Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3, known in Japan as , is a tactical action video game based on the Gundam anime series and the sequel to 2008's Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2. It was developed by Omega Force and published by Bandai Namco. The game was revealed in the September issue of Famitsu and was released on December 16, 2010 in Japan, June 28, 2011 in North America, July 1, 2011 in Europe, and July 12, 2011 in Australia.
Gameplay
From previous Dynasty Warriors titles
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 follows in the style of previous Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors games as an action-oriented hack and slash with some tactical elements. Despite their similar heritage, Koei's Gundam titles have unique gameplay mechanics that help set them apart from Koei's core Dynasty Warriors series. For example: players are given more ranged combat options than in other Dynasty Warriors games, although melee combat is still the focus of the game. Also, units in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 are much more mobile, using their thrusters to dash, jump in mid-air, and (for some) even fly.
However, the greatest difference between Koei's Gundam titles (of which there are currently three) and Koei's Dynasty Warriors series is the core content: rather than using characters and story from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the games draw their material from across the various Mobile Suit Gundam anime and manga series.
From previous Dynasty Warriors: Gundam titles
This Gundam title features a new, cel-shaded graphical style that brings the series visually closer to its animated roots, along with a new streamlined HUD that minimizes screen clutter. The enemy A.I. (a commonly criticized weak point in the Dynasty Warriors franchise) has been revamped, with enemy units now gaining the ability to reinforce and support each other in combat. Original mode has been put back in the game along with several teams (Amuro, Setsuna, Kou, and Kira). Mission Mode has been expanded upon but rather than being one singular game mode it has been split into seven varieties:
History missions – reenacts events from the original Gundam series. Unlike previous titles, these type of missions are available for the Universal Century-based story arcs -excluding Char's Counterattack- and alternate universes (Wing, X, G, Turn A, Seed Destiny and 00). Collection missions – lets players seek designs for a category of MS, such as Zeon types, red colored MS, and others. Memorial missions – when the player has reached certain milestones, such as shooting down 10,000 enemy units, these type of missions appear. They allow the player to obtain rare plans for their MS or rare pilot skills. Challenge missions – difficult tasks for the player to put their skills to the test. Friendship missions – opens the door for meeting other pilots by categorizing various characters into select missions. The players can choose to only fight alongside women, mobile fighters, or other such types of groups. Relation missions – missions that boost the player's relationship rating with other pilots. Special missions – if the player is low on gold, they can partake in these missions to get more.
Relationships are built in tiers (levels one to five) and building friendships with other characters has the ability to affect the player's character. Various actions, such as partnering with a character, will increase a character's relationship. Unlike the second game, relationship values do not decrease. When a character reaches a specific level of friendship, it can unlock new partners, power up the character's MS, or allow more operators for the player's character to select. The specific characters who affect these changes are shown as icons on the relationship level chart for the player's character. Additionally, creating various friendships is needed to unlock new missions.
There are over 300 different missions in this mode.