Unfairly overlooked slasher classic returns. I played Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
We've been waiting years after the first remaster, but Capcom has finally decided to release a refreshed Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny game later this year. As it happens, I've already had the pleasure of playing it.
I have to it, I was really surprised by the option to check out the remastered version of Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny before its official release. Usually, these kinds of updates come out without much marketing fuss. That's why Capcom's decision made me happy. Every opportunity to remind people of the classics is a good chance to go back in time, and the perfect moment to try to get new people into cult games. I really enjoy revisiting old memories and the past because I often see a lot more in them than I did before. I believe that now, with a better understanding of the industry and its development, I can fully appreciate them.
Here we have an interesting case because, despite the undoubtedly legendary status of Onimusha as a franchise, it never achieved the commercial success it deserved. In retrospect, however, this adds to its mythical status. It's a series of games that most players have heard of and fondly playing, but they didn't exactly fly off the shelves. I won't pretend it was a huge commercial failure, because they made sequels for a reason. Simply put, the series aspired to achieve much greater success.
Oda Nobunaga is wreaking havoc again
It's no secret that the first two installments were originally designed for the PSX but were eventually released on the next-gen consoles. In simple , the first installment was similar to the Resident Evil series, with a fixed camera and a focus on environmental puzzles and combat. Of course, this popular comparison doesn't fully reflect the character of Onimusha. First and foremost, it's a killer atmospheric adventure with great artistic direction and iconic features, like the use of demonic powers or the satisfying precision of every katana cut. Even though the combat system itself isn't as complex and it's in vain to look for as many mechanical nuances as in Devil May Cry. When it comes to Onimusha, it's also worth ing the movie accents, like using images of famous actors, which has become a kind of trademark of the series.
I have the impression that in discussions, the Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny series is often skipped, which is a shame because it wasn't just a simple continuation, as the remaster reminded me. It's a pretty experimental sequel, mostly created by a different team, which you can feel in the gameplay and the slightly different atmosphere. The main character also changed, this time the image was provided by the late Yusaku Matsuda. The protagonist, Jubei Yagyu, is a proud and slightly rough warrior seeking revenge on the attackers who brutally wiped out his clan and the villagers in his hometown. So we accompany him in a bloody vendetta against the demonically revived Oda Nobunaga and his hellish henchmen.
The refreshed version quickly reminded me of how many changes have influenced the narration. Compared to the predecessor, the sequel has a lot more interactions between the more expressive characters, which is further highlighted by the new ally system. So, even though it's still a personal revenge story, this time the feeling of loneliness is not as prominent. There are many moments when we feel ed by other people who are also dealing with their own inner tragedies, like the loss of loved ones. All of this goes hand in hand with a more adventurous aspect, where there are plenty of moments to relax and explore at your own pace. I'll also add that the team had more time to prepare the title, so they managed to implement elements that were planned during the first installment - as a result, the sequel feels bigger and more complex.
Samurai destiny
The old-school gameplay has stood the test of time, and the updated controls have been well implemented. Although I have to it that sometimes the camera jumps can be problematic during boss fights, and the arenas are just too small. However, this isn't a review, so I won't go into too much detail. I must mention that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the graphics! The PS2 was an incredible piece of hardware that generated some graphic effects in rather unconventional ways, such as transparency or fog. That's why many remasters emulate these techniques very poorly, which can completely disrupt the atmosphere of a given scene, location, or even the entire game. I didn't notice it here. The static backgrounds are beautiful, the locations haven't been stripped of their graphic effects, and the 3D models have been nicely restored and blend in better with the surroundings compared to the first installment. The beautiful rain in the initial locations and the photorealistic river continue to make a stunning impression. Although it's "just" a remastered version of an old game, it's sharpened and touched up where needed.
The most important thing for me is that I had a great time during those few hours. I have to it, I played a lot more of the game than I was supposed to because I just couldn't put the controller down. This is still a great game and a perfect appetizer before the new installment, which I hope will delight and achieve the greatest success, because this series simply deserves it.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny will be released on May 23rd on PC, PS5, and XSX.
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