All good things
come to an end eventually, they say, but during the final battle in Capcom’s
much-loved Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, I couldn’t believe that this was the
final game in the series. Sure the Onimusha brand returned in the form of
a fighting game that featured returning characters like Samanosuke and Jubei but
what about the epic battle to put an end to demonic foes or putting an end to
the ever troublesome Nobunaga Oda? Thankfully, the series makes its return as an
all-new cast of characters find themselves battling the forces of evil in
Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams – the best game in the series thus far.
Dawn of
Dreams opens
like a true epic with a battle between a hero named Tenkai and a villain named
Mitsunari that ends with a dark power being unleashed on Japan and the hero
plunging to his doom as the city of Osaka crumbles before them. All seems lost
but then a hero named Soki arrives in time to battle the demons that begin to
appear. Fast forward two years later in 1598 and we find Japan overrun by the
familiar Genma demons that now follow the command of the power-hungry Lord
Hideyoshi since their last master, Nobunaga, was finally vanquished in the
series’ third chapter. Soki, who wields the power to combat the Genma, finds
himself on a quest to put an end to Lord Hideyoshi’s reign of terror.
Of course, this
time the hero of the story doesn’t find himself alone in his quest to bring back
peace to Japan. When we meet Soki again he is accompanied by a … let’s just say
he’s a tiny companion that calls himself Minokichi and travels in a pot. He’s
but a minor player in a tale that spans two disks but the real help comes in the
form of four other characters that not only fight alongside Soki but you will
also get to control them during the game. The cast of characters include a
little girl named Jubei, a mysterious monk named Tenkai, the powerful and
beautiful Ohatsu and finally the Japanese-Spaniard brawler named Roberto. Each
character possesses his or her own set of skills and special abilities that can
be upgraded RPG-style throughout the game. They not only offer support
throughout the game but also communicate with Soki during exploration in both
spoken and text dialogue.
It is the
camaraderie and interaction that help propel the story and makes the lengthy
quest all the more bearable and enjoyable. Much like the varying styles of
Samanosuke and the Jean Reno inspired Jacques Blanc, the switch between
characters offers a taste of different styles throughout the game. The game has
indeed been redesigned from the ground up and it does feel like a new game
thanks, in part, to the ability to issue commands to your allies via the D-pad.
There are returning features like Oni Magic attacks that can be leveled up to
unleash devastating attacks and, of course, the ability to absorb souls of
fallen enemies. Then there are the new features, many are simple to execute.
Switching between characters, for instance, is simply a press of the L2 button.
You also have
the ability to explore your surroundings freely and you’ll be traveling through
many a village in this game. It is in exploration that you come across items and
weapons of great use. While most weapons start out weak, you can level them up
in certain areas using souls you managed to collect during battle. You’ll also
encounter chests that require you to solve various different puzzles. Some
puzzles are merely just matching colored gems but they’re a nice break from the
action. There are also moments in the game where challenges known as Test of
Valor are offered up. Usually they are challenges that require you to dispatch
as many enemies before the time expires (doing so will earn you a powerful
item).
One of the
complaints gamers had with the first Onimusha was that the difficulty
setting, even at the normal setting, still proved to be overpowering. Dawn of
Dreams pits you against the same Genma zombies but you’ll also go up against
a number of vicious demons that can prove to be quite a threat when they gang up
on you. You’ll also encounter a great number of boss battles in the game,
including early in the game when Soki has to dispatch a massive monster the size
of a tower. While this isn’t a problem for returning fans, it might prove to be
a problem with new gamers. While we’re talking about flaws (even slight ones
like the difficulty setting) the game’s camera often becomes a hindrance.
Sometimes that enemy you knocked out of your line of sight (and that happens
often even with the lock-on feature) really isn’t dead and will take a swing at
you when you least expect it. It’s not a major annoyance, mind you, but it does
become a slight distraction.
Gamers who
appreciate good eye candy will certainly drool over these sweet visuals that
certainly push the graphical power of the PS2. From the opening cinematic
cutscene with all its juicy detail, vivid colors and sharp textures to the
equally colorful and richly detailed in-game visuals, Dawn of Dreams is a
visual treat. Even the character models are detailed enough to show off each
characters different personalities. The best part is that the visual effects are
still simple marvelous. If you’ve ever seen a Genma dissolve into black smoke
you know what I mean.
One of the
series’ most notable so-so qualities is the voice acting and it remains so in
this game. The rough translation between Japanese and English still makes for
some offbeat comments but it’s not as bad in this game. The sound’s strongest
point has always been its score and it’s as beautiful as ever in this fourth
game in the series. It just perfectly punctuates each situation and cutscene in
the same dramatic way that makes this game feel all the more epic. The sound
effects are also work effectively so do yourself a favor and put the volume up
(those with a good sound system will get a kick out of the Dolby Digital).
Onimusha:
Dawn of Dreams
is, hands down, the best game in the series and one fans will
thoroughly enjoy from start to finish. With its new gameplay mechanics, gorgeous
visuals, and lengthy adventure that superbly adds a healthy dose of action and
RPG elements, fans will not want to miss this new chapter and hopefully not the
last. If you’re new to the series you don’t even need to have played the other
games to get into this game. If you’re already a fan, prepare to crown this one
your new favorite.
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Gameplay: 8.8
The fast-paced
action is pure Onimusha and the fact that you can play as five diverse
characters that can upgrade their unique skills is the cherry on top of an
already sweetened cake. The story is nothing we haven’t already been through
before but the lengthy quests, action-packed battles and enjoyable puzzles make
this a joy to play.
Graphics: 9.2
The visuals
are just so downright gorgeous that you’ll start wondering if the PS3 can top
sharp details like this. The environments are as colorful as the characters
you’ll encounter in the game and the animated cutscenes will not fail to blow
gamers away. The only real problem is the camera that often doesn’t offer the
best view.
Sound: 8.5
The game’s
score, like past games in the series, are wonderfully melodic arrangements that
make the game feel rightly epic. Even the sound effects are as detailed as the
visuals but when it comes to the voice acting the rough translation makes the
dialogue seem a little too offbeat in a Japanese anime sort of way.
Difficulty:
Medium
The Genma are
still tough opponents to go up against and even more when they attack in groups.
You’ll go up against plenty of bosses in this game and many of them aren’t very
easy to beat. For returning fans the difficulty setting is fine but beginning
gamers will really have quite a workout.
Concept: 8.5
As a fan I
couldn’t imagine not seeing another Onimusha game and Dawn of Dreams
is proof that this series just keeps getting better and better. The cast of
characters are not only interesting but they’re playable and the little side
missions and puzzles to solve just add more variation to the fast action.
Overall: 8.9
Quite possibly
the best game in the series, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams delivers an
enjoyably deep and epic action-adventure game fans new and old will relish. It’s
a lengthy tale of old traditions, folkloric heroes and villains that spans two
discs but make no mistakes it’s a journey will worth taking for action fans.
