Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

North American box art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Minoru Nakai
Producer(s) Keiji Inafune
Writer(s) Noboru Sugimura
Shin Yoshida
Hiroaki Kanazawa
Minoru Nakai
Composer(s) Masamichi Amano
Akari Kaida
Hideki Okugawa
Kouta Suzuki
Series Onimusha
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Windows
Release date(s)

PlayStation 2

  • JP: February 26, 2004
  • NA: April 27, 2004
  • PAL: July 9, 2004

Windows

  • JP: December 8, 2005
  • EU: February 24, 2006
  • NA: March 16, 2006
  • WW: August 22, 2007 (Steam)
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, released in Japan and Europe as Onimusha 3 (鬼武者3 Onimusha Surī), is an action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. It is the third game of the Onimusha series and was released for the PlayStation 2 on April 27, 2004. It was later ported to Windows on December 8, 2005. The story focuses on the returning hero, swordsman Hidemitsu Samanosuke Akechi, who is in his quest to defeat his nemesis, Nobunaga Oda, who wishes to conquer Japan with his army of demons known as Genma. However, Samanosuke changes places with a French officer from the future named Jacques Blanc, and both have to adapt to their new worlds to get rid of Nobunaga and the Genma.

The game retains elements from previous games in the franchise including the use of multiple special weapons in order to fight enemies and absorb their energy to enhance the weaponry. This time the player primarily controls both Samanosuke and Jacques in separate scenarios. The two are able to exchange items in order to solve puzzles. The development from this game started after the release of the PlayStation 2 which allowed the team to work on a 3D engine to design 3D backgrounds. In order to appeal to the Western market, the team set this game in Paris and chose French actor Jean Reno to portray Jacques.

Onimusha 3 has been generally well received by publications for video games. Most of the writer's praise focused on the improved controls and the use of a 3D engine that allowed better combat and visuals, respectively. The game also generated good sales with over 1.5 million copies sold as of May 2008.

Gameplay

Onimusha 3 is played in a real-time environment instead of pre-rendered backgrounds, although the camera is still controlled by the computer. Gameplay alternates between Samanosuke fighting in modern-day Paris and Jacques fighting in feudal Japan. Samanosuke fights using close range weapons, while Jacques uses an energy whip, which can also be used at certain points to swing across gaps. While Samanosuke cannot swing like Jacques he is able to use a bow in order to perform long-range attacks. Both of the characters also have defensive skils known as Issen that allows them to instantly kill an enemy by attacking just before the enemy makes contact with its attack.[1]

Samanosuke and Jacques can gain elemental weapons, changing their fighting style and allowing access to magical attacks. Defeating enemies reaps souls, which when absorbed can restore health and magic, be used as currency for purchasing ammunition and health items, and allow Samanosuke or Jacques to enter a more powerful Onimusha state for a short time.[1] If the player collects certain items during the game and completes it, Samanosuke will be able to use his weapons from the first game in the next playthrough. Armors with different properties can be obtained in the game but they require some items in order to work.

During certain portions of the story, players also get to control Michelle, who relies on firearms. Another minigame gives the players control over the lance fighter Heihachiro. Unlike Samanosuke and Jacques, Heihachiro and Michelle do not possess upgradeable weapons and cannot enter the Oni mode.[2]

New to this game is a focus on time travel when solving puzzles. For example, if Samanosuke comes across a door in the present that has become too withered to open, Jacques will need to open the door in the past so that it will stay open for Samanosuke to progress. Things Samanosuke does in the present will not affect things in the past.[3] However, Ako is able to transfer some items between both timelines.

Plot

Having returned from mastering his new found abilities as an Onimusha, Samanosuke Akechi returns to battle the Genma army in Japan 1582 as he fights his way to Honnō-ji Temple to finally put an end to Nobunaga Oda. Though Samanosuke defeats Nobunaga's ward Mori Ranmaru, he ends up being pulled through a portal that opened below him. Samanosuke awakens in Paris in the year 2004 where he aids a man named Jacques Blanc in fighting the Genma army that has begun its invasion near the Arc de Triomphe. The time portal reappears and pulls Jacques and Philippe through to feudal Japan. Samanosuke then meets Michelle, Jacques' girlfriend, near the Arc and makes his way towards the roof. Across his fights, Samanosuke briefly meets an old enemy: The Genma scientist Guildenstern. Guildenstern explains that he developed the technology to enable himself and his fellow Genma to travel through time to conquer the future.[4]

