PlayStation 2

Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask

Inuyasha is a Japanese animated series that's enjoyed a high level of popularity in North America, a popularity fueled and facilitated by the show's long run in Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block. Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask is a turn-based role-playing game set in the world of the animated series that showcases the cast of the show, two all-new characters, and a fresh set of adventures. While that description might sound appealing to fans of the show, the game itself employs a number of horrible, tired RPG conventions and a budget presentation, making it difficult to recommend to even the most fervent of fans.

or many fans of niche-brand-licensed games, the actual quality of the gameplay offered is a secondary concern to how well their beloved franchise is treated in the video game world. Fans will be pleased with the cast’s voice work, all-new storyline, and original characters designed for the game. For those with no time or emotional investment in the series, this role-playing game is slower than milkshake moving up a cocktail straw, blander in appearance than most PSone titles, and has more grating dialogue than a rerun of The Facts of Life. There is not a single above-average feature here, but the game does get a .25 bonus for onomatopoeia during battles.