Dynasty Warriors 2

About

Dynasty Warriors 2 follows the first game's formula but adds 3D environments and faster combat. You pick a historical general and fight through stages representing battles from the Three Kingdoms era. Each level lets you tackle enemies in waves, using combos and special attacks. The single-player campaign pushes you toward uniting China, while optional co-op and versus modes add replay value. The game’s open-stage design stands out, unlike linear beat 'em ups, you can explore areas and target enemies anywhere on screen. This freedom made it a hit with critics and fans, earning an 85/100 on Metacritic. Its mix of arcade action and strategic movement helped redefine the genre for early 2000s console players.

Storyline

From this game onward, the player chooses a playable character general, and plays through a number of levels representing particular conflicts in the time of the three kingdoms, eventually defeating both of the other kingdoms and becoming the ruler of a unified China. However this game is not a one-on-one fighting game like the original Dynasty Warriors, but a beat 'em up hack and slash fighting game in full 3D, similar in genre to Fighting Force. Unlike previous games in the beat 'em up genre, Dynasty Warriors 2 allowed players the freedom to roam to any point within the limits of the current stage being played.