Koei answers the PS2 Launch Day challenge with Dynasty Warriors 2, placing you at the head of massive feudal Chinese armies. Epic in scale and scope, DW2 should usher in a new age for action/fighting/simulation gaming. Dynasty Warriors 2 offers you a chance to be a true hero, charging into battle with hundreds of screaming, well-trained warriors as you command military campaigns to establish your presence in ancient China. You can choose from nine badass warriors, each wielding their own unique weapons, and lead that warrior's armies into battle. Your chosen warrior will be backed by a bunch of other powerful generals, and you'll have to work with them carefully if you want to succeed. You can't just charge into the fray and hope to tear the enemy infidels apart on your own. You need to keep in mind that strength is in numbers; set ambushes, pick your targets, and your army will rise to victory. The original Dynasty Warriors was a fighting game for PlayStation, and this sequel carries some of that flair. Your warrior has several moves and combos at his or her disposal, and attack, defense, and health power-ups pop up from time to time to ease your pain. Make no mistake, DW2 is a wild, chaotic, and intense strategy game as much as it is an action title, so those of you who've always wanted to be a war hero can strap on some armor and get to it. The first thing that will hit you when you play DW2 is the sheer number of warriors onscreen. It's like there's a huge battle going on, and you're right in the middle of it, with arrows flying, soldiers fighting, and horse-mounted generals charging into the fray. A few graphical glitches aside (the camera getting blocked by the characters, some flicker in close-up fighters), DW2 will keep your PS2 busy with frantic, detailed, and colorful graphics. Note that there is no blood to speak of in this title; Koei has decided to keep the game rated Teen, to expand the potential audience. Unless you were a huge fan of the theme song to Beverly Hills 90210, you'll quickly opt to turn the in-game music down. The generic and bland guitar-rock chops just don't go with the old Chinese theme. The sounds of battle work well enough, but you'll probably end up making your own war noises as you play, spitting out taunts at cocky enemies who keep coming at you, regardless of your 600+ kills. DW2 boasts some of the smoothest controls in an action title of this sort, giving you almost complete control of the action. While your hero's combos carry momentum, you can direct them to an extent, so that you don't just charge off in a direction if you bash the buttons too hard. The close-up camera makes it difficult to see what's coming up behind you, forcing you to run in wide circles around the camera to get a glimpse. Still, the radar system works well for identifying threats and watching the tide of battle shift. If you've ever really wanted to be a hero, in that epic, manly Braveheart sense of the word, then Dynasty Warriors 2 will be right up your alley. With long, exhausting battles and a real sense of victory when you win, armchair generals will find a lot to like.
