Onimusha

Onimusha is a PlayStation 2 action-adventure game series by Capcom. Each game features a protagonist against an evil Oda Nobunaga bent on taking over Japan with army of demons, using a variety of weapons along with the power of a magic gauntlet given by the Ogre clan.

The game is a combination of third person combat and puzzle solving. The game also has a system of absorbing souls from defeated enemies to restore health, accumulate power for certain stats (similar to leveling up in RPGs), and provide power for the elemental attacks of special weapons.

Contents

1 Onimusha: Warlords (2001) 2 Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (2002) 3 Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004) 4 Onimusha Tactics (2003) 5 Onimusha Blade Warriors (JP 2003, US/EU 2004)

Onimusha: Warlords (2001)

The first game of the franchise features samurai Samanosuke Akechi, modeled after actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, determined to save Princess Yuki of the Saito clan and defeat Nobunaga, resurrected after signing a pact with demons. The game also features Kaede, a female ninja who helps Samanosuke with information.

The Samanosuke's weapons include a normal katana; Raizen, a lightning katana; Enryuu, a fire broadsword; Shippuu, a double sided wind naginata; and the Bishamon Sword. He also has access to a bow and matchlock rifle. His associate, Kaede, has two knives as well as kunai.

The protagonist, Samanosuke, is a fictional nephew to Akechi Mitsuhide (Akechi is the surname), the man historically credited to have actually killed Oda Nobunaga over 20 years later. It is rumoured that Samanosuke is an alternative name for one of Mitsuhide's actual nephew. In the game, Nobunaga is "killed", to be later resurrected by demons, in the battle of Okehazama. Historically, he was actually mistakenly reported to have been felled by an arrow in the Okehazama battle.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (2002)

The series presents a new protagonist: Yagyu Jubei, the leader of his own Yagyu clan, who may or may not be historically based on the legendary swordsman of the same name, Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi. The game also features several alternate characters to play as well as new weapons and elements.

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004)

Main article: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

Download the Onimusha 3: Demon Siege opening sequence, part 1Size: 41.0 MB

Download the Onimusha 3: Demon Siege opening sequence, part 2Size: 12.2 MB

The "final" chapter of Onimusha brings back Samanosuke Akechi along with a new character from the present, Jacques Blanc (played by actor Jean Reno), as well as the transition from 2D backgrounds to completely 3D environments.

The game ultimately covers the assult on Honnoji Temple, where historically, retainer Akechi Mitsuhide is credited to have killed Oda Nobunaga in a coup.

Though marketed as the final game of the series, the end cinematic rebuffs this idea.

Onimusha Tactics (2003)

Onimusha Tactics does not continue or follow the storyline of the previous Playstation 2 games. This game features the same plotline however. A samurai who possess the Oni Gauntlet can become the Onimusha and fights again Nobunaga and his army of genma.

Onimaru is this samurai. With a wide range of characters, many of which are the same as their Playstation 2 equivilant, you fight the genma until you ultimately fight Nobunaga. New to the series are additional chosen warriors. These warriors receive the power of the phoenix, tortouise, tiger and dragon to assist Onimaru. These animals corresponse with the chinese animals and colours for direction. This reference was also a puzzle in Onimusha 2.

Onimusha Blade Warriors (JP 2003, US/EU 2004)

Similar to Super Smash Bros., Blade Warriors is a simple 2D fighter game featuring many of the characters of the Onimusha franchise. Players may use standard sword fighting with combos, blocks, block-breaking kicks, jump, switch planes (the different levels of the fighting area), use various items, and disarm their opponents. It also includes the original aspects of the Onimusha series, including the absorption of souls and special elemental attacks (lightning, fire, and wind).

Fighters

• Samanosuke Akechi - protagonist samurai from Onimusha 1
• Kaede - ninja from Onimusha 1
• Keijiro Maeda - Yumemaru from Onimusha 1
• Grunt
• Jubei Yagyu - protagonist samurai from Onimusha 2
• Oyu of Odani - swordswoman from Onimusha 2
• Ekei Ankokuji - warrior monk from Onimusha 2
• Kotaro Fuma - ninja from Onimusha 2
• Marcellus - demon boss from Onimusha 1
• Three-Eyes - demon ninja from Onimusha 1
• Jujudormah - demon boss from Onimusha 2
• Zombie - demon grunt from Onimusha 1

Unlockable Fighters

• Jaid - demon fighter
• Musaid - demon ninja
• Juju-ran - Jujudormah in her younger, more attractive years
• Marcellus S - a slightly faster version of Marcellus, wielding two large blades
• Musashi Miyamoto - none other than the legendary swordsman famous for his niten'ichi (二天一, "two heavens as one") style. Has no involvement in Onimusha.
• Kojiro Sasaki - legendary swordsman who fought with his nodachi against Musashi and lost.
• Megaman EXE - comes in normal, Ground, and Bug styles.
• Zero - Megaman Zero version
• Magoichi Saiga - rifleman from Onimusha 2
• Gogandantess - self-proclaimed, "The greatest swordsman of all demons" in Onimusha 2
• Nobunaga Oda- the antagonist of the Onimusha franchise
• Gargant - powerful demon swordsman in Onimusha 3