14-01-2005, 12:16 PM
While alot of people i have spoken to consider the Onimusha series awkward, die hard fans will easily be able to justify slapping them in the face.
This week i've finally parted with the funds to purchase Onimusha 3. If you've played the two previous installments in the series and enjoyed them, you'd be quite foolish not to purchase the 3rd. Given that i've bought this game so late in the peace i won't bother with a proper run down so here's a less than half hearted review - you know where to go for the full information. I'll just simply say, there's plenty of Onimusha goodness to behold, and if like me you were concerned about the time travel aspect of the game ruining it's appeal, have no fear.
Onimusha 3 begins where 2 took off in terms of weapons, i won't spoil it too much for those who haven't played the game but i will say you begin with all the weapons you amassed in 2.
Unfortunately, the Frenchman J.. etc etc, is endowed with an assortment of poxy weapons early on in the game.
These include an unorthodox whip which proves more of a hinderance than help, often taking too long to recoil leaving you somewaht vunerable in the mean time.
Unless you master using your whip and pistol in combination instantaneously, expect to be trodden under foot by anything you encounter first off.
Next you acquire a more than gay sword/whip. It recoils into a sword but has the abillity to flair in and out.
It's not all bad news for J though. He is able to use his whip to pick up massive boulders and fling them toward enemies.
As to whether it's any help or just a good looking technique all depends on whether you can hit anything with it.
On the upside, Oni has always been great for the absence of lengthy boring tutorials. Nothing encourages initiative like being thrown in an area brimming with regenerating ghouls.
Some find the controls in Onimusha games unbearable, now whether i've just adapted subconsciously, or whether they actually have been improved i can't really tell. But if you haven't struggled with the ones in the previous installments you won't find these any different. Samonosuke still posesses the abillity to absorb souls using his magical blinking gauntlet, and it's pretty much the same old same ol for the first few minutes of the game, but after that you'll have to check it out for yourself.
Like all the Oni series there is a girl floating around, and like all the Oni series, she's somewhat pathetic. Don't expect any help from her.
Samonosuke still looks hot and so do the CG scenes, the opening scene by far one of the best floating around. You'll see Oni doing things he's never done before as he battles it out with Nobunagas army of mongs.
I'm not exactly sure what genre i'd put Oni in but it does have some rpg elements. In some ways it reminds me alot of the RE series but it's more appealing to me as a predominantly RPG based fan. It also has a hack and slash element and who doesn't enjoy stylishly carving up an endless supply of flesh eating monsters.
It's the same deal with upgrading weapons at save points, collect the souls, charge the weapons, weapons grow, you get another weapon and repeat. Circle of life type stuff.
Target stores have a ton of Onimusha copies, or at least they did the other day. On sale $40.00, or around 30-40 on eBay second hand or new, depending on condition. Remember K-mart price match and give you 10% off the difference so if you're really tight see if they have any lying around.
I won't give this game a rating because i'm biased, but seasoned gamers with more than a two second attention span should enjoy it.
This week i've finally parted with the funds to purchase Onimusha 3. If you've played the two previous installments in the series and enjoyed them, you'd be quite foolish not to purchase the 3rd. Given that i've bought this game so late in the peace i won't bother with a proper run down so here's a less than half hearted review - you know where to go for the full information. I'll just simply say, there's plenty of Onimusha goodness to behold, and if like me you were concerned about the time travel aspect of the game ruining it's appeal, have no fear.
Onimusha 3 begins where 2 took off in terms of weapons, i won't spoil it too much for those who haven't played the game but i will say you begin with all the weapons you amassed in 2.
Unfortunately, the Frenchman J.. etc etc, is endowed with an assortment of poxy weapons early on in the game.
These include an unorthodox whip which proves more of a hinderance than help, often taking too long to recoil leaving you somewaht vunerable in the mean time.
Unless you master using your whip and pistol in combination instantaneously, expect to be trodden under foot by anything you encounter first off.
Next you acquire a more than gay sword/whip. It recoils into a sword but has the abillity to flair in and out.
It's not all bad news for J though. He is able to use his whip to pick up massive boulders and fling them toward enemies.
As to whether it's any help or just a good looking technique all depends on whether you can hit anything with it.
On the upside, Oni has always been great for the absence of lengthy boring tutorials. Nothing encourages initiative like being thrown in an area brimming with regenerating ghouls.
Some find the controls in Onimusha games unbearable, now whether i've just adapted subconsciously, or whether they actually have been improved i can't really tell. But if you haven't struggled with the ones in the previous installments you won't find these any different. Samonosuke still posesses the abillity to absorb souls using his magical blinking gauntlet, and it's pretty much the same old same ol for the first few minutes of the game, but after that you'll have to check it out for yourself.
Like all the Oni series there is a girl floating around, and like all the Oni series, she's somewhat pathetic. Don't expect any help from her.
Samonosuke still looks hot and so do the CG scenes, the opening scene by far one of the best floating around. You'll see Oni doing things he's never done before as he battles it out with Nobunagas army of mongs.
I'm not exactly sure what genre i'd put Oni in but it does have some rpg elements. In some ways it reminds me alot of the RE series but it's more appealing to me as a predominantly RPG based fan. It also has a hack and slash element and who doesn't enjoy stylishly carving up an endless supply of flesh eating monsters.
It's the same deal with upgrading weapons at save points, collect the souls, charge the weapons, weapons grow, you get another weapon and repeat. Circle of life type stuff.
Target stores have a ton of Onimusha copies, or at least they did the other day. On sale $40.00, or around 30-40 on eBay second hand or new, depending on condition. Remember K-mart price match and give you 10% off the difference so if you're really tight see if they have any lying around.
I won't give this game a rating because i'm biased, but seasoned gamers with more than a two second attention span should enjoy it.