Jacques Blanc and Philippe arrive in 16th century Japan. However, Philippe dies of mortal wounds from the previous battle after the time warp. Upon arriving, an Oni spirit grants him powers in order to assist him on his way to Honnō-ji Temple in Samanosuke's time. The Oni also gives Jacques a spirit named Ako to assist him in his quest. To return to their own time period, Samanosuke and Jacques must save the respective timelines they are in from destruction. The Samanosuke in 2004 Paris teams up with Michelle and Jacques' son Henri to save the city from destruction while Jacques and the past's Samanosuke struggle to fight Nobunaga in feudal Japan. Across his journey, Jacques and the past's Samanosuke meet Tadakatsu Heihachirō Honda who is linked with the Oda clan. However, Heihachirō decides to join Samanosuke and Jacques' cause. The future Samanosuke also encounters the Ranmaru who was also displaced and turned into a Genma warrior.

Following several battles, Samanosuke manages to defeat the Genma forces from the future by defeating Guildenstern and Ranmaru. Heihachirō is killed by the past's Ranmaru and Jacques avenges him when reaching Honnō-ji Temple. Although Nobunaga appears to be defeated as Jacques returns to his time, his Oni powers passing into Henri to save the boy's life, the warlord recovers and kills the past Samanosuke. However, upon his return to his time, Samanosuke absorbs his alternate self to assume his Onimusha form and defeat Nobunaga before sealing the warlord's soul in the Oni Gauntlet. Samanosuke then starts a journey with Ako to seal his Gauntlet to ensure Nobunaga can never return.[5] But Nobunaga's death enables his former vassal Tokichiro to begin his own conquest of Japan as Toyotomi Hideyoshi with the Genma now supporting him.

Development

Onimusha 3 was announced in May 2003 as the last game within the franchise.[6][7] The Onimusha series was originally conceived as a trilogy with Onimusha 3 meant to close the storyline.[8] The team behind Onimusha 3 had previously developed the first game, Onimusha: Warlords. The two share in common the focus in action as Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny was made by another team that implemented a bigger focus in adventure.[9] As Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny did not sell well in the Western market, Capcom decided to make the next sequel with the idea of appealing Western gamers. As a result, they decided to set in Paris in order to generate a big contrast with ancient Japan. New York was also suggested by members from the staff, but it was eventually decided that city was used in many games. The city was also decided because Onimusha 2 had the worst sales in Europe making them focus on where they "lost the war."[8] Capcom anticipated this game to sell 700,000 copies worldwide by the end of the fiscal year after its release.[10] With the use of the modern French setting, the story involved time travel which worried producer Keiji Inafune as it could negatively affect the game if it was not well executed. However, Infafune was pleased with the final product.[11] The game's concept was "what would a Samurai do in the modern world, and what would a modern cop do in the ancient world."[12]

In order to fit the game's setting, the staff chose the French actor Jean Reno as a model for the new character of Jacques. Additionally, in order to make sure the game was realistic, Reno worked with the Capcom staff to make Jacques' motion capture and French voice acting. Inafune compared Reno's role with Takeshi Kaneshiro's work in the first Onimusha game as both actors are famous. By adding Reno, the team managed to appeal to both Eastern and Western gamers.[8] Kaneshiro also returned to voice and motion capture Samanosuke.[7] Director Takashi Yamasaki and CG movie action Director Donnie Yen were invited to help in the making of the game's movie scenes which "helped immensely" thanks to their experience. Over a hundred staff members worked together in the game's opening scene which took two years to complete.[11]

As first two Onimusha games were designed with the original PlayStation in mind, they were given 2D backgrounds. In contrast, Onimusha 3 started development after the PlayStation 2 was released, the team managed to develop 3D backgrounds thanks to a new engine.[9] Although the time faced the challenge of making the 3D backgrounds as interesting as the prerendered backgrounds, working some time on the PlayStation 2 gave the team confidence in designing the game.[8] The Japanese version of the game was made less challenging than the American and European versions based on the wide audience Capcom was appealing in Japan.[9]

For the Japanese launch of Onimusha 3, peripheral manufacturer Hori released a special Onimusha-themed memory card and the "Soul Controller", a 38-inch-long DualShock controller shaped like a tachi sword.[13] Swinging the device around causes the player character within the game to do the same.[14] Onimusha 3 was collected alongside its two prequels and a strategy guide in Japan as part of a box set released by Capcom on December 22, 2004.[15]

Sourcenext ported Onimusha 3 to PC for a Japanese release on December 8, 2005.[16] The PC version was subsequently published by Ubisoft for distribution on European retailers on February 24, 2006 [17] and North American retailers on March 16, 2006.[18] It was also published by Capcom on Valve's Steam software on August 22, 2007.[19] The game was also released with its two predecessors into the Onimusha Essentials compilation for North America in 2008.[20]

