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PS2 | Action | Onimusha: Warlords

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 03/14/2001
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Mature
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21 screen shots

GRAPHICS: 4.5
SOUND: 5.0
CONTROL: 4.0
FUN FACTOR 5.0
AVG USER SCORE 4.3
AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.5

Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

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Review: Onimusha: Warlords

Review by MAJORMIKE | 07/14/2005 | 12:09:27 PM PST

Onimusha: Warlords meets the hype that's been heaped upon it in the past few months and delivers one of the best games for the New Year.

After a less-than-stellar launch lineup, the Play-Station 2 gets an A-title created exclusively for the system with Onimusha: Warlords--a remarkable action-adventure offering. Not only is Onimusha graphically stunning, but the extensive character techniques and engrossing story line will keep gamers glued for hours.

Razor-Sharp Narrative
Onimusha follows a linear narrative that mixes fact and fiction. Set in 1560 Feudal Japan, you assume the role of Samanosuke, a lone samurai warrior out to rescue a kidnapped princess from the evil warlord Nobunaga and his monster army. Armed with a gauntlet and three elemental powers that can be powered up to unleash devastating special attacks, Samanosuke must also solve various puzzles that range from simple to frustrating. You also control a second character Kaede, a female ninja, at certain points during the game. A strong narrative--complete with well-scripted dialogue--moves the action along and keeps the quest compelling every step of the way. Several secrets can also be unlocked, depending on how you finish the game, and add excellent replay value.

Honorable Sights and Sounds
Onimusha's visual scheme most resembles that of a Resident Evil title: Pre-rendered environments and forced camera angles. The scheme works well, here, although the slight pause when you travel from one screen to the other can become annoying--especially when hacking away at multiple enemies and your timing gets thrown off. Yet, for detailed splendor, Onimusha delivers the goods with a garden variety of visual effects, including blazing fires, smoking weapons, waving flags, splattering blood, and no gameplay slowdown--even when the screen's filled with activity. Populating these environments are rotting samurai zombies, axe-wielding ogres, gigantic bosses, and other creatures along with item-containing breakable objects that blend seamlessly into the surroundings.

An awesome audio track is a perfect match for the graphics. The soundtrack is rife with atmos-pheric effects such as the wet slap of slashed flesh and various explosions. The voices also shine with well-cast voice talent and an option that allows toggling between Japanese and English spoken dialogue and onscreen text will appeal to purist gamers. The excellent music score is comprised of sweeping symphonies and soft melodies complete the audio package.

All This and Technique, Too
Although the visual eye candy is one of Onimusha's biggest strengths, it doesn't steal the show. The real star is the actual gameplay--especially the various character techniques that elevate this above the usual mindless hack-n-slash formula. Samanosuke and Kaede can execute several offensive and defensive moves--including fatal counter moves--and use various weapons, including bows, throwing knives, and even firearms. The various fighting techniques get some good use, too, as the enemies arrayed against you are imbued with an advanced A.I. and take more than maniacal button mashing to put down. There aren't many health items in Onimusha, and often times the only way to heal Samanosuke is by absorbing life energy from de-feated foes. However, if you wait too long the energy will disappear, so you must pace yourself during a fight.

Tight controls keep the various character abilities in firm command. The various techniques quickly become second nature, but the auto aiming doesn't always hone in on the nearest target and results in unintentionally attacking the wrong enemy; it's also easy to lock-on to breakable objects.

Samurai Sunday
Onimusha's minor deficiencies are easily swept aside once the action begins and the story takes hold. Here's one game that does honor to both gamers and the PlayStation 2.