Genre: RPG Adventure / Action / Hack-n-Slash
Platform: PlayStation 2
Produced By: Capcom
U.S. Release Date: 03/07/2006
Gamespot Details: Gamespot - Onimusha Dawn of Dreams

I've been an RPG / Adventure RPG gamer since I got my very first console, albeit hand-held, the classic Game Boy (which mine still works by the way). I mostly play the "hardcore" RPGs like Final Fantasy and the like. However I tend to not buy many other games, simply because I don't have the time I did 10 years ago in high school to consume video games at the rate of one per month. Therefore I spend my gaming time wisely or with old favorites. I think my friend Pat thought it was silly that I only had "Final Fantasy X" for my PS2 so he got me "Onimusha: Warlords" for my birthday some five odd years ago, and since then I have been taken in by this series of games. And for the record the PS2 was justified in expenditure as a apt DVD player at the time, but I digress...

In fact probably the only new video game properties I've really gotten into since the PS2 console generation came out has been Rockstar's "Grand Theft Auto" and Capcom's "Onimusha".

Grand Theft Auto has it's own appeal, however Onimusha to me has always been a nice casual RPG / Adventure game that can be played without too much thought or complexity. I liken it to Nintendo's famous Zelda property. All three Onimusha games, with a only a small bit of effort, have been quite enjoyable. I'm the kind of gamer that enjoys a challenging game, but doesn't like games with difficulty such that you replay a level a googleplex of times untill you master every little timing and action to get past it. I hate having the uncontrollable urge to whip out the CodeBreaker just to finish a game because some masochistic game designer wanted to make the game super hardcore. If I have to replay parts of a game that much I feel like I've wasted time (which is true) and go on to something else more constructive, in other words If I'm going to practice getting alot better at something I'll go write a program or educate myself with a book. Therefore, with enemies that spray blood when I cut them and then die, cool swords, interesting music and visuals, and I can finish the game in a couple of weeks or pound it out in one weekend... Then that is my cup of tea for some casual gaming. Besides, all the Onimusha games have harder difficulty levels that open up after you beat it the first time for that replay value...if you're so inclined.

Anyway, I've generally kept up with the afformentioned properties, and have all the GTA PS2 titles as well as the last three installments of Onimusha games, however "Dawn of Dreams" seems to have slipped under my radar.

Just last friday I was in a local game shop and found the Brady strategy guide on the shelf which tipped me off to an existance of a fourth Onimusha installment. I had actually been thinking of replaying "Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny" again recently so this was a pleasant suprise. I picked up both the strategy guide (which the clerk informed me only cost a penny because the guide was past date in their system or some other thing) and the game itself.

Thus, I of course spent this past weekend digging into this game. Nevermind the fact that I still have my collectors edition of Final Fantasy XII sitting unopened...which is another discussion all together.

Review

First of all this game starts a completely new storyline in the "Onimusha" saga. It is set a number of years in the future of Japan (supposedly the 1590's) apart from the days of Samanoske Akechi of "Warlords" and "Demon Seige" and Jubei Yagyu of "Samurai's Destiny".

Nobunaga is dead and his retainer, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, whom you met in "Warlords", has now come to power over a united Japan. However something has changed with Hideyoshi recently, and war has broken out and the Genma (Demons) are reappearing. Once again the power of the Oni must be called upon to defeat the evil intensions of the Genma. Which is why we're here, to go on a genma killing spree right?

In comparison to the rest of the Onimusha lineage, this game stacks up most closely to "Samurai's Destiny". There is a cast of playable characters which will join your party and that you may control. This includes four characters in addition to the one "Main" character around whom the story mostly revolves. There is also money, in that the genma drop gold when you defeat them and you can use it at certain places to buy things. Of course there is also the tried and true soul infusion system to power up your weapons and armor.

New to this title though is an experience / level gain system. It's very simple, when you kill genma they give you exp points. Your character levels up like as in a more traditional RPG. Every level a character gains gives them "Skill Points", which are yours to distribute amongst the character's skills. Therefore you are able to "customize" how your character grows throughout the game.

There is also a very large inventory of weapons and equipment. Indeed, one could loose oneself in attempting to obtain and power-up a large variety of wepons, not just for the main character but for the associated cast. It is advisable to not forget to power your allies weaponry up too. Onimusha loves to set you in circumstance where you must rely upon a secondary ally and not your familiar main character. If the secondary character is lacking you may find yourself in a heap of trouble moving forward with the storyline. Thus, as with any RPG, the time you spend leveling up is proportional to your ease of success when the unexpected occurs.

As with all the Onimusha titles, much of the actual game is pre-rendered backgrounds upon which the three-dimensional sprites are animated upon. There are often beautiful, often atmospheric locales for you to explore. Not to mention some truly amazing animated things, such as water environs (which the programmers and graphic artists at Capcom have consistently done well in the Onimusha games).

The music is very Japanese and very well done, as usual. I play in no less than 5 channel surround with premium audio equipment, which if you've read my other reviews you are fully aware. Thus sound is important to my multimedia experience. The SFX are also good, and in surround are ambient when logical.

Compared to it's predacessors, this game is certainly more complex and involved. But it is still poured in the same mould to be sure. While "Warlords" can take only hours to complete, I would expect many weeks or months to fully explore this title. Indeed I have barely scratched the surface of my first play-through. Though, as aforementioned, my time is much divided now that it was in the past.

If you are a fan of the Onimusha series, or like a semi-complex action RPG genre title then this is sure to please.