacklustre experience delivered by its predecessor.

Perhaps the most obvious flaw of the game is its 'story'. To call this a 'story' is dubious in fact, because it really isn't a story at all – it's a bizarre bit of fan service that's gone horribly, horribly wrong. The game premise presents the player with a scenario in which key characters from each Gundam series have been transported to an alternate dimension previously unknown to them. Key figures such as military leaders Milliardo Peaceraft and Paptimus Scirocco quickly begin establishing their own factions whilst rallying the less charismatic characters to join their ranks as they prepare for all-out war with one another. Although the characters' mannerisms seem to have made it from anime to game intact, there are several scenes towards the end where characters seem to be completely out of character, often taking actions that seem inconsistent with their long-term goals.

DW:G3 does win points for its comical factor. The conversations that pilots share in the heat of battle are often filled with statements and responses that have little to no relevance to each other, or replies that are downright out of place. A typical conversation might start with "It's because of people like you that this war will never end! Go to Hell!" the response to which is "Ooohh I know what I want! A chocolate parfait!". Even if the story were actually good, it would still be nearly impossible to take it seriously with dialogue of this nature.

As with all Dynasty Warriors games, the core gameplay comes down to wading through a sea of baddies whilst forging a path to the enemy commander, the defeat of whom ends the battle in the player's favour. Three types of attacks enable the player to make quick work of anyone standing in their way. Normal attacks are indispensable when the player needs to land a quick strike on an opponent, setting them up for a Charge attack or a Musou attack, the latter of which rendering the player's Mobile Suit impervious to enemy action as it unleashes a plethora of powerful, sustained attacks. When things get hairy, it's possible to call your wingman for backup. Upon acknowledging the player's request for support, the pilot lands within the player's immediate vicinity and begins suppressing nearby foes, giving the player a chance to mount a counterattack or escape. Thanks to the vastly improved AI, this becomes an integral part of the game on higher difficulties. A slight variation on this formula unique to the Gundam spin-off is the presence of Fields. You can't just waltz into the enemy's main camp and take down their commander. The player is tasked with securing a series of pre-defined areas on the map before the enemy commander will make an appearance on the battlefield. Capturing Fields adjacent to one another is the only way to trigger the commander's appearance, which adds a degree of strategic depth to the game not found in previous titles. Some fields are situated around military facilities that reward their owner with certain benefits, such as regenerating health or a long range weapon that rains fire down upon enemy-occupied Fields at regular intervals. Some battles can get particularly intense as enemy forces encircle the player's HQ field before advancing from all directions, at which point the sense of urgency grows significantly. It's a nice touch that gives DW:G3 what DW:G2 lacked, strategic play. Following the end of a successful mission is the opportunity for the player to use blueprints dropped by defeated adversaries in battle to produce new Mobile Suits.

However, the most distinguishing feature of DW:G3's gameplay is the player's ability to interact with other pilots outside of combat, between missions in a sort of centralized hub. The player can receive messages from other pilots, purchase new Parts with which to customize their Mobile Suits and new receive additional Skills to enhance a pilot's abilities and take on a series of missions of varying types. Some of these missions are related to the main story, while others are designed for specific purposes such as enabling the player to become closer 'friends' with a pilot, eventually enabling them to play as that character once their friendship levels exceeds a certain threshold. In many ways, DW:G3 feels like an MMO, which actually seems to mesh very well with the game's narrative, even if the said narrative is a jumbled mess. Most of the missions boil down to tracking down the enemy commander and eliminating him from the battlefield. With the exception of those tied to the main story, each mission is randomly generated, meaning that the player could be facing anyone and anything when they dive into a battle.

Fans of Gundam will be pleased to know that DW:G3 spoils them for choice with a huge pilot roster and Mobile Suit roster. Expect to see characters and suits from almost every Gundam series published (including some characters who never actually piloted a Mobile Suit before). Each time the player returns from a successful mission, their selected pilot's stats increase, enhancing their melee and ranged combat skills. It's worth mentioning that it's also possible to simply contact certain characters and have them raise the parameters of one's chosen pilot for a fee.

The Mobile Suits have been rendered in a cel-shaded graphical style that gives them an 'anime feel'. This and the addition of a bloom effect applied to some of the suits attacks are both nice, subtle touches that make DW:G3's graphics marginally better than those of DW:G2. Although quite a few music tracks from the previous games have been re-used here, DW:G3 also has some new pieces up its sleeve, with 'Esperance' being particularly memorable for its upbeat nature. As the tide of each battle shifts to and fro, into and out of the player's favour, the music adjusts itself accordingly, shaping itself around the battle.

If you've never played a Dynasty Warriors game before, DW:G3 is the perfect place to start. On the other hand, if you're a long-time Dynasty Warriors/Gundam fan who wanted to see what the next instalment in the DW:G series has to offer, you'll be pleased to know that you won't be disappointed. Just don't take the ludicrous plot too seriously, and you're bound to enjoy the game from start to finish.

Rating: 90/100