Onimusha is one of the star names of the current generation of consoles and one of Capcom’s most popular franchises in the East and West. It’s one of Capcom’s most popular franchises in the East and West. His three major episodes for PlayStation 2, Onimusha: Warlords, Samurai’s Destiny, and Demon Siege (as well as Genma Onmiusha for Xbox) were synonymous with quality and unbridled action from the spring of 2001 to the last summer of 2004. When we were on the verge of a new delivery in a domestic version, we were able to test the third part of the saga which was converted to PC.
The game story
Onimusha tells the story of the Genma, demonic warriors of 16th century feudal Japan ready to destroy the world; and of course, it tells the story of the brave samurai who face them and their leaders. Nobunaga, once a powerful fallen warrior, makes a pact with the Genma, who place themselves at their service in exchange for their return to life. His expansion plans were cut short by Samanosuke Akechi, a very young swordsman who defeated Nobunaga and his teacher.
Years later, it would be young Yubei who would face the reincarnation of the evil lord, using all his power to defeat him. But once again fate is placed in Samanosuke’s hands when Nobunaga returns reincarnated as the Lord of Genma. As his uncle lays siege to the Honnoji temple, Akechi hurries to meet him in order to defeat evil once again. But in the middle of the contest, a hole opens up in the ground and Samanosuke appears…in Paris!
Takeshi Kaneshiro plays a perplexed Samanosuke in the French capital in the 21st century, as the Genma destroy the city step by step. On his arrival, it is time to save the life of a local policeman, Jacques Blanc (played by Jean Reno), cornered by monsters. At this point, Jacques disappears through another temporary hole and the two heroes, each in the other’s house and temporary space, will have to manage to survive.
Onimusha 3 is a classic third-person action game with a predefined camera of the many we are used to seeing in the console? and those missing on the PC. It’s not as similar to Samurai Warriors 4, but games like Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Ninja Gaiden, and many others look like Onimusha, but the theme is different. Fundamentally, the game’s objective is to eliminate the immense number of enemies coming out in front of us by making good use of our command combinations.
Takeshi Kaneshiro as Samanosuke Akechi
And I say command because we are facing a clear case of a 1:1 port (even on the home screen it says ‘Press Start’ and some interior indications, in the English version, refer to ‘Pulse R1 + X’) of a console, raised in resolution and preserving the same quality. Essentially, the game is the same, almost point by point, and was intended for driving with a pad and not the keyboard. We made it impossible to control it with the keys and had to connect a PS2 controller to its USB adapter and remap the buttons to move forward decently.
Jean Reno as Jacques Blanc
We’re waiting to see what the final version has in a few weeks, but we have a feeling we’ll be forced to repeat our analysis of last year’s halves due to the immense similarity between the two versions. In any case, and although this is not a title optimized for the PC, those who only have a compatible one as a means of entertainment will appreciate the initiative to distribute this type of game ‘outside their natural environment’.
Game development
The game’s development is almost absolutely linear. Throughout the adventure, we will alternate between one hero and the other with the detail that everything done in the past significantly affects the future. This means that certain actions with Jacques will facilitate Samanosuke’s future work. Contact through the two heroes is made by a fairy named Ako, capable of transporting herself from one moment to the next and informing the companion of the course of events.
As in other Onimusha, Akechi will have a range of weapons at his disposal apart from his lifelong sword. Each of them is imbued with the power of an element and has particular characteristics: speed, damage, etc. Jacques first receives the powerful Oni whip, capable of doing enough damage from a distance and even catching his enemies. In any case, a few other weapons will also be available for him to obtain later in the game.
Weapons
Weapons and armor can increase their level of effectiveness thanks to the absorption of souls. By destroying an enemy, it releases several spheres that can and must be absorbed by our magic glove. As we absorb spheres, a meter is filled with which we can impregnate our equipment, including the same glove (which will serve to increase the speed of soul absorption.
As if that were not enough, and with certain firearms and at a distance that our friends have, by accumulating a certain number of spheres, we can invoke the Oni we carry inside, both like Jacques and Samanosuke. L39;Oni is an immortal warrior of incredible power but lasting only a few seconds in which we will be invulnerable. The use of Oni is crucial for certain moments of combat when its use can make the difference between surviving or perishing.
Game Items
Like Resident Evil, distributed throughout the map, there are herbs and medicines to cure our health. Hidden behind some covers closed by a puzzle we will also find jewels that will help us increase the life and magic points of our characters. These puzzles can be tried as many times as necessary and are not overly difficult, except perhaps in very advanced stages of the game.
Game Graphics
The game shows off its high-resolution graphical advantages, although the videos are all at 640 x 480. However, it is worth noting carefully the introductory scene, nearly 6 minutes long, that when it doesn’t run automatically, we discover it in the video folder. Here we contemplate what may be one of the best animated action scenes of recent years, developed by ROBOT, which is a pleasure to see and contemplate again and again.
Preset cameras pose almost no problems, as there are virtually no blind spots during gameplay. Character control is sublime and very precise, especially with the pad, and it’s only at certain moments that there are noticeable slowdowns. Some final bosses, moreover, occupy several high screens, and the effects display is impressive on every level. We are faced with a game that looks good but moves better.
Sound
Wrapping the sound for the teams that have it and dubbing is more than acceptable to the English of all the characters that appear on screen. Sound effects such as growls, swords, magic of all kinds, explosions, soul absorption, steel collisions, wood collapsing, etc.It is perfectly recreated and it’s really a pleasure to see how it introduces us to the action.
Going forward in Onimusha is not an overly difficult task, but what is said to dominate it is another song. As there is no jump button and we only have one attack key (and one magic key), the game rewards by knowing when to attack and when to block. In this way, it is possible to anticipate an enemy blow by counter-attacking before receiving it ourselves, in fractions of a second, or to block just at the moment of reception to gain an advantage in the next move.
Creativity and Game AI
Onimusha is also a pattern-learning game; enemies almost always act the same way, and it is essential to know their attack patterns in order to anticipate them. Facing the enemy, something we strongly recommend mapping the R1 or L1 button on our pad and moving is essential to succeed in our advancement. In addition, using different directions in the left analog will perform various attacks.
Wrapping Up
Onimusha is a great action game and we’re celebrating its move to PC even though it’s 18 months after its PS2 departure. It’s true that we’re dealing with a console game designed for console gamers, but it’s always good news that compatible users have the opportunity to enjoy what has been one of the best hardcore action games ever seen. We’re counting down the days to launch.