Pachislot

A pachislot machine based on Onimusha 3 was distributed to parlors in Japan in January 2005.[21] This machine was adapted into a PlayStation 2 video game titled Jissen Pachi-Slot Hisshouhou! Onimusha 3, released on July 14, 2005. It was published by Sega.[22]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings85.74% (PS2)[23]
64.40% (PC)[24]
Metacritic85/100 (PS2)[25]
69 (PC)[26]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG6.6/10 (PC)[27]
Eurogamer8/10 (PS2)[28]
GameSpot8.3/10 (PS2)[29]
7.4 (PC)[30]
IGN9.0/10 (PS2)[31]
PALGN8/10 (PS2)[32]

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege debuted at number one on the Japanese sales charts according to Famitsu. The game managed to sell 431,000 units in its first week.[33] The game went on to sell 569,275 units in Japan by the end of the year, making it the eleventh best-selling game in the region for 2004.[34] Sales info from NPD Group and Chart Track show that Onimusha 3: Demon Siege was the 10th best-selling game in both the United States and the United Kingdom during the week of its release.[35][36] The sales in North America regions were found "somewhat disappointing" with Capcom's Jun Takeuchi finding the staff's work was not enough to appeal to Western gamers.[37][38] Capcom VP of Strategic Planning and Business Development Christian Svensson referred to Onimusha 3 and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams as less successful games than the first two Onimusha.[39] As of May 2008, Onimusha 3 sold 1.5 million copies worldwide.[40]

The game achieved highly positive critical reception with both GameRankings and Metacritic rating it 85 out of 100.[23][25] Critics commonly focused on the improved controls that allow players to use the joystick's left analogue in order to move rather than the d-pad improving the flow of the combat.[29][31] Another common praise is the use of the 3D engine which gives the players a better view of the game's areas.[28][32] On the other hand, Eurogamer criticized the lack of innovation to the franchise and the quality from the voice acting which resulted in inconsistency with Jacques' character.[28] Jeremy Dunhan from IGN praised the story and the game's lasting appeal provided by its additional content.[31] GameSpot's Greg Kasavin shared a similar view based on its "strong" but criticized some subplots such as Jacques' relationship with his family or Ako's role as one of the plot's biggest flaws.[29] Although Eurogamer noted that there are times the camera does not show an enemy, the lock on function can remedy it by attacking enemies offscreen.[28] The graphics also were well received by writers although Kasavin expected a bigger interaction with the areas.[29] Dunhan found the game's audio appealing thanks its English cast but missed the original Japanese audio.[31]

The PC port of the game received considerably lower scores than the original PS2 game leading to lower averages in GameRankings and Metacritic.[24][26] Although Kasavin found the port to retain all the elements from the PS2 game, he still noted it "Looks and feels like an older PlayStation 2 game quickly ported to the PC."[30] The Computer and Video Games staff acknowledged multiple issues such as low framerate and a lack of sound effects which resulted in the game being called a "halfarsed PC conversion."[27]

Legacy

In the making of Resident Evil 4 game designer Shinji Mikami was inspired by the camera from Demon Siege.[41] According to Capcom's Yoshinori Ono, the 3D engine "pushed the PS2 hardware to its limits" resulting in Capcom's desire to retain the same quality for their following game, Shadow of Rome.[42] Inafune commented that some gamers did not like the game because they did not think it was a proper samurai game. As a result, the next game, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, would be set in ancient Japan.[12] GamesRadar listed Jean Reno's work as one of the eight celebrity roles impossible to take seriously based on the actor's fame and previous works.[43] On the other hand, GameSpot picked it as a finalist in the "Best Use of a Celebrity" award in its lists of 2004's best games.[44] The magazine PSM3 made a feature titled "Onimusha 3: Why it was the pinnacle of PS2 action" where they praised the game for its depth in combat mechanics and how well it has aged despite retaining fixed cameras and a linear level progression.[45] IGN also picked Onimusha 3 as "Game of the Month" in April 2004 as well as one of the best looking PlayStation 2 games.[46][47] In the Japan Game Awards from 2003 and 2004, Onimusha 3 received the "Award for Excellence."[48]

