AbstractHorrid creatures continue to massacre local villages, and it seems nothing can stop them. One young Samurai, Jubei Yagyu, has vowed to stop the spread of evil before it's too late. Play as Yagyu as you master the Yagyu Shinkage style of fighting. You'll have the option of choosing a partner to accompany you or going it alone, and either decision will yield original storylines taking you through dark forests, old towns, and even gold mines. There are plenty of cutscenes and awesome voice acting to keep the 3D adventure realistic.
ESRB rating
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Blood and Gore, Violence |
Full descriptionAnother village has been brutalized by a host of ghastly creatures. Ten years after Samanosuke Akechi battled a resurrected demon lord in Onimusha, Nobunaga has returned to terrify and oppress innocents across the country. Fortunately a young samurai, Jubei Yagyu, has noticed the spread of evil and resolved to battle the demonic forces wherever he finds them.
The famous Japanese actor Yusaku Matsuda, best known in the U.S. for the 1989 movie Black Rain, was the model for Jubei Yagyu. Matsuda died in 1989 of cancer, but returns for a starring role in Onimusha 2. Capcom also hired Keita Amamiya as character designer, director, and illustrator to insure a high-quality product. Onimusha 2 includes twice as many cut-scenes as the original, and the quality of these cut-scenes has been dramatically improved. Action stars were hired to add additional realism.
Jubei is noticeably more powerful than his predecessor, Samanosuke. Jubei has a new set of devastating moves called "Ohgi," or "esoteric fighting," and is the master of the Yagyu Shinkage style. Players have the option of choosing a partner from four available fighters (who gain experience and unique moves along with Jubei), or going solo. Fighting alone is much more difficult, but the option is included for those experienced players searching for a stiff challenge.
More emphasis has been placed on storytelling, which includes realistic historical snippets, and the gameplay allows multiple storylines depending on player decisions. Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny takes advantage of the PlayStation 2's impressive graphics capabilities. Gameplay still takes place against pre-rendered backgrounds, but the character animations have been updated to take full advantage of the PS2's abilities. New environments include the town of Imasho, the sacred shrine of the Oni Clan, foggy gorges, secluded forests, a gold-rush town, caves, and a remote gold mine. The soundtrack boasts music from the famous composer Taro Iwashiro.
The Onimusha saga continues in Onimusha 2. Set 13 years after the original game, Onimusha 2 features a new cast of characters.
Yagyuu Juyuubei, a traveling swordsman, has returned to his hometown only to find it under siege. The aggressor is none other than Nobunaga Oda, the same undead warlord who plagued the first game's hero. Starting with only his sword and his surpreme combat skills, Yagyuu vows to defeat Nobunaga and free his homeland from terror.
Editorial review
Source:
AmazonConsistent, fully realized game design elevates
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny into an elite category. Where other games are weak in one or more key areas, this game provides ample plot, character, action, and visual fodder in equal amounts. Unlike so many other titles--where preview and promotion photos feature quick cinematics and the rest of the game seems made in the early 1990s--
Onimushadoesn't disappoint and stays consistently rich throughout.
Right away, players will notice the fine details this game offers. Any character you approach, even an inconspicuous mine worker, will stop to chat with you. But your comrades in arms won't accept just any offering in exchange for assisting you: in a nod to the Japanese tradition of thoughtful gift-giving, you must find and offer items that fit their interests. Don't go offering an antique brooch to someone looking for imported "spirits." Unless you have vodka or wine to offer him, he will get downright sullen.
As for the gore rating for Onimusha, it depends on your previous game-playing history. It will be considered mild by FPS fans, since the enemies and their flying body parts emit "only" a small amount of blood before disappearing in a puff of dust. For those same serious gamers, the controls will be a nuisance--for instance, you use the direction buttons instead of the left analog for running around. Another drawback: as with most highly controlled game environments, the forced perspective can cause columns and building sections to get in your way during crucial fight scenes. But those comfortable with these minor faults will be amply rewarded by movie-style quick scene edits, inventive ideas from the last edition (in particular, chests guarded by puzzles), and that addictive "fight, collect things, fight, upgrade to really cool things" dynamic that makes so many games great. --Jennifer Hauseman
Pros:
- Superior cinematic imagery
- Compelling characters
- Understated, clever dialogue
- Special attacks like ogre mode
Cons:
- Difficult controls
- Too little character info in the interface
Acquire different colored souls to enhance a variety of character abilities
Help Jubei exact his revenge as he battles demons, bosses, and difficult puzzles
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