• ID = PS0648
• STYLE = Survival Horror
• DEV. = Capcom Co., Ltd.
• PUB. = Capcom USA, Inc.
• R-DATE = Apr-27-2004
• ESRB = M / For Mature
• PLAYERS = 1-2 players
• LIST PRICE = $49.99
  

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege takes the fantastic gaming of the Onimusha series to a new level. It's got dramatic new camera angles, advanced 3D polygonal graphics, new enemies and an incredible new story. Take control of Akechi Samanosuke one more time, as he's sent through time to modern-day France. He trades places with 21st-century French cop Jacques Blanc, who travels to feudal Japan. Fighting separately and together, they'll stop the Genma once and for all.

• Features true 3D gameplay and environments, for gaming action you'll have to see to believe.
• Control of Akechi and Jacques is very different; Use his whip and guns to destroy the demons and monsters -- while in our time, Akechi slices them apart with his ancient weaponry.
• Learn new skills as you find books on each level -- unlock new moves to wipe out the demons.
• New Character Blanc is modeled after, and voiced by, famous actor Jean Reno.

Description 2:
ONIMUSHA 3 is the tale of a man who has just returned and a man who has just arrived. This saga of two different stories transcends four centuries from ancient Japan to modern day. Capcom plans to release Onimusha 3 in 2004 for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system.

As a first for the series, Onimusha 3 will use full polygonal backgrounds as capcom strives to realize the title real and dramatic camerawork. Players will exalt the battle scenes, as they are full of depth, and even more sword slashing action; the opening movies have been pushed to a new level. Capcom has enlisted the talents of hong kong action star and director donnie yen as the cg action director. Returning to the onimusha project is robot, the company responsible for making all of the onimusha opening movies and yamazaki takeshi, the cg movie director. onimusha 3 is a collaboration of several talented staff members as they focus on bringing a masterpiece that rivals even the biggest blockbuster movies.

On a technical level the improvements are obvious, with the backgrounds now being in full 3D, instead of just being static picture postcards, and the control system is completely new--ditching the awkward turn-and-move dynamic inherited from Resident Evil . The story, while still largely perfunctory, also offers a genuinely new setting with the fight against evil taking place not just in feudal Japan but also modern day Paris.

Once the action does get to the City of Love you're given the chance to control French cop Jacques Blanc as well as the first game's Samanosuke. Both characters are given the features of famous movie stars and although Takeshi Kaneshiro is largely unknown outside of Japan, Jean "Léon" Reno provides the face of Jacques.

To make things more interesting Jacques ends up in medieval Japan and Samanosuke has to battle on in France. A helpful little fairy called Ako is able to move between the two eras at will and thereby enables a number of interesting puzzles later in the game. It's hardly a revelation in originality but for simple demon-bashing fun Onimusha 3 is hard to beat. -- David Jenkins