Customer Reviews

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Great game for people who would like to see Onimusha1 and Final Fantasy combined.

Improvements were definately intended on character interaction. The games story line is greatly based on how you trade special items with the other four characters in the game. I've finished the game twice but I've yet to unlock all of the side stories with the other characters. Personally I think this detracts from the game but my wife, who loves the long Final Fantasy stories, loved trying to figure out how to open all the side stories. Some of the side stories do add a lot to the game, I just didn't like spending so much time trying to unlock them all.(I usually hand the controller to my wife whenever the game switches from action to game plot ;-)

If you don't mind talking to all the characters in the game two or three times, then you'll probably love this game. The action and graphics are much better than the first Onimusha. There's also a couple new weapons that add significantly. (The War Hammer kicks @$$) Although the game is still too short, if you liked Onimusha 1 like I did then you'll probably love this game.
Disclaimer: I bought and played the Japanese version of Onimusha2 which may be different than the American release.

Onimusha 2 is without a doubt a thrilling game, which I greatly enjoyed.

But fans of the original game may suffer a little disappointment storywise, as this game suffers from "bad sequel syndrome", failing to match the original's epic feel, while providing a rather chaotic and foolish plot, and spoiling the game's environment with out of place futuristic anachronisms.

On the good side, graphics are improved substantially. They are one of the best that I've seen in a PS2 game. The FMV's are breathtaking and thrilling, although not numerous. The pre-rendered backgrounds are beautiful and captivating. Kudos for the sea, especially! Fighting is a blast, as in the first game or better. Unfortunately, the same Resident-Evil style control scheme remains, but it should not be a problem if you played the first Onimusha.

There are added gameplay elements, like interactivity with NPC's, and items that you can collect and trade. By doing this, you can befriend NPC's which can help you along the way, and change the events in the game a little bit. There are more side quests, and more goodies added after finishing the game, giving it a higher replay value than the original. While many people say this game is longer, I found it to be only marginally so; taking about 12 hours to beat the first time, with no cheating and plenty of wandering around.

I found this game to be moderately easier than the first one. Perhaps some of this is the added practice. Fortunately, this game lacks a frustratingly insane puzzle like the infamous water puzzle from the first game.

And most importantly, Jubei is just as cool as Samanosuke, which I thought it would be very hard to accomplish in the sequel. And if you are Onimusha I nostalgic, you will get a chance to re-visit some of the original game's locations.

Plotwise, there is little of a plot. You have a very simple objective, but what happens in between is a chaotic mess. It reminded me a lot of Devil May Cry; a thrill ride without much substance. The plot holes can make you wander aimlessly having no clue what to do next or what is going on. While the first game was no literary masterpiece either, at least it had more of a senseful and epic plot. And to make it worse, the game incorporates some futuristic elements that are out of place and ruin the Japanese medieval feel from the first game. At some point I felt that I was watching the movie "Flash Gordon".

But despite the shortcomings, this game is great and enjoyable. It is a sequel after all, and sequels are usually not as good as the original ones.

One last word of advice: remember to stay put through the credits after finishing the game!

Just two words that describe Onimusha 2, absolutely good. It's so much fun to play and I think this is easily one of my favorite new games to play. My favorite character in the whole game is of course Kotaro Fuma, that ninja boy that Jubei meets in Imasho. This is such a great video game, the scenery (in Imasho alone) is gorgeous!

The fighting is fun in this game. The backstories many characters have are great. I didn't really like the character interaction but I can see how some people might like it. Overall, this is a great game.

If you follow my game reviews you know by know that I prefer the long drawn out, story oriented RPG's to those that take less than twenty hours and have a huge kill to puzzle ration. But when the price drops low enough I find it can be worthwhile to play through the more notable games in this genre. Onimusha 2 is certainly one of these.

Being a fan of all things Japanese I find the samurai based plot, which sends Jubei Yagyu, young chief of a clan destroyed by Oda Nobunaga, on a journey of revenge and redemption. Nobunaga is one of the largest figures in Japanese history - a warlord who wielded immense power in the 16th Century. The premise of Onimusha is that Nobunaga died in 1560 and was resurrected as a demon (the historical Nobunage lived until 1580). Jubei's quest exposes him to both human and demonic opponents, one after another, and each more colorful.

Besides the puzzle solving and, often, wholesale slaughter, Samurai's Destiny has you use the Japanese custom of gift giving to cement relationships with five possible companions. The most important of these is Oyu, a mysterious woman who appears dressed as a samurai and quickly wins Jubei's heart. How you trade gifts and fulfill you're your obligations to these characters determines what your experience of the game is, and can provide considerable interest.

The game is beautiful to look at, and generally well animated. My only real irritation it with its insistence on using the direction buttons for character movement. This reduces an otherwise gracefully game to one where poor Jubei often has to bounce of a wall to get to a treasure. Otherwise Samurai's Destiny is a very pleasant diversion.

