Onimusha
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Onimusha is a PlayStation 2 action-adventure game series by Capcom. Each game features a protagonist against an evil Oda Nobunaga bent on taking over Japan with army of demons, using a variety of weapons along with the power of a magic gauntlet given by the Ogre clan.
The game is a combination of third person combat and puzzle solving. The game also has a system of absorbing souls from defeated enemies to restore health, accumulate power for certain stats (similar to leveling up in RPGs), and provide power for the elemental attacks of special weapons.
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Onimusha: Warlords (2001)
The first game of the franchise features samurai Samanosuke Akechi, modeled after actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, determined to save Princess Yuki of the Saito clan and defeat Nobunaga, resurrected after signing a pact with demons. The game also features Kaede, a female ninja who helps Samanosuke with information.
The Samanosuke's weapons include a normal katana; Raizen, a lightning katana; Enryuu, a fire broadsword; Shippuu, a double sided wind naginata; and the Bishamon Sword. He also has access to a bow and matchlock rifle. His associate, Kaede, has two knives as well as kunai.
The protagonist, Samanosuke, is a fictional nephew to Akechi Mitsuhide (Akechi is the surname), the man historically credited to have actually killed Oda Nobunaga over 20 years later. It is rumoured that Samanosuke is an alternative name for one of Mitsuhide's actual nephew and may have been born in 1536 or 1538. It is also rumoured that he went by the name Hidemitsu Akechi, which is used in Onimusha 3. Some say nephew or cousin to Mitsuhide, others say brother-in-law, not much is said about Hidemitsu/Samanosuke, just that he helped Mitsuhide in the attack on Nobunaga, and lived somewhat longer than Mitsuhide, there is also a mystery to his death, it was either seppuku, or died in battle against Hideyoshi's troops. In the game, Nobunaga is "killed", to be later resurrected by demons, in the battle of Okehazama. Historically, he was actually mistakenly reported to have been felled by an arrow in the Okehazama battle.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (2002)
The series presents a new protagonist: Yagyu Jubei, the leader of his own Yagyu clan, who may or may not be historically based on the legendary swordsman of the same name, Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi, instead it is Yagyu Muneyoshi, Jubei's grandfather and the originator of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. The game also features several alternate characters to play as well as new weapons and elements.
The game features four sub-characters:
Kotaro the leader of the Fuma Ninja clan and retainer to the Hojo clan, he is laid back and enjoys a good joke. Whenever Jubei is in trouble, he comes to the rescue using his ninjutsu.
Ekei Ankokuji a monk who relishes in the delight of liqour and women, a master of the Hozoin art of the spear.
Magoichi Saika the leader of the Saika gun team, laid back, but always serious. Magoichi and Ekei are not on the best of terms since Magoichi "took away" Ekei's "girl".
Oyu of Odani, or better known as Oichi, sister of the infamous Nobunaga, is first seen by Jubei in the town of Imasho. Later he finds her in the clutches of Tokichiro and rescues her.
Oni weapons: The weapons that Jubei recieves are found in Dragon Shrines laid throughout the game.
Buraitou: The Thunder sword gained in the begining, basically a katana infused with the power of electricity confined in the Thunder orb.
Hyou-jin Yari: As the name suggests, it's an ice spear, it goes from being a straight yari, to a yari with a single curved blade, to a magari yari.
Senpumaru: Another weapon true to the Onimusha series, this one is a double sided "sword" that can summon the power of wind.
Dokutsui: A mighty Earth hammer that will elevate the ground and somehow kill all of the enemies in the area. It is fun for whack-a-Genma.
Rekka-ken: The ultimate Oni weapon comes in the shape of a two-edged fire sword, similare to the Enryuu.
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004)
Main article: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
Download the Onimusha 3: Demon Siege opening sequence, part 1 (http://media.gameinformer.com/downloads/downloads2014/movies/onimusha3/onimusha3-1.mpg)Size: 41.0 MB
Download the Onimusha 3: Demon Siege opening sequence, part 2 (http://media.gameinformer.com/downloads/downloads2014/movies/onimusha3/onimusha3-2.mpg)Size: 12.2 MB
The "final" chapter of Onimusha brings back Samanosuke Akechi (Takeshi Kaneshiro) along with a new character from the present, Jacques Blanc (played by actor Jean Reno), as well as the transition from 2D backgrounds to completely 3D environments.
