Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (ガンダム無双, Gundam Musou, lit. “Gundam Unrivalled”), known as Gundam Musou in Japan, is a series of tactical action video games based on the Gundam anime series. Developed by Omega Force and published by Namco Bandai Games, the series combines the hack-and-slash gameplay of the Dynasty Warriors franchise with the mecha and characters from various Gundam series.

The series consists of four main entries released between 2007 and 2014, making it the first Warriors third-party collaboration title and the first Warriors title developed for the seventh console generation. Unlike the main Dynasty Warriors series, which draws from Chinese history, the Gundam series utilises characters, mobile suits, and storylines from across the extensive Gundam metaseries.

Synopsis

The Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series features two primary gameplay modes across all entries. Official Mode presents canonical storylines from various Gundam series, primarily focusing on the Universal Century timeline with events from Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. Players experience key battles and story moments from these series whilst controlling their favourite mobile suits and pilots.

Original Mode features non-canonical crossover storylines where pilots from different Gundam universes unite to investigate mysterious threats. These scenarios allow for unique team combinations that would never occur in the source material, such as Universal Century pilots working alongside characters from After Colony, Future Century, and Cosmic Era timelines.

The gameplay follows the traditional Warriors formula of one-versus-many combat, where players control powerful mobile suits to defeat hundreds of enemy units whilst completing strategic objectives. However, the series incorporates unique mechanics suited to mecha combat, including ranged beam weapons, aerial mobility using thrusters, and the ability to pilot different mobile suits independent of character choice.

Development

Conception

The concept for Dynasty Warriors: Gundam originated when Bandai Namco sought to create a new genre for the Gundam franchise. Recognising the popularity of Koei’s Warriors games, they contacted the company to develop a Warriors-style game set in the Gundam universe. Despite Koei’s developers requesting supervision regarding the product’s presentation, Bandai assured them to keep the gameplay true to the Warriors genre with minimal alterations.

The collaboration aimed to interest users who might not be familiar with either franchise whilst providing substantial fan service for existing devotees. The “Dynasty Warriors” branding in international markets was likely a marketing strategy to attract Warriors fans outside Japan to the Gundam property.

Production

Omega Force, Koei’s action game development division, handled the series’ development. The team adapted their established Warriors engine to accommodate the unique requirements of mecha combat, including aerial movement, beam weapons, and the larger scale of mobile suit battles.

The first game was developed exclusively for PlayStation 3, making it one of the early titles to utilise the console’s capabilities. Later entries expanded to multiple platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Vita.

Design Philosophy

Unlike traditional Warriors titles where character movesets are determined by the individual fighter, the Gundam series bases combat abilities on the mobile suits themselves. Pilots can learn different skills by operating various mobile suits, with each machine type offering three distinct skills to master. This system reflects the source material’s emphasis on the symbiotic relationship between pilot and machine.

The series evolved visually throughout its run. The first two entries featured realistic graphics, whilst Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 adopted a cel-shaded art style to more closely resemble the anime source material. Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn returned to the realistic visual approach of the earlier games.

Release

Chronological Release

The series launched on 1 March 2007 in Japan with the original Gundam Musou exclusively for PlayStation 3. The game achieved remarkable commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies on its first day—the first PlayStation 3 title to reach this milestone. Within its initial week, it sold more than 171,000 units, representing approximately 70% of its launch shipment.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 released on 18 December 2008 in Japan, followed by North American and European releases in April 2009. The third entry arrived on 16 December 2010 in Japan, with Western releases following in mid-2011. The final entry, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn (known as Shin Gundam Musou in Japan), released on 19 December 2013 in Japan, with international versions arriving in 2014.

International Distribution

The series received consistent international localisation, with all four main entries receiving English releases. However, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn notably became the first Gundam game released in North America without an English audio track, featuring only Japanese voices with English subtitles.

Voice production for the English versions was handled by Ocean Group, with Brad Belden and James Corrigall serving as voice directors. Several notable voice actors reprised their roles from previous Gundam dubs, including Brad Swaile as Amuro Ray and Michael Kopsa as Char Aznable.

Enhanced Editions

Several entries received expanded versions. Gundam Musou Special for PlayStation 2 added new scenarios and mobile suits to the original game. The Japanese Xbox 360 version, titled Gundam Musou International, included both Japanese and English voice options, unlike the original PlayStation 3 Japanese release.

