Dynasty Warriors Vol.2 is the second game in the long-running Dynasty Warriors series explicitly released for the PSP. Like its predecessor, the game retells the story from Luo Guangzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms by allowing the player to control an officer from the Wu, Wei, or Shu kingdoms during the most pivotal conflicts in each kingdom’s storyline. Dynasty Warriors 5 inspired the playable characters and their appearance.
Each scenario contains branching stages that can be unlocked by replaying the scenario but taking a different path. After then, each combat can be played in accessible mode.
The battles occur on a map divided into several smaller sections. These locations could be allied or hostile encampments, supply depots, or open fields. The player must move from area to area, joining a battlefield only when the site is under enemy control or is under attack by the enemy army. Defeating enemy officers and squads until their troop’s morale reaches zero will liberate the area, occasionally offering incentives such as supplies, which contribute to the overall length of the combat, reveal hidden locations, or refill some health.
Before each stage, the player can equip a new weapon and mount and select up to four generic officers to follow the chosen character. Each officer has a level, rank, squadron troops, and special powers that will affect the battle’s outcome. The player character’s command stat determines the chosen officer. If the command number is 30, officers with a combined level of 30 can be selected.
In battle, the player must defeat as many enemies as possible by mixing regular and charge strikes and releasing the series’ distinctive Musou attack. Different weapons enable more combination attacks and more potent attacks. The character will collect experience and level up by defeating foes. However, the level is reset between battles, and the obtained expertise is transformed into points, which are then used to advance the officers’ ranks. When the winning conditions of a stage are completed, the army is declared victor; however, if the player character is defeated, supplies run out, or the main camp is taken, the game is finished. After winning a fight, the player is rewarded with new officers and weapons or horses.
Completing the Musou mode unlocks new playable characters. Depending on the scenario and battles won other characters become available.
Aside from the Musou (Story) mode, the game has a Freeway and a Multiplayer option. The Multiplayer mode supports up to four players Ad Hoc and includes games such as Bombs Away, Battle Royal, Time Attack, and Sudden Death.