The game ultimately covers the assualt on Honnoji Temple, where historically, Oda retainer Akechi Mitsuhide is credited to have killed Oda Nobunaga in a coup. The whole franchise leaves out the historical reasons of why Mitsuhide forms a coup in favor of a Good versus Evil dramatic tension. Mitsuhide is only seen once after this, so we can only speculate that history runs its course until Shin Onimusha Dawn of Dreams.
Though marketed as the final game of the series, the end cinematic rebuffs this idea, where Hideyoshi Hashiba/Toyotomi, a once Tokichiro Kinoshita, leads an army.
This game only features one playable sub-character, she is called Michelle and has a few guns to wield.
Onimusha Tactics (2003)
Onimusha Tactics does not continue or follow the storyline of the previous Playstation 2 games. This game features the same plotline however. A samurai who possess the Oni Gauntlet can become the Onimusha and fights again Nobunaga and his army of genma.
Onimaru is this samurai. With a wide range of characters, many of which are the same as their Playstation 2 equivilant, you fight the genma until you ultimately fight Nobunaga. New to the series are additional chosen warriors. These warriors receive the power of the phoenix, tortouise, tiger and dragon to assist Onimaru. These animals corresponse with the chinese animals and colours for direction. This reference was also a puzzle in Onimusha 2.
Onimusha Blade Warriors (JP 2003, US/EU 2004)
Its Japanese title is "Onimusha buraiden". Similar to Super Smash Bros., Blade Warriors is a simple 2D fighter game featuring many of the characters of the Onimusha franchise. Players may use standard sword fighting with combos, blocks, block-breaking kicks, jump, switch planes (the different levels of the fighting area), use various items, and disarm their opponents. It also includes the original aspects of the Onimusha series, including the absorption of souls and special elemental attacks (lightning, fire, and wind).
Fighters
- Samanosuke Akechi - protagonist samurai from Onimusha 1
- Kaede - ninja from Onimusha 1
- Keijiro Maeda - Yumemaru from Onimusha 1 ten years later, also known as Keiji Maeda
- Grunt
- Jubei Yagyu - protagonist samurai from Onimusha 2 (not based off of Mitsuyoshi, this is actually Muneyoshi Yagyu)
- Oyu of Odani - swordswoman from Onimusha 2
- Ekei Ankokuji - warrior monk from Onimusha 2
- Kotaro Fuma - ninja from Onimusha 2
- Marcellus - demon boss from Onimusha 1
- Three-Eyes - demon ninja from Onimusha 1
- Jujudormah - demon boss from Onimusha 2
- Zombie - demon grunt from Onimusha 1
Unlockable Fighters
- Jaid - demon fighter
- Musaid - demon ninja
- Juju-ran - Jujudormah in her younger, more attractive years
- Marcellus S - a slightly faster version of Marcellus, wielding two large blades
- Musashi Miyamoto - none other than the legendary swordsman famous for his niten'ichi (二天一, "two heavens as one") style. Has no involvement in Onimusha.
- Kojiro Sasaki - legendary swordsman who fought with his nodachi against Musashi and lost.
- MegaMan.EXE - comes in normal, Ground, and Bug styles.
- Zero - Megaman Zero version
- Magoichi Saika - rifleman from Onimusha 2
- Gogandantess - self-proclaimed, "The greatest swordsman of all demons" in Onimusha 2
- Nobunaga Oda- the antagonist of the Onimusha franchise
- Gargant - powerful demon swordsman in Onimusha 3
Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (2006)
In April 2005, Capcom unveiled the latest installment in the Onimusha series, currently entitled Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams. (Conspicuously missing here is a numerical deriviation) In a series first, the main character, Soki, is a completely original creation who wields dual swords; one of which is blue and the other red. Current speculation states that the one of the new fighting mechanics will revolve around the characters ability to alternate attacks between the two swords, however the dynamics of this system remain unknown at this point. Another new tweak of the gameplay is in the player's newfound ability to control the camera as opposed to the static camera angles employed in recent years. Finally, Capcom has decided to move Onimusha away from a storytelling experience and push this installment toward becoming more gameplay oriented. The designers have taken into account the player's yearn for freedom and control within the game world and are striving to fufill these wishes. Dawn of Dreams is currently 20% completed and is expected to have a 2006 Japanese release for the PlayStation 2.
External Links
Shin Onimusha Information (http://ps2.ign.com/articles/606/606264p1.html?fromint=1)