Product Description

Set during the medieval period, Onimusha: Warlords is a survival horror game that puts you in the difficult position ofhaving to save a kidnapped princess from the evil General Nobanaga. Enter Nobanaga's castle and use a variety of blade weapons as well as the Demon's Head, which acts as both a shield and a weapon, against his foul minions. More than just fighting, Onimusha: Warlords presents a number of puzz es that must be solved if you're to get to the princess. The game also boasts both real-time polygonal backgrounds and characters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5393 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Capcom
• Released on: 2001-07-06
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Dimensions: .33 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
With Onimusha: Warlords, PlayStation 2 owners with a passion for Resident Evil's genre-launching gameplay are in luck: Capcom delivers the same world-famous gameplay style (sans zombies) in a beautiful action adventure set in a mystical medieval Japanese kingdom. It probably won't win any awards for ground-breaking gameplay, but the fast-paced action promises to overload the senses with more than enough stimuli to notice.

The experience is set in 16th-century Japan, a fantastical era in which warlords clash for control of the country. As the samurai Samanosuke, players volunteer to rescue the kidnapped princess Yuki. No surprise that the ultimate goal (and the entire storyline, for that matter) falls by the wayside as hordes of demons converge on the player hour after hour. The weapons system benefits from the flashy graphics--as players discover and add gems to a gauntlet, weapon upgrades increase firepower with increasingly dramatic effects.

Graphically, the game is stunning. Carving through the levels--forests, tunnels, and the requisite dark, dank castle environment--isn't anything less than a spectacular experience, thanks in much part to the game's unusually high production values. Character models are built from up to 10,000 polygons each--high detail, even for a PS2 game. Subtle environmental effects--the wind flowing through the trees ripples the fabric in characters' clothes, for instance--furthers the game's realism. The backgrounds are painstakingly detailed and nicely enhanced by dynamic lighting effects. The talent behind the aural effects is just as impressive; Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro lent his voice to the main character, and a 200-piece orchestra delivers a dramatic score.

Call over any PS2 sceptics in your neighbourhood, then load up Onimusha: Warlords. A few minutes with this game may turn any zombie gamer into a next-generation gaming system fan. --Eric Twelker

Customer Reviews

Onimusha edges PS2 toward the 3rd place...
Undoubtedly the best game for PS2 so far, Onimusha: Warlords is an RE clone with an edge.

The edge is the story line and setting. Feudal Japan is the setting and instead of blasting the Undead to bits with pump-action shotguns the hero slashes them to bits with various edged weapons. Capcom have spent a lot of time developing the story in the form of FMV sequences that really add to the game however; the basic game play remains the same as the original and best "Survival Horror" game, Resident Evil: Horrid villain, in league with demonic forces, wants to be extremely naughty in a remote castle. Realistically one should say "Well, let 'im get on with it 'cos I'm going the pub..." However, having set the scene very well Capcom draw the gamer into the plot and support the experience with excellent graphics, a biting score and some tricky puzzles.

The game takes place in and around a castle now taken over by demonic forces that intend let loose even more tyranny by doing something utterly despicable to the beautiful princess. Enter Samunosuke (pronounced Samu-nos-kay) to put paid to these devilish plans with help from his female Ninja side-kick, Kaede. Samunosuke also has help from a sympathetic Clan of Ogres (don't we all?) and thus can perform some quite stunning feats with Swords, Bows and a particularly vicious looking staff with Machetes on each end. Not wanting to spoil the plot entirely I would just comment that it is quite easy to get some serious destructive ability quickly and whacking the baddies becomes a joy at a very early stage. Support characters pop in and out, usually in FMV, and add to a varied and interesting list of inhabitants. I must mention the "Upside-down-Yoda-on-a-string" at this point and would suggest Capcom fill a gap in the novelty toiletries market as soon as possible!

It would appear that Capcom have balanced the whole project together very well. Some puzzles, for instance, are amazingly simple (Trick Treasure Chests), whilst others are a little more challenging (Water Trap Puzzle against the clock) but this all adds to the theory of giving and then taking away to maintain a high interest level. The game is not easy but it is also not impossibly difficult. It will hold your attention and depending on how good you are in gaming terms may take between 1 and 4 weeks to complete, time permitting.

