Onimusha Tactics

"Onimusha Tactics: A true underdog story"

Onimusha is one of the flagship series that is under the Capcom regime. The series has spawned four console games. Onimusha 1-3 on the PS2 and Genma Onimusha on the XBox. When the news of Onimusha Tactics came about, I was one of the many who was skeptical about how this game was going to compare to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. I can honestly say that this is one of the best tactics game that I have played in a long time. It's rare to have a game enter a new genre and stay true to its original themes.

GRAPHICS: 8

Considering the fact that the game went from console to portable the game looks damn good. It's just about on par with Final Fantasy Tactics. Animations are smooth and the special attacks are rather amazing for the system. I was pleasantly surprised and happy that it came out looking as good as it does.

SOUND: 7

There aren't too many surprises here the sounds are all generic, but the music does fit the game perfectly. I would have liked to see there be a few more sounds during the battle, but all you will get are the same sword swipe sounds and maybe a critical blow noise. The music is where the sound shines. The music in the game is beautiful and really sets the tone for the game and forshadows whats going to be happening next.

GAMEPLAY: 10

The gameplay is where the game gets its score. The control is tight and is easy to get use to. The fact that the game is so in depth with its weapons and armor system, plus the fact that you still collect souls to boost your weapons is simply amazing. They added a great system for collecting weapons as well. After you defeat some enemies you collect genma stones these stones can be mixed together thus creating weapons, armor, and some items. This added gameplay feature was a huge bonus because it created a depth to the game itself. The game is a good length it will take you a while to beat, but you won't loose hundreds of hours playing it like some people I know. (P Money)

Overall the game isn't anything that hasn't been done before, but if your a fan of the series or just a fan of tactical RPG's then go out and buy it. It's a great way to waste a week or a month for you slower gamers out there. In a land of tactical RPG's Onimusha ranks near the top, just give it time and i'm sure you will all be sending me a dollar.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/07/04