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Superb Action Title Improved for Xbox

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 23
Date: February 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Onimusha was and is a great game for the PS2. However, the staggering amount of improvements to this Xbox version--Genma Onimusha--now makes the original game nearly unplayable.

There is a new group of levels; some new (and very protective) armor that can be obtained by going through a very challenging Xbox-only area; rearranged secrets and objectives; 30 "bonus" Flourites to find versus only 20 in the original; and mildly improved graphics. The graphics upgrade is akin to Resident Evil 2 on DC vs. PS1--that is, primarily just sharper, anti-aliased character models and better lighting.

Now the really important changes! The new game has a new Green Soul component, which completely alters gameplay. Green Souls are actually fought over in tugs of war with enemies. If you win and collect 5 you can boost into temporary invincibility and recover some health. If any given enemy wins, they transform into a bloody red powerhouse.

Also, the magic power-up and sword systems are all improved upon and enhanced. Now, both sword and magic systems can be powered up to 3 more times to unleash increasingly impressive attacks. A level 3 lightning sword burst looks awesomely painful. Much strategy is involved too, as powering up requires dropping guard and holding the attack button down.

All these new elements really add up to a much more challenging, more strategic, and more exciting Onimusha. Don't let the PS2 and Resident Evil design origins fool you, this game is Xbox-worthy and also manages to make the Resident Evil design work in a high action title (something which many are dubious about until they play the game, myself once included).

Good game but ludicrously difficult

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 25 / 34
Date: February 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Genma Onimusha has a lot going for it. Good graphics, nice samurai setting, cool armored creatures, fast sword action, cool concept with the soul tuggings, very good soundtrack. It is a good balance of fast-paced action and puzzles. The play control is pretty responsive although it takes some getting used to due to the unconventional use of the D-Pad.

Nevertheless ...

The game is VERY VERY hard. And I don't throw term around lightly. Even on Easy mode (which can be unlocked by dying five times--not hard to do) the game is ridiculously challenging. The enemies are too strong, there's not enough energy to go around, and there's not enough save points. You're bombarded by enemies early on and they move fast and take a lot of hits to kill. When you do manage to kill these enemies, they can (randomly) come back when you walk through the same rooms again. You can run away from enemies but then you won't build up enough soul points to upgrade your orbs. And there's just not enough Herbs or other items to cure yourself.

A few other notable but less important points: (1) The instruction manual tells you nothing. There are moves that you can do that the manual completely omits. This is based on the idea that game manufacturers produce lousy manuals to increase your incentive to purchase the strategy guide. (2) Since this is a PS2 port, you don't get the option to save at anytime. That's too bad. I would have really liked to save anywhere, anytime. (3) The Control options are pretty limiting. I would have liked to have more freedom over button assignments.

(In case you were wondering, the straw that broke the camel's back was when I died because I couldn't solve a puzzle fast enough. The puzzle was hard and to be timed on something like that is just too preposterous for words.)

In conclusion, Genma Onimusha is a cool game, but its insane difficulty left me too frustrated to stick with it.

This overlooked Beauty is a Great Value at a used price!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: July 10, 2002
Author: Amazon User

As fall 2002 nears, the Xbox is going to see an onslaught of incredible games. This holiday season is going to make non-xbox owners very envious. But before all of that occurs...
Take the time to look into Genma Onimusha. I have put about ten hours into this game and I am absolutely loving it. There is a touch of resident evil here with gorgeous backgrounds and superb character design, but the action is much faster paced and more satisfying.
The production values are extremely high with the music being some of the best video game music ever. The graphics and overall package really sweep you up into the samurai experience.
I've read that the Xbox version is harder and more complex than the PS2 version, but as I've never played it, this one seems great to me. The difficulty level is perfect with a few levels needing to be replayed but you always eventually get through.
The