Player 1

This week: Onimusha 3

PJ HRUSCHAK | CIN WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege.

JUST THE FACTS

TITLE: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

SYSTEMS: PS2

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1

PUBLISHER: Capcom

COST: $49.99

ESRB RATING: "M" for Mature for blood, gore and intense violence

WEB SITE: www.capcom.com/onimusha3/

PJ'S LAST WORD: The final installment to the Onimusha trilogy is an enjoyable button-mashing action game with a lot of extras even experienced gamers can exploit.

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I know it is wrong, but sword-wielding skeleton demons dropping in on unsuspecting humans chatting on their cell phones is pretty funny.

That is a common occurrence in the final installment of the Onimusha trilogy, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, thanks to an undead army created by a demon scientist.

WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS, AKO

Evil warlord Nobunga Oda, using resurrection technology created by creepy scientist Guildenstern, returns every few years in a video game, this time sending his undead lackeys to attack villages in ancient Japan and modern-day France.

The star of the first game, Samanosuke Akechi (again voiced by and modeled after Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro) returns to deal some proper samurai-warrior-style justice and save the world. But, due to a sudden Terminator-style time-travel vortex, he's shot into the future while French military officer Jacques Blanc (partially voiced by and fully modeled after French actor Jean Reno) zips back to Samanosuke's time.

To make matters worse, Jacques' whiny son has been captured and being held prisoner at a secret location in France. Both warriors must work together across time to try to destroy Oda, stop the resurrection insanity for the last time, and return to their own time.

Only Ako, a squeaky glowing fairy, can traverse time to allow gamers to play both characters, or, in some segments, trade items between player characters to help solve puzzles.

WHIP IT, WHIP IT GOOD

While Samanosuke (pronounced sam-an-ose-kay) uses more traditional blades, Jacques gets to use cool distance weapons, like a whip and an extending sword. Both characters have special, more powerful moves that result in amazing effects.

As you defeat the baddies, they leak souls you can suck up with your strange blinking gauntlet to replenish your life force, fuel more powerful attacks and trade in to build up your equipment. Collect enough large purple souls - which are heavier, so they take more time to suck up - and you can transform into a glowing demon that is not only invincible, but has spectacular attacks.

Ako, the bonus buddy of the game, can perform certain helpful tasks for you depending on her outfit (how Final Fantasy X-2 of them), such as sucking the life from bad guys and/or replenishing your health.

ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT

All the water and fire effects in the game are well-rendered, and the environments have great details, especially for a PS2 title. The load times are virtually invisible, so "Ha ha, nanny noo noo!" to you snobby Xboxers.

O3 includes options such as blood color and gore settings. Guess which ones I picked? You can also choose between two difficulties or later select an "Easy" mode that is unlocked after you die a couple of times.

The complex moves such as the hissatsu (or counter-attacks) need to be perfectly executed, otherwise you'll take a ton of hits. These can become frustrating, though more nimble-fingered players may find these easier to master than I.

The game's camera is the biggest fault, often sitting in a high corner creating blind spots that enemies can exploit with a cheap shot. But all the game's faults are completely overshadowed by the opening six-minute video sequence. The animated motion and highly rendered characters are the best I have ever seen - even better than FFX-2. Just don't expect the in-game movies to be even half as cool.

Being lost in time is a perfect theme for this game. Whenever I play O3, I lose all track of time. The weapons, amazing special attacks, mostly interesting story and button-mashing fun make O3 a highly addictive game and well worth the money. If you are not an Onimusha fan, this is a great time to become one.

Designed for Onimusha 3, the Hori Katana Soul Controller is a wireless, motion-sensitive sword that, when swung, actually makes your on-screen character do the same.

KATANA SOUL CONTROLLER

Peripheral developer Hori has crafted a special edition wireless Katana Soul Controller meant to be played with Onimusha 3, available through the Capcom web site or select U.S. stores for $150. Of the dozen local stores I called, only Game Junkie (7132 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd., West Chester) had the controller in stock, as well as a Japanese import Onimusha 3 8MB memory card that comes with a nice wooden box. Many stores said they could special order the controller - often for a $20 deposit - or said to check back in a couple weeks. Capcom’s web site was sold out of the controller at the time this article went to press.

Game Junkie was cool enough to let me try one out. Unfortunately, the plastic controller is difficult to control. Swinging activates the square button, which are the slashing attacks, though it is hardly in sync with the game. Also, the index finger buttons are flipped so R2 is above R1, and the second thumb joystick is on the nice rubber hilt where you would naturally hold it for optimum swingage. You could use the wireless katana for other games, but why bother? If you have mad spare change lying around and want to impress your friends, this will look great above your TV in all its plastic glory. Otherwise, just get the game, or the cool looking memory card.

What upcoming release can't you wait to own? Be it game, garb or gear, let PJ know at player1@cincinnati.com.