E3: Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams Hands-On

Does adding an epic-sounding subtitle make any difference to Capcom's unstoppable series?

Capcom must be gearing up for the new consoles, because its lineup this year wasn't exactly breathtaking. One of the stronger titles, relatively speaking, was definitely Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams.

Nothing will really be new to players with this game. Dawn of Dreams is standard, and classic, Capcom button smashing action. It is frankly a forgettable game that requires itself to be rented with a pizza and six-pack. In fact, so far Dawn of Dreams looks like a hacked version of Devil May Cry minus the atmosphere, strategy, and story.

That being said, Onimusha is, at the very least, entertaining. Wicked combos seem to pop out of nowhere after pressing a few random buttons. Not quite the epilepsy-inducing light show of the Marvel vs. Capcom series, mind you, but enough to make you exclaim, "Wow, I did that? I am a freaking master!" And I have to admit that it is fun to just go around and only have to worry about having to slaughter enemies with your ridiculously large broad sword.

Aside from being rudimentary, Dawn of Dreams suffers from what is becoming outdated Playstation 2 graphics. The environments call attention to themselves, not because they are gripping and beautiful, but because they seem to be that of a first generation game for the console. The story is also pretty standard fare. You are Soki, a young warrior who must battle the forces of darkness in Japan, and overthrow the evil Hideyoshi. If ever a game was suited for the coin guzzling arcades, this is it.

An interesting feature of the game is the addition of warriors that fight alongside you as you progress through the game. Each one has different fighting styles and abilities. Again, this is nothing new to the gaming world, but it does make the game a tad more interesting.

So, Onimusha can be an enjoyable gaming experience as long as you take it for what it is: a Hollywood action film with cheesy one-liners.

Mike Knowlan
Contributor, Kikizo Games