Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2

Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2 (真・三國無双 2nd Evolution, Shin Sangokumusou 2nd Evolution) is a sequel to Dynasty Warriors (PSP). It has all the characters in Dynasty Warriors 5. The map system is still the same, with the battle field sperated into different sections that must be traversed in order to reach the enemy's main base.

Gameplay
Identical to other Dynasty Warriors games, the game characters and models are all from Dynasty Warriors 5, but it includes new features and some from Dynasty Warriors (PSP), including multiplayer fight up to 4 players and the ability to trade officers wirelessly with other players. In addition, Vol. 2 fixes the HUD problem found in the original Dynasty Warriors PSP title.

Like the previous Dynasty Warriors PSP title, the game features unique characters from the Samurai Warriors series as special bodyguards. In this game, the characters and their models are taken from Samurai Warriors 2. Some characters who originally appeared in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI reuse their portraits and act as guest characters in the game, but majority of the non-playable officers will still use their portrait from Romance of the Three Kingdoms X. Additionally, some officers who do not appear in name, may have their portraits given to other characters (e.g: Hao Meng's portrait being given to Zhongli Mei)

Unlike the Dynasty Warriors series' console iterations, the map is divided into a grid system. Each grid contains enemy troops that will retreat if their morale bar hits 0. Sometimes it is necessary to defeat the enemy officers before the enemy retreats. Each stage usually has two winning conditions, each of which will lead to another possible battle stage. In this way, the story can be quite different each time you play.

The player will earn extra officers after each map is completed. More officers can be gained by either completing a certain character's Musou Mode, obtaining 100% in a stage or clearing an entire faction's stages 100%. As the player unlocks more and more officers, the player has a very wide range of characters to choose from as subordinates, with lots of different advantages and costs. The player can only have between 1 and 4 officers in battle at the same time, depending on the rank of the officers. The player earns more officer command points after each level up.

Some officers only cost 1 command point, but some of the more famous officers cost above the 20 command point mark. Some officers also have special skills you can use by choosing the officer with the D-Pad and then pressing Right on the D-Pad. Most effects are similar to the old 'spoils of war' in previous games, such as replenish musou bar or attack up for 30 seconds. The special abilities can be used every time a star is present on the character's name. The star will then turn into a red circle, which is gradually filled with white, until it becomes a star again.

Stages
Each kingdom (Wei, Wu, Shu, and Other) has its own unique stage map. The path each player takes through the levels depends on conditions met in each level: the levels have either one or two conditions, of which one must be met for victory. The player begins with a limited number of levels; additional levels will be unlocked during gameplay.

Multiple levels have a hidden treasure trove (some may have two) and/or a "village mission" that the player may rescue during gameplay. Doing so will help achieve total completion of a stage. Doing so may require the player to play the stage more than once as there may be more than one way to achieve victory.

Treasure Trove areas are hidden from the map, and will only appear after conquering specific tiles. Once the player enters one, it is required that you to defeat a strong "Bonus" enemy officer to take control of the trove. The "Bonus" officers are characters from Samurai Warriors 2, various Chinese historical figures, and characters from the novel, Water Margin. If you defeat them quickly they will join you. You can only battle in a treasure trove once per battle. After the initial battle, returning to the trove will trigger nothing.

Village Missions on the other hand involve defeating a certain number of bandits or defending villagers or mayors in a minute. Sometimes the mission can be to defeat the bandit leader. If the mission fails, the village is lost, and the player cannot complete that mission again without reverting to an older save, or playing the map again.