Reception

Critical Response

The series received mixed to positive reviews from critics and players. The original Dynasty Warriors: Gundam was praised for successfully adapting the Warriors formula to the Gundam universe whilst criticised for repetitive gameplay and technical limitations. Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 received particularly harsh criticism from IGN, which cited “repetitive bullshit” and lack of content.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn achieved the most positive reception, with critics praising its comprehensive roster of over 120 mobile suits and refined gameplay mechanics. However, reviews consistently noted that the series primarily appealed to existing fans of both franchises rather than newcomers.

Commercial Performance

The series achieved strong commercial success, particularly in Japan. The original game’s first-day sales milestone demonstrated the appetite for Gundam-themed action games. According to Koei Tecmo’s sales data, the Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series sold more than 2 million units across four games, making it a significant contributor to the broader Warriors franchise’s success.

The series’ commercial performance validated the crossover concept, leading to subsequent Warriors collaborations with other anime and manga properties, including One Piece: Pirate Warriors and Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage.

Fan Reception

Fan response varied significantly between Gundam enthusiasts and Warriors veterans. Gundam fans appreciated the extensive roster of mobile suits and faithful recreation of iconic battles from the anime series. The games’ ability to let players pilot legendary machines like the RX-78-2 Gundam and MSN-04 Sazabi proved particularly popular.

Warriors series fans were more divided, with some appreciating the fresh setting whilst others felt the mecha focus diluted the core Warriors experience. The series’ emphasis on ranged combat and aerial mobility represented significant departures from the traditional ground-based melee focus.

Legacy

Franchise Impact

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam established the template for Warriors crossover titles, demonstrating that the formula could successfully adapt to licensed properties beyond Chinese history. The series’ success directly led to numerous subsequent collaborations, making licensed Warriors games a significant portion of Omega Force’s output.

The series introduced several gameplay innovations that influenced later Warriors titles, including enhanced aerial combat, improved ranged combat options, and the partner system that allowed AI-controlled allies to assist players.

Cultural Significance

The series served as many Western players’ introduction to the broader Gundam franchise beyond the previously available Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. By featuring characters and mobile suits from multiple series, it exposed players to the vast scope of the Gundam metaseries and encouraged exploration of the source material.

The games’ comprehensive fan service, including rare mobile suits and obscure characters, demonstrated the commercial viability of niche anime game content in Western markets. This approach influenced subsequent anime game localisations and development strategies.

Technological Legacy

As one of the early PlayStation 3 titles, the original Dynasty Warriors: Gundam helped establish visual and technical standards for mecha games on high-definition consoles. The series’ evolution across console generations showcased the improving capabilities of game hardware, from the original’s realistic graphics to the cel-shaded experimentation of the third entry.

Series Entries

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (2007)

The original entry established the series’ core concepts, featuring six playable characters from the Universal Century timeline in Official Mode and crossover scenarios in Original Mode. Notable for including mobile suits from Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, ZZ Gundam, G Gundam, Gundam Wing, and Turn A Gundam.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 (2008)

The second entry expanded the roster significantly and introduced mobile armors as boss enemies, including the massive Psycho Gundam MK III. Featured improved AI and added mobile suits from additional series whilst refining the combat system.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 (2010)

The third entry adopted cel-shaded graphics to more closely resemble the anime source material. Introduced the partner system, mission variety, and friendship mechanics. Notable for including content from Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn (2013)

The final entry returned to realistic graphics whilst featuring the largest roster in the series with over 120 mobile suits. Introduced burst modes, combination attacks, and space battles. Included content from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, and other recent series.

Credits

Development Team

Directors: Takahiro Sasanoi (original), Yoshitaka Gotō (Reborn)
Producers: Hisashi Koinuma, Yoshitaro Goto, Hidefumi Komino
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Mechanical Design: Hajime Katoki (Musha Gundam designs)

Voice Cast

Character	English Voice Actor	Japanese Voice Actor
Amuro Ray	Brad Swaile	Tōru Furuya
Char Aznable	Michael Kopsa	Shūichi Ikeda
Kamille Bidan	Jonathan Lachlan-Stewart	Nobuo Tobita
Judau Ashta	Brad Swaile	Kazuki Yao

Appearances

Dynasty Warriors Gundam characters
Dynasty Warriors Gundam episodes
Dynasty Warriors Gundam mecha
Dynasty Warriors Gundam factions
Dynasty Warriors Gundam vehicles
Dynasty Warriors Gundam vessels

External links

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam on Koei Wiki
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam on The Gundam Wiki
Omega Force official website