• ID = PS0647
• STYLE = Survival Horror
• DEV. = Capcom Co., Ltd.
• PUB. = Capcom USA, Inc.
• R-DATE = Aug-28-2002
• ESRB = M / For Mature
• PLAYERS = 1 player
• LIST PRICE = $19.99
  

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny expands on the original title with larger environments to explore, new character interactions, enhanced swordplay, and more than twice the volume of animated movies. The game tells an epic story that blends magical realism with accurate historical accounts of 16th-century feudal Japan. It begins 10 years later than the events in Onimusha: Warlords, after Nobunaga, an infamous Japanese warlord, has brutalized a village. Players take the role of the hero, a young warrior and master of the Yagyu Shinkage sword-fighting style who seeks revenge against Nobunaga. In the process, he will uncover his destiny.

Description 2:
Horrid creatures continue to massacre local villages, and it seems nothing can stop them. One young Samurai, Jubei Yagyu, has vowed to stop the spread of evil before it’s too late. Play as Yagyu as you master the Yagyu Shinkage style of fighting. You’ll have the option of choosing a partner to accompany you or going it alone, and either decision will yield original storylines taking you through dark forests, old towns, and even gold mines. There are plenty of cutscenes and awesome voice acting to keep the 3D adventure realistic.

• Revenge and action in feudal Japan.
• A young warrior returns home to his village destroyed by Nobunaga\'s minions.
• Set 10 years after the first Onimusha.
• Highly detailed environments.
• Tons of characters to make allies of.

Amazon.com Review
Consistent, fully realized game design elevates Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny into an elite category. Where other games are weak in one or more key areas, this game provides ample plot, character, action, and visual fodder in equal amounts. Unlike so many other titles--where preview and promotion photos feature quick cinematics and the rest of the game seems made in the early 1990s--Onimushadoesn't disappoint and stays consistently rich throughout.

Right away, players will notice the fine details this game offers. Any character you approach, even an inconspicuous mine worker, will stop to chat with you. But your comrades in arms won't accept just any offering in exchange for assisting you: in a nod to the Japanese tradition of thoughtful gift-giving, you must find and offer items that fit their interests. Don't go offering an antique brooch to someone looking for imported "spirits." Unless you have vodka or wine to offer him, he will get downright sullen.

As for the gore rating for Onimusha, it depends on your previous game-playing history. It will be considered mild by FPS fans, since the enemies and their flying body parts emit "only" a small amount of blood before disappearing in a puff of dust. For those same serious gamers, the controls will be a nuisance--for instance, you use the direction buttons instead of the left analog for running around. Another drawback: as with most highly controlled game environments, the forced perspective can cause columns and building sections to get in your way during crucial fight scenes. But those comfortable with these minor faults will be amply rewarded by movie-style quick scene edits, inventive ideas from the last edition (in particular, chests guarded by puzzles), and that addictive "fight, collect things, fight, upgrade to really cool things" dynamic that makes so many games great. --Jennifer Hauseman

Pros:
Superior cinematic imagery
Compelling characters
Understated, clever dialogue
Special attacks like ogre mode

Cons:
Difficult controls
Too little character info in the interface