PlayStation 2

Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams

Apesar de a Capcom clamar que "Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams" é um recomeço para a série, pouca coisa mudou em sua essência. Mas o nível de interesse pela série continua em alta devido aos novos recursos do game, como jogar com dois personagens e ter uma variedade maior de golpes. Quem gosta de explorar tudo que um game tem, vai gostar ainda mais da série, e os fãs antigos continuarão se divertindo com a fórmula vencedora.

The overall package is wonderful and there is little to really complain about. The puzzles are a kind of chintzy, mostly of the "Find the Blue Lion Key" variety that Resident Evil popularized (of course, considering the series' aforementioned producer, this is little surprise). Also, cutscenes are of variable quality. You've got some really beautiful CG sequences, some pretty-good in-game stuff, and then you've got the between-level hideout conversations where the characters only use canned animation and their mouths don't move. Honestly, though, that's a small price to pay for entry into, at least in my opinion, one of the best action games to grace the industry in years. It's fun, lengthy, beautiful, and really, really satisfying. Onimusha 3 started disappearing off of store shelves pretty early and even a price drop from most retailers couldn't help it. Dawn of Dreams may be headed for the same fate, so buy it while you can!

Jeśli masz za sobą poprzednie części Onimushy, najnowsza odsłona na pewno przypadnie Ci do gustu. Gdzieś po drodze uciekły elementy survival-horror, klimat uległ zmianie, jednak to nadal rozrywka na najwyższym poziomie. Czas gry bije na głowę poprzednie części, jeśli zechcecie odkryć wszystkie sekrety i poznać wszystkie ukryte smaczki gry, zajmie Wam to jakieś 50 (!) godzin (warto też wspomnieć o tym, że Dawn of Dreams zajmuje aż dwie płyty DVD), a nawet więcej. Coś wspaniałego. Capcom po raz kolejny pokazał klasę. I to w jaki sposób! Aż strach się bać na myśl o czwartej części Devil May Cry. Dawn of Dreams, choć nie jest bezpośrednią kontynuacją, to i tak zwyczajnie rządzi. Brać.

I think I’m trying too hard. After writing versions of this review that make Dawn of Dreams analogous to a formerly awkward teen’s coming out party and maybe even tossing in a Meat Loaf reference, the only real truth is that the game can be summarized simply and effectively. It’s wicked fun. Dawn of Dreams serves up platefuls of expertly balanced RPG and action gameplay. There are legions of enemies to slice and hack through with either blind flailing or skillful manipulation of the combat system – a true asset that lets both casual and hardcore types leave feeling fulfilled. The fast-paced storytelling that cuts the fat while leaving in all the history, intrigue, and mysticism you’d expect from a demonic survival horror tale set in ancient Japan wraps up the new features and technology in such a way that they all seem terribly natural. In fact, the package is so complete that you might forget how much is new, since it all just feels so right.

The first Onimusha game was a risk for Capcom, but one that paid off in a big way. Steeped in Japanese history, no one knew if the series would appeal to American gamers, but the strong visual style and solid gameplay resulted in a trilogy that's loved the world over. Set 15 years after the last game, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams not only opens a new chapter in the saga, it also expands on the already solid gameplay giving PlayStation 2 owners yet another reason to fire up their aging systems.

The Onimusha franchise has come along way since it's inception as a third-person action horror title. The fourth installment in the Onimusha series, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams takes place 15 years after Onimusha 3. The war between Oda Nobunaga and the descendents of the Onimusha clan has finally come to an end; however, a new threat arises when Nobunaga's successor Hideyoshi Toyotomi mysteriously changes into a tyrannical despot and plunges the Japanese countryside into strife again. Sensing the suffering of the people, the Genma invade our dimension again and it's up to a select few warriors to stave of demonic enslavement.

I was more than a bit wary when I first heard about Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams. At first I was disappointed that it would be taking place several years after the events of the last game in the series, meaning that the story wouldn't focus on Samanosuke, the hero of the first and third entries in the series. I was also a bit suspicious when it was mentioned that Dawn would be a sort of "rebirth" for the series. I really liked Onimusha the way it was -- why did it need a rebirth?

All good things come to an end eventually, they say, but during the final battle in Capcom’s much-loved Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, I couldn’t believe that this was the final game in the series. Sure the Onimusha brand returned in the form of a fighting game that featured returning characters like Samanosuke and Jubei but what about the epic battle to put an end to demonic foes or putting an end to the ever troublesome Nobunaga Oda? Thankfully, the series makes its return as an all-new cast of characters find themselves battling the forces of evil in Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams - the best game in the series thus far.

