 |
| Samurai Resident Evil! |
Onimusha is one of Capcom's long forgotten series, with the last main entry releasing during the final days of the PS2. That's why a remaster of the first game, Onimusha: Warlords, came as a surprise seeing as Capcom has ditched the series for an entire console generation. An early PS2 offering, it was an impressive showcase for the then-new PS2 hardware, especially in the graphics department. Nonetheless, that was over 18 years ago and now that Onimusha: Warlords is finally back on modern hardware, it's time to find out how the game fares by today's standards.
Taking place in 16th century Japan, we follow samurai Samanosuke as he must battle the forces of Nobunaga Oda and save Princess Yuki from a demonic army that plans on ruling the world. Over the course of the journey, you'll meet some colorful characters and journals, which narrate the origin of the demonic presence. I wouldn't call the story the main meat of the game as the characters are underdeveloped and the narrative towards the third act felt rushed. It's entertaining nonetheless, but that's about it.
 |
The story is a neat one, albeit lacking on
the character development side.
|
If I would to describe Onimusha, it would be feudal Japan meets Resident Evil. I say that in the sense that the game is structurally similar to Capcom's own Resident Evil games. From healing items like herbs, tricky puzzles, maps to collect, and even a fixed camera system, you can see the RE influences all around Onimusha. Granted, the camera can be disorienting when you're fighting enemies as it shifts around frequently, but I felt that works well with the slow-paced gameplay. It also features a precursor to Devil May Cry 3's bloody palace mode called "Dark Realm", where you must fight off against gradually tough waves of enemies in a grand total of 20 floors, with the last one packing a sweet bonus.
Onimusha boils down to you navigating through corridors, slashing and blocking demons along the way. You also obtain new weapons by exploring certain areas and early on, Samanosuke will be granted a demonic gauntlet that allows him to absorb the souls of fallen enemies by holding down a button. These come in handy as they're essential in upgrading his weapons and their elemental abilities, which include the likes of fire and electricity. You also play as Kaede, a female ninja who will aid Samanosuke in some parts of the game. She uses a dagger to slash enemies and can shoot Kunai knives from afar though she doesn't gain souls like Samanosuke and has less health, making her limited in melee fights.
 |
| The gameplay is fun and feels satisfying. |
I had the most fun during the boss fights where you're pitted against some tough demons, including ones that mimic Samanosuke's appearance. While not the most thrilling, I still enjoyed the level of challenge. I wish that the game featured more variety in the levels as the bulk of it takes place in Japanese castle which isn't bad, but starts to feel "samey" after a while. That and Onimusha is surprisingly short, like really short. My demonic adventure took me a grand total of 4 hours to beat. Disappointing for an action-adventure game, especially one that's priced at $20.
 |
Despite some glaring flaws, the game is an
enjoyable time.
|
It's surprising to find out that Onimusha was an early PS2 game since it definitely doesn't look like one. The pre-rendered environments have aged well and the cinematic cut-scenes are still a blast to watch years later. The remaster polishes up the visuals with HD textures and character models as well as increased lighting effects. Also, worth noting is the inclusion of a new soundtrack that sounds fantastic, completing the game's setting well. Voicework is good with some wacky performances that can make for some entertaining moments. However, I wish that the option to skip scenes was given since you'll have to watch cut-scenes again should you die in a battle, causing some annoyances.
 |
Onimusha still looks good on modern systems
18 years later.
|
Onimusha manages to hold up well by today's standards. While the story's serviceable for the most part, the gameplay managed to make amends. The remaster delivers the goods with streamlined controls, updated visuals, and a new soundtrack. My biggest gripe with the game is how painfully brief the adventure is, especially when the game's capped at $20. Onimusha fans will most likely find the most fun here, but for those on the fence, I'd recommend waiting for a price cut.
Comments
Post a Comment