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Don't
fix it if it ain't broke, says the house of Mega Man
fame. by Cole
Smith
Please
click here to read our other Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams
Review
March
27, 2006 - Or,
don't kill off a series until you've completely milked
your cash cow. Capcom has decided to bring the Onimusha
series back from the pasture.
So
do we begin the game by finding all the inhabitants
of Nobunaga taking a shower, and realizing that it
was all just a dream? Did it just "dawn"
on them that it was all just a "dream?"
No. That would be mental. This story is all new and
features all new characters. It takes place 15 years
after the fall of Nobunaga. Since the story begins
anew, you don't have to have any prior knowledge of
the series. For true believers, it's time once again
to take up arms and enjoy one of the best Onimusha
games ever.
In
the beginning we see a peaceful Japan enjoying its
prosperity when a strange planet approaches bringing
with it devastation in the form of earthquakes and
volcanoes. The benevolent ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi,
begins to go mad and seizes absolute power over the
country as he becomes a brutal dictator. With all
the strange happening the return of the wicked Genma
is near. Chaos, destruction and evil are once again
threatening to destroy the stability of Japan and
the lives of its inhabitants as demons begin to walk
the earth. But then appears a savior known as the
Blue Demon. His real name is Soki and he's a power
to be reckoned with.
The
story is well told through cinematic cutscenes that
are some of the best in the series. The plot is thick
but not thick enough that it can't twist and turn.
The writing is good but there are some translation
issues. There are lots of characters involved but
they aren't all thrown at you in the first cutscene.
They come in at various stages and even though you
may hear their names beforehand, you won't have to
deal with them until later in the game. The premise
and the role of the characters in the story is similar
to the trilogy but with new characters that are successors
to the previous ones. Unlike the trilogy, there is
some levity in the story which makes it seem a little
more fun and not so damn somber.
Not
only is combat system more fluid, flexible and deep,
but some of the problems that plagued the trilogy
have been addressed. The camera is not fixed to specific
angles. Most of the time you can move it 350-degrees
so that you can see enemies that would otherwise take
shots at you off screen. There are plenty of environmental
puzzles where you will have to see clear to the other
side of a drop or another platform to make the appropriate
move to get to the other side. Moves such as these
are so much easier with the manual camera.
Offering
five different playable characters with different
abilities makes the combat system deeper but without
resorting to tons of button combo commands. You will
use the same button commands for the different characters
but you will access exclusive moves. Unlike so many
games with multiple playable characters, you are actually
going to see a need to use them all to get through
the numerous obstacles throughout the stages. Whether
fighting specific enemies or confronted by the various
puzzles, you will have to find the right man (or woman)
for the job. There isn't one particular character
that you can use to get through the entire game although
most of the time you will be playing as Soli most
of the time.
You
can issue commands to the AI characters, but there
are only four commands. One tells them to lay low
while they regenerate their health. It's funny how
the enemy seems to help them out by not attacking
them too aggressively. All your party members seem
to do is block them as they are never provoked into
battle. Another old strategy is to switch party members
when one character is low on health. There are plenty
of health potions available but when the demons get
bigger and badder, they deplete your heath quicker.
Playing
as the different characters you will use different
skills, powers and weapons. Huge swords, projectiles,
blades, magic, psychic powers and superhuman strength
are some of the weapons and abilities that you will
employ against the demons. As the demons increase
in power and size, so you and your party members will
also be able to gain more moves and upgrade your powers
and weapons.
There
are two distinct ways to level-up. One is with the
capturing of souls which will increase your weapons
and upgrade your armor while experience points, which
you will receive for success in combat, will increase
your powers and abilities. There is plenty of fighting
in Dawn of Dreams but it's offset with some interesting
puzzles and side quests. The gameplay is open-ended
in that you don't have to perform all of the side
quests but some will definitely be to your benefit
in terms of upgrading. The map will open up in the
areas that you explore. There is a sense of freedom
to the game but there is some backtracking that you
will be forced into. Thankfully you have a little
buddy that lives in a vase named Minokichi, that will
help you warp to other levels. Some of the bosses
can be really tough and can send you back a long,
long way. You'll encounter some of these bosses more
than once. By completing the game you can go back
and encounter more difficult enemies, as well as find
new unlockables and more challenging puzzles.
There
is a two-player co-op mode but it's not easy to find.
I don't know if I should spoil it and tell you where
it is but I can tell you this, don't get your hopes
up. It's not that exciting. There is a two-player
arena battle mode that you will unlock when you complete
the game the first time through.
The
graphics are incredibly smooth. Characters display
their personalities through their walk, whether it's
the plodding gait of an evil zombie demon or the cocky
swagger of the hero. All of the environments are richly
detailed. This adventure will take you indoors and
outside both day and night through fog, rain and sunny
skies. The voiceovers are good and you can select
from both Japanese and English. Expect some out-of-synch
lip movements.
Dawn
of Dreams is a long game. It's full of surprises,
in terms of gameplay, storyline and unlockables. It's
a little more complicated than any of the games in
the trilogy but consider this a bonus for die-hard
fans.
By
Cole Smith
CCC
Senior Writer
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