Onimusha Tactics

"A fast-paced, satisfying SRPG... Surprisingly good."

I don't know what it was that propelled me to trade-in FFTA for Onimusha Tactics at EB Games, but one thing I can assure you is that I do not regret it in any way. Onimusha Tactics picks up what FFTA had dropped, making for a fantastic game, which is, sadly, underrated by people turned off by the name and the setting. With more publicity and a catchier name, OT would have been so much more succesful.

Battle System: 7/10
The battles are your typical SRPG turn-based fights, where you control a squad of characters against a squad of ennemies. In this game, you can have a maximum of eight characters at the time. Each character has his/her own abilities, and they are all unique. Ennemies can pose of a threat, and some of these battles are actually quite challenging. However, as most SRPGs out there, a little bit of levelling up can take care of that, with the exception of three battles that require serious positioning. My only gripe with the battle system, however, is that, at times, the maps are so huge it will take forever before you can reach the ennemy.
Overall, battles in OT are fun and easy to learn, and at times, challenging.

Storyline: 9/10
The plot in this game is deep and very original. Although at first it may seem rather bland, as you progress, cutscenes are longer, and the game offers various explenations as to why what happens happens.
The story deals with a man named Nobunaga, a defeated ruler who arises as a devil to have revenge on those who opposed him. He is now a mad man who has amassed forces of the underworld to unite Japan under his rulership of evil and malice. Following him are generals who served him before his defeat, and who are still loyal to him.
As the village of Iga is being attacked by Nobunaga's forces, a Samurai named Onimaru rushes home after hearing of the dreadful news. His master reveals to him a secret about his past, his family, and his destiny. It is then that Onimaru embarks on a journey across Japan with the help of his sister, Oboro, and dozens of other characters.
What is interesting here is that every character's personality is unique and well developped. There is lots of humor here, and the plot's tones are very dark. The plot involves murder, religion, love, and intimate relationships between the characters.
The game's plot also relies heavily on Japanese history. It is not often that you have games with plots that actually required some kind of researching to write.
While at times the plot may feel rushed, you must keep in mind that you are indeed in a hurry to defeat Nobunaga.

Localization: 6/10
Uhm... I'm not too sure what to say here. The localization was fair, but not great. This is mainly due to the fact that EVERY line was translated directly from the Japanese script. Nothing was really converted to english, including the jokes, some of which will be rather disturbing. This results in dialogue that will sometimes leave you confused.

Music/Sound: 8/10
There was a good selection of music here. There are four main battle themes, each of which is beautifully composed and does not repeat itself within seconds. Outside of battles, the music is also satisfying. The world map theme is great, but lasts WAY too long. It lasts at least two minutes, and there is no way that you'll ever spend more than thirty seconds on the map. This is not a bad thing. Just an odd thing. Leaves you wondering why the composer spent so much time composing the song.
As for sounds, nothing spectacular, but nothing irritating either. It is your average GBA hack 'n' slash.

Gameplay: 5/10
Easily the game's weakest point is its gameplay. While not boring, hardcore SRPG players seeking an experience of the likes of Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis might want to look elsewhere. Onimusha Tactics is entirely linear, with the exception of the nearly-useless Phantom Realm. It would have been neat if you could have a choice of where to go at times, considering some parts of the game revolve around saving towns and castles. Capcom should have made it possible to chose which location to free from Genma first. Also, if you could roam around the world map and revisit older areas, it would be nice too. This way, they could have included random battles against hordes of demons that you would randomly encounter on the map.
Also, while character customization is there, it is nowhere as deep as most SRPG players would like it to be. There are no classes, and the only way to alter character abilities is to switch weapons. Even in switching weapons, however, you will hardly notice a difference. Character customization in OT is more along the lines of your typical RPG, where you are given characters with one major skill to stick with for the rest of the game.
The only thing that is really customizable is your party. Each one of the ~20 characters has his/her own abilities, and by the end of the game, you will have your own unique party of eight characters. Goes without saying, however, that this adds very little to customization.

Interface: 9/10
The game is presented very well, and the menus, while complex, are simple and easy to learn. There is much to do in the menus, and yet, you will never be confused... Or at least, should not be.
A very neat aspect of the menus here is that you can create weapons using Genma Stones acquired from ennemies in battle. This eliminates shops, and while to some it may be a bad thing, the weapon creation system is so well done that soon you will forget all about shops. Also, another neat addition is that you can ''enhance'' certain weapons to make them stronger, and finally, turn them into ultimate weapons. Overall, the the game is very well presented.

Graphics: 7/10
While resembling the graphics of other SRPGs on the GBA such as FFTA of TO: KOL, this game lacks some of the vibrant colors that made those two games stand out. This is largely due to the fact that OT is more inclined toward realism with dark tones and realistic colors. Also, most of your time in this game will be spent outside, underground, or in factories. This will result in many areas looking familiar. Spell effects are neat and well animated, as well as the characters. Everything is smoothly done, and the character portraits show some level of effort on the part of Capcom.
The graphics in OT are solid enough, but they do not stand out as FFTA and TO: KOL did.

Overall, Onimusha Tactics is a nice addition to the GBA library. It should not be overlooked by anyone, as it offers a fun gaming experience. At least consider renting it. It takes only 15-20 hours to complete.

Good: Great plot with a very satisfying ending
Catchy, fitting music
Some nice spell animations

Bad: Lasts only 15-20 hours
Very little character customization
Completely linear

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/29/03