Onimusha 2 is not a bad game, actually, it's pretty damn good. The additional characters, variety of bonus mini-games, and special items obtained thereafter all make for great replay value, and the Earth Hammer is off the hook. Yagyu Jubei is a famous swordsman in Japan, so it's nice to see more historical references.
However, the game did not carry on the survival-horror feel quite as well as did the first game, and the trading system is a bit time-consuming (and sometimes, just plain frustrating, especially when trying to convince that dog at the gold mine to give you his buried items). Also, the controls get very frustrating when playing the mini-games, particularly when trying to uncover film strips and run up and down spiral staircases. Finally, what happened to the Japanese dialogue? Jubei does not gain that pimp recognition that Samanosuke carried when speaking in that goofy dubbed voice. I am looking forward to the third addition to the series; it would be nice to finally fight and kill Guildenstern (where was he this time around?) and that little punk Tokichiro, as opposed to the same bosses over and over again. Here's an idea: take Kibagami Jubei from "Ninja Scroll" to star in the game, as well as the Eight Devils of Kimon; they would make for excellent bosses and there wouldn't be a need to have repeat boss battles (I guess make Nobunaga the Shogun of the Dark?).

If u are a gamer this is definetly a good series for your collection (ONIMUSHA SERIES)i can't help but wonder why Capcom refuses to listen to logic the directioinal buttons suck as a main control please!!! Capcom make the anolog joystick an option, ok!!! now back to the game, well the graphics was very pleasant to watch oh i really loved some of the cutscence, this version however fail to capture me as part1 did but all the same it was great.
The characters really did not satistfy intelectual vanities / curiousity, at times the evironment looked familiar, well maybe it's just me ,at times the characters lacked purpose, and at other times served a purpose well maybe. all in all this a good way to past some time hacking and gashing demons, blood ,guts and simple puzzles (what puzzles????)a little to short for me but i give a 4 star (obviously duuuuuuuuuuh)laters folks and gamers..........

Onimusha 2 is a great game, pure and simple. For those who have played and enjoyed the first game, Onimusha: Warlords, you will be in for a treat. Gameplay is essentially the same, but the graphics and the story are even better.

The game pits you as Jubei Yagyu (really Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi - a real historical swordsman, son of the great Shinkage ryu swordsman Yagyu Tajima Munenori), on a mission to avenge the death of your clan. Along the way you receive the aid of one of four other characters, who you must first befriend by trading gifts. Each character has his/her own distinctive tastes, and you must choose wisely in order to keep them all happy. At first I thought this aspect of the game was gimicky, but I must admit that I rather enjoyed it. It is just another one of the puzzle-solving pieces that you must perform in this game.

The graphics are top-notch, with lush backgrounds and beautifully-rendered characters. The dubbing/voice acting is pretty bad, but no worse than in any dubbed samurai movie (which is why I always recommend watching foreign movies with subtitles--I wish Capcom would have done that with this game).

Some might complain that the game is too short. If you are like me - a part-time gamer who plays a few minutes here and there when I have the chance - then this won't be a problem. It seemed like a fine length to me.

The one thing that bugs me about this game is the demon thing. I know, I know, it is a game in part about demons and monsters. But for a game set in feudal Japan, you'd think they would use traditional Japanese mythological creatures, such as tengu. Most of the enemies you meet are fine, but the bosses are just plain wierd. They have strange, very non-Japanese sounding names. And what is with the robots you meet in the gold mine? For someone like me, who is into traditional Japanese culture and martial arts, it detracted a bit from the game. But that's what Capcom is al about, right? Just look at Devil May Cry and the first Onimusha.

If you can put up with the odd camera angles and with the absolutely terrible controls (which, once you get to know, are passable at least), then go out and get this game. Hardcore gamers who like to finish in one or two sittings should rent. Those who take their time, or who like samurai games (even ideosyncratic ones), would do well to buy.

To start off, let it be known that I've never played the first Onimusha. That said, I'm actually shocked at how much fun I'm having. I never tire of fighting and I can deal with the puzzles. Sometimes the puzzles are too easy{but hey, at least they don't do it dirty and make it so its impossible without a strategy guide} You can level up your weapons and armor, which aside from greater power will also alter their appearance. YES !
{Perhaps that was possible on the first, I wouldn't know} Also, when you buy a friend weapons or armor you actually get to see them using or wearing it later in the game. I must however point out the flaws now. The camera angles{ I'm sure you already knew that} As well as the control. Personally I'm not a fan of the {Resident Evil} type controls. I'd much rather it control like {Devil May Cry}. All in all I can't seem to put it down. I am progressing through it quite quickly though. Considering I don't usually play survival horrors, those who do will beat it very fast. Though the replay value is pretty high, do to the character interaction.

Although this game has not yet been released, I did play it for a brief while in a gaming store, and I was hooked. I am basically an RPG fan, and although I usually play those games, this game intrigued me right away. The graphics are exceptional, and the storyline is very entertaining, but my one problem with the game was the controls. They were very awkward and made it hard to move the main character. Despite this however, I think that the game is definately worth buying.

The graphics and gameplay are very very good. The way the rain and the ocean looked was really awesome.

But the reason why I give this only 4 stars is because the other characters in the game are just so annoying!!!! The lines are weak and stupid!!!!! I mean did people back then in that country really act like that???????? Jubei had too much of a deep voice. I really didn't much care about the fat man's sad story. The guy with the gun was trying way too hard to be a badass. Gogandantess was right about the girl being weak. And I hate it when characters fall in love with only knowing each other only a day or a few hours. People don't fall in love like that.

I found Jubei to be to headstrong. Too gun-ho in fighting. He took on the bad guys way to early. And he cared a little too much for that one demon who kept repeating name. That scene where Godandantess is dieing was sooooo F***ING stupid!!!!

I like Samanosuke better!!!!!! And if there was a Samanosuke V.S. Jubei. Samanosuke would win that fight!!! I can't wait until he comes back in the 3rd one.