Onimusha Blade Warriors

The Onimusha saga is ready to introduce you to the way of the warrior?Blade Warriors, that is.

A fighting game from Capcom comes as no surprise, but Onimusha Blade Warriors brings some interesting twists to the genre. In addition to the expected head-to-head battles, the game engine orchestrates melee-style four-character contests across multi-tiered environments. Also, you can build up the martial skills of your chosen champion by playing through the story mode that your fortified fighter can use in regular matches. The gameplay view is 2D, of course, but it unfurls a compelling march down the warrior?s path.

Way of the Warriors
Set in the Onimusha universe of demon-infested old Japan, Blade Warriors assembles an impressive stable of fighting talent. All key characters from Onimusha 1 and 2 are on hand with 14 of them selectable at the get-go. Capcom?s promises a dozen hidden characters from their other games, too, with Mega Man being maybe the most tantalizing. The warrior graphics are sharp: they look very sweet and they fairly capture the visual style of the original games. In Story mode you can play as villain or hero, depending on what fighter you?d like to strengthen. Each one plays through five compact levels set in a scenario in keeping with his, her, or its Onimusha roots. The story mode is a cool way to practice and build skills at the same time, even if it?s brief. (There?s also just enough of a taste of the action/adventure games to keep Onimusha insidiously hungering for the next installment, too.)

You?ll need to work out, too, since the head-to-head contests are fairly vicious. The A.I. is bloodthirsty and gives no quarter; and the animation in this game is fast. Fighting gamers who have been out of practice should prepare for a healthy workout here.

But if you have a four-player adapter multiplayer battles are the way to go. Of course, multi-level swordfests are a mad free-for-all. Most levels consist of three playable tiers, and although you need to practice moving vertically it?s a kick and a half once you get it down. Story mode, head-to-head combat, and the multiplayer melees are like getting three games in one.

Onimusha Tactics
The controls overall are tight with crisp response for the most part. Opponents tend to swarm around you and even in head-to-head mode the A.I. is nimble and sneaky. Sometimes you?re hard pressed to spin quickly around or counter-attack after you take a hit.

There are plenty of weapon skills and magic attacks to master. Fighting game fans should have a field day figuring combos for the diverse range of martial artists. It?s going to take some serious play time to build up all the characters, too. Replay value is high if fighting games are your specialty.

The Last Samurai?
Top-notch fighting games are few and far between. Onimusha Blade Warriors would rank near the top of the class even in the genre?s hey days. If you?ve got the Onimusha itch check this out, and if you haven?t unsheathed a blade in while maybe it?s time to test your skills

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