Some sequences are "jerky" as the scenes cut around to different view angles when rushing around the large milieu. The fight sequences are largely free of this so add a modicum of required skill when prevailing to move onto the next stage. There are neat touches like rustling breezes and annoying omissions like opening doors or running down stairs.

The music score is magnificent. The tension pulses out of the speakers as you edge through tricky areas of the game and always seems to finish at exactly the right moment. Clever coding and anticipation of gamers should be warmly applauded.

In summary Onimusha: Warlords is now hinting at the underlying power of the PS2 and we should all look forward to more of the same in the future.

Onimusha is absolutely Fantastic!
Onimusha is, put straight, one of the best ever titles to hit the PS2. As with a large gourp of capcom's games, it's a survival horror fest. To describe it simply, it's Resident Evil in the 16th century japan. With swords. And zombies.

But a large difference from Resi is that its heart is pure action. You don't just run around aiming monsters from a distance; how could I put it, "slow" exploring. You run around carrying large blades, getting close to somehting and beating the hell out of it. Sure,there are puzzles, AND cutscenes, actually quite a bit too many of these for someone who's impatient to carry on, especially at the start. the first ever qaurter of the game is passed in lengthy cutscenes and lots of chatter. in some parts of the game you egt to use the lead character's partner for some sections of the game, which offers a new array of moves. yet with both characters you just button-bash attack to do combos.

The graphics in Onimusha show very well what the PS2 is capable of. The backgrounds are as realistic as real life, yes REAL LIFE! the character models are nearly so, and blend in well. It's all superb. Why, the main character's face is that of a japanese actor! Few of the cutscenes are modified to the ultimate as FMV's, since it's close enough already. The weaponry is also realistic, and the magical attacks look great!

The sound effects are also astounding. Each area has its own unique soundtrack, and they're all cool. They'll make the game definitely more exciting. The sound effects are carried out nicely: you can expect such things as blades clashing with each other, weapon sounds, the wind howling in deep tunnels, monster's shrieks and howls, and growls and many more.

The game's controls are smooth and easy to master. No one should have that much trouble figuring it all out. The gameplay should be divided in two groups: action and puzzle-busting. Your character has the ability to seal demon souls in his gauntlet thung on his arm once he hacks them up. You can then cash these in at magic mirrors to upgrade swords, magics, medicinals and ammunition. You hack up foes, seal the souls, hack some more and so on. There's a whole array of different beasts all with strengths and weaknesses, which makes each baddie-bashing different in tactics. And the game's not all about blades. You'll find a bow and eventually a matchlock gun; the rifle / shotgun of the 16th century. The game's puzzles are varied well. Throughout the game you find tresure boxes with tile locks and other with song locks. the tile lock require you to use your barin to turn a group of tiles in the required order so as to open the box, and you have alimited number of turns. Song boxes require you tosearch in the books you find and collect to find the right words. There are more puzzles which can actually present danger; for example in one sequence the main charactr is trapped in a ,etal chamber which slowly fills up with water. You must then use his partner to solve a puzzle by moving tiles around strategically to form a picture before the trapped one dies drowned. It's all there to form the game.

Onimusha is quite short for a game. It doesn't take much long to complete it even in the first time. There are additions, though. if you collect 20 hidden items called flourites through the game, you get a mini-game to play. This is obviously much shorter than the main game, but can be actually more challenging! Once you complete it you bag yourself a cheat to have evertyhing from the beginning when you replay the game... if you ever would. Onimusha is not all a bad game, it's awesoem, but there isn't enough of it.

sheer brilliance!
When I was looking round for a new game to fill my time after completing Devil May Cry, I stumbled across this little gem.
This game has everything you could possibly ask for; some stunning graphics and cut-scenes (just wait until you see trees swaying in the breeze!), tricky puzzles, and some really addictive combat. I found myself praying for more monsters and hellish demons after being able to finish a whole bunch off in spectacular fashion! Being able to knock down the enemies and dispatch them with your sword before they have chance to get up is most impressive!
This game isn't just simply about 'hack 'n' slash', however, there are a few devilish puzzles scattered throughout that will get you really involved in the game.

Finally a word on the sound. The makers of the game really got the atmosphere just right in my opinion, recreating that distinct 'feudal japan' sound.

This games a real treat to play and if you liked Devil May Cry or Soul Reaver, you're gonna love this! 5 *'s!!!!!