Onimusha Tactics

"Samurais. Thousands of 'em."

Onimusha Tactics. What to say? There are so many angles in which I can start this review from. Hmm, ok, first off, let me tell you that I thought this was part of the Onimusha game that is for the PS2, so I was like all wow and ah and brought this game. My expectations for this game are high therefore I was a bit disappointed with this game, but I'm glad to tell you that it is a good game none of the less, even ought a bit less in depth. At least I'm still glad they, Capcom, released a tactic game for the GBA. The other two tactic game that looks very similar – for those of you who are wondering – is Tactic Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactic Advance.

BAM! Straight off the bat you can see this game has one scary title screen, with the demon in the background. The main menu of this game is very basic: there is a new game, a load game, and an option. While I understand the theme setting for this game is on Asia, I still don't like the background they used for the option – it looks like the sign of the amateur.

Ok, for those of you who completely don't know what tactic games are, it is like chess. There characters and enemies on the board that you can control and manipulate. The ‘board' of the game is the environment of the game, ranging from a dungeon to the outside grass field. Usually the objective of the game is to destroy a number of the enemies in the game while trying not get yours killed. And that is the basic run down of this game, except a couple of things.

And the meters in this game is very simple: You have health bar, ‘SP' bar in which it determines if you can use your skills, a set of special moves.

Straight off the bat. Bam! There many items in the game like other tactic games, namely Final Fantasy Tactic and Advance, the genesis of all tactic games. You can't go to the store and buy things, important things, such as herb to health your heal or armor in the game. You can't even go to the inn and sleep! What's up with that?

Interesting how in most games you obtain money after the battle to buy things; rather in this game all you do is find your weapon during the battle and then you can equip it.

Another thing in the game that some of you might be disappointment: there isn't any magic in the game that you can use consistently. While the theme of this game is kind of realistic (perhaps. There are demons in this game) they should include some sort of magic in the game. However, there are ‘skills' in this game that seems to be assigned to you once you hit a certain level or obtained new weapons.

Which brings us to this class issue; there aren't any classes in this game like FFA. This is not a good or bad thing. Each character in the game is distinct and unique and treated as an individual, not a class. They each have their own distinct picture and pixels in the screen. I thought it would have been nice if they, Capcom, would include some classes in the game like ninja, samurai, warrior, lady ninja, monk etc. That would have been so cool! Because there isn't any class system for you to switch to and fro, there isn't much depth in this game.

This is the major flaw in this game folks: the depth, because there isn't much! One of the most important things about the tactic games is that it is very much about the characters, like RPG games. In this game you can't build your characters much because there isn't any shop to buy new weapons, new items to try on to make them stronger or anything. Customizing your character is to the minimum, so most of the time you just select them and you're good to go for the battle. I wish they would add more depth in this game so there is more replayable, but most importantly make this game more fun to play! They should add a class system and some shops. Another big, major league flaw is that the inability for your clan to visit the place once you beat it in battle. In most games you get to visit the place and face other enemies, so you can level up. That isn't the case in this game.

Let me stress out that while I'm pointing out the flaws in this game it doesn't mean that this game isn't good either; I actually like the game play for this game and the storyline is rather interesting. Another thing that is good is that the Asian culture for this game is good rather then the old European medieval style game with knights and mages.

Story? What story? Oh yeah, this story is about two young people who are orphans and they're from this accent clan called the One clan, and that there is a evil force out there called The Genii who wants to do something nefarious so its up the main protagonist in this game, Oniaru to say the day. He also have a sister like figure who name is Tsubame (who is very cute, by the way) you're on a quest to save the Clan and the country. It is basically a good against evil theme in the game. The story itself is good and that you should take the time to understand it.

One thing about this game that stands out a lot is that the graphics for this game is very good! This is one of the best graphics for tactic games I have seen, rivaling that of the Final Fantasy Tactic Advance. Each character in the game has their own picture in the menu. The characters in the game vary, from the hero with the big red birth mark in this face to the cute girl to the big bad bandit chief.

The actual pixels of the characters in the game aren't that all bad either; it is detailed and each of them looks like a distinct character in the game instead of something generic. Not only that but in the game the characters actually convey personality through their body language to their speech pattern.

So do I recommend you buy this game or something? Ok, if there is a young kid or someone who likes Japanese setting theme then go out and buy this game for them; otherwise rent this game because it isn't in depth as I like it to be. I want an tactic game that has depth, which this game doesn't deliver. However, because of its graphics and fun game play and story line, this game deserves to be beaten at least once.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/17/05