References

  1. 1 2 "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Walkthrough & Strategy Guide". GameSpy. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Walkthrough & Strategy Guide". GameSpy. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". IGN. 2004. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  4. ↑ Capcom. Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Capcom. Samanosuke: Time warp? What are you talking about? So this is all your doing!? / Guildenstern: Impudent worm, as usual. / Samanosuke:What is this place? / Guildenstern: Here? This is Paris, the capital of France. But it's the future, 500 years later than the Sengoku world that you were in. / Samanosuke: What? / Guildenstern: Under Lord Nobunaga's orders, the Genma started a new operation in this land.
  5. ↑ Capcom. Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Capcom. The story of the long battle between Akechi Samanosuke and Oda Nobunaga has come to an end. However, a new journey has already begun... Until the Oni Gauntlet in which Nobunaga is trapped is sealed away, their journey will continue.
  6. ↑ "Keiji Inafune Talks Onimusha 4". IGN. May 4, 2005. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Onimusha 3 announced". Gamers Hell. May 14, 2003. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "ON THE CUTTING EDGE". 1UP.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 Reed, Kristan (July 9, 2004). "Mr. Onimusha speaks". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ Niizumi, Hirohiko (November 14, 2003). "Capcom posts a profit". GameSpot. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Exclusive Interview: Oi 'Mush! - Capcom's Inafune speaks". ComputerAndVideoGames. June 10, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  12. 1 2 Boyd, Graeme (May 6, 2005). "Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams - Exclusive Interview". Computer And Video Games.
  13. ↑ Dunham, Jeremy (January 7, 2004). "Hori Announces Onimusha Contest". IGN. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  14. ↑ Hitmitsu, Supai (February 5, 2004). "Hori Announces Onimusha Contest". IGN. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  15. ↑ Kohler, Chris (October 28, 2004). "Onimusha, Resident Evil box sets for Japan". GameSpot. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  16. ↑ http://www.sourcenext.com/products/capcom/oni3.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ http://www.ubi.com/ES/Games/Info.aspx?pId=4278. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (March 14, 2006). "Shippin' Out 3/13-3/17: Outfit, Parallel Lines, MGS3: Subsistence". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  19. ↑ Valve staff (August 22, 2007). "Now on Steam: Capcom's Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". Valve Corporation. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  20. ↑ Bailey, Kat (August 12, 2008). "Capcom Reveals Onimusha Essentials Collection". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  21. ↑ Niizumi, Hirohiko (January 18, 2005). "Onimusha 3 takes a pachislot gamble". GameSpot. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Jissen Pachislo Hisshouhou! Onimusha 3". GameSpy. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  23. 1 2 "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". GameRankings. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  24. 1 2 "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". GameRankings. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  25. 1 2 "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". Metacritic. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". Metacritic. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  27. 1 2 "Onimusha 3". Computer And Video Games. March 1, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Reed, Kristan (May 6, 2004). "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Kasavin, Greg (April 26, 2004). "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". GameSpot. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  30. 1 2 Kasavin, Greg (April 7, 2006). "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege". GameSpot. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Dunham, Jeremy (April 23, 2004). "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege review". IGN. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  32. 1 2 Jastrab, Jeremy (March 1, 2006). "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Review". PALGN. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  33. ↑ Jenkins, David (March 5, 2004). "Latest Japanese Sales Charts - Week Ending February 28". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  34. ↑ "GEIMIN.NET／2004年テレビゲームソフト売り上げTOP500". Geimin.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  35. ↑ Jenkins, David (March 19, 2004). "Latest Japanese Sales Charts - Week Ending March 14". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  36. ↑ Jenkins, David (June 24, 2004). "Latest US Console Sales Charts – May". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  37. ↑ "Capcom Announces Sales Up By 27 Percent". Gamasutra. November 19, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Turning Games Un-Japanese". Edge. February 19, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  39. ↑ Reily, Jim (October 18, 2010). "Onimusha, Dino Crisis Franchises Not Dead". IGN. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Capcom Releases Lifetime Sales Numbers". IGN. May 23, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  41. ↑ De Matos, Xav (March 9, 2011). "Shinji Mikami on Shadows of the Damned and inspiring a new generation of competition". Shacknews. GameFly, Inc. Archived from the original on March 13, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  42. ↑ Lewis, Ed (January 31, 2005). "Shadow of Rome: The Interview". IGN. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  43. ↑ Sullivan, Lucas (April 26, 2013). "8 celebrity roles that are impossible to take seriously". GamesRadar. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Best of 2004". GameSpot. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Onimusha 3: Why it was the pinnacle of PS2 action". PSM3. ComputerAndVideoGames. August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  46. ↑ Dunhan, Jeremy (April 30, 2004). "Game of the Month: April 2004". IGN. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  47. ↑ Dunhan, Jeremy (May 7, 2010). "The Top 10 Best Looking PS2 Games of All Time". IGN. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  48. ↑ "GAME AWARDS 2003-2004 Awarded Games". Japan Game Awards. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
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