Usually when something is supposed to be "last" in a series of popular movies, it rarely ever is. Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Star Trek, and a host of other fashionable franchises have always found a way to continue as long as there was a demand for them. This sort of mentality is even more prolific in the videogame market, though, where almost every piece of successful software is eventually met with some kind of follow-up, spin-off, prequel, or alternate universe-type cash-in no matter what the cool CG ending has you believe.

In Dawn of Dreams’ best stages, intense gameplay, pulse-pounding music and astonishingly beautiful settings come together perfectly. The developers can’t hit these high notes consistently, but it’s nice to see the venerable Onimusha matching the heights of Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden, if only sporadically. While the game is uneven, its 20 hour quest contains more than enough good parts to be worth a purchase.

Excellente surprise, ce quatrième Onimusha parvient à instaurer un certain nombre de nouveautés étonnamment efficaces, aussi bien en termes de rythme que de gameplay. Le résultat est impressionnant et augure du meilleur pour l'avenir de la saga.

Wechselbad der Gefühle: Komplexe Kämpfe und Teamwork treffen auf durchwachsene Präsentation.

With the classic Onimusha formula being enhanced in so many ways and the whole package being aimed at both the casual and hardcore players at the same time, there is little not to like about Dawn of Dreams. True, some of the bosses take horrendously long time to defeat, but that has always been the Onimusha way and, to be honest, we are glad of the challenge. Also, if you refuse to take the time to learn some of the more impressive moves and combos then you will be met with little more than a lesson in hitting an attack button lots, but if you are after a fair few ours of well-presented violence combined with a vague and surprisingly interesting history lesson, then look no further than Dawn of Dreams.

When Capcom backpedaled on the whole "last game in the series" bit, it was a bit scary for fans of the series. Another sequel smacked of creative bankruptcy -- an excuse to farm a bit more cash from an aging cow. But Dawn of Dreams is a good jumping-off point for a whole new story line in the vein of the original series, and offers just enough new mechanics to make it worth a play for both fans of the series and Onimusha virgins alike.

Capcom donne un nouveau souffle à sa série avec ce quatrième volet. Avec sa réalisation sublime, son gameplay aux petits oignons, son coté RPG des plus sympathiques et ses moments de castagne riches en émotions, Onimusha 4 s'impose comme un incontournable dans le domaine du jeu d'action - aventure.

Don't call it Onimusha 4. This latest installment in Capcom's flashy samurai action adventure series delivers the same impressive presentation and fast-paced combat fans have come to expect. And it's a significantly bigger game, sucking up two discs' worth of demon killing and chatty cutscenes. About the only thing missing are celebrity likenesses--the previous game, 2004's Onimusha 3, featured Jean Reno (The Professional) and Takeshi Kaneshiro (House of Flying Daggers) in a costarring role. In exchange, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams offers a lengthy new quest, five different playable characters, and a good amount of replay value, not to mention that distinct anime-meets-soap opera style.

Although this genre tends to be generic, Onimusha succeeds in giving it an original twist with perfect controls, deep gameplay and beautiful graphics. The story is a bit hard to follow sometimes but you will just keep playing and playing because after every cut scene, it only gets better and better.

Dawn's unlockable goodies will give Street Fighter fans a surefire boost, but anyone simply looking for an evolution in Onimusha will leave feeling shortchanged.

There comes a point in playing Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams when you realise that it's been somewhat lengthened via regrettably cheap tactics -- things like recycled game bosses, repetitive game sections and even some backtracking for the sake of making each of the game's chapters longer. Tie that into a game mechanic that, while better than many other action titles, still has a limited shelf life, and you're left with a game that tries very, very hard to justify its asking price and 2 disc status, but arguably doesn't quite make it. Onimusha's not a bad game, and the polish applied to it does shine through, but at the same time it just falls short of exceptional status.

There comes a point in playing Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams when you realise that it's been somewhat lengthened via regrettably cheap tactics -- things like recycled game bosses, repetitive game sections and even some backtracking for the sake of making each of the game's chapters longer. Tie that into a game mechanic that, while better than many other action titles, still has a limited shelf life, and you're left with a game that tries very, very hard to justify its asking price and 2 disc status, but arguably doesn't quite make it. Onimusha's not a bad game, and the polish applied to it does shine through, but at the same time it just falls short of exceptional status.

While it's commendable that some steps have been taken to change this series, it's arguable that no changes were needed in the first place. A great, wild, and fun combo system is the only true improvement. Capcom needs to stick to their promises and let their franchises die where appropriate. Dawn of Dreams is proof of that, and it's going to be difficult to get excited about the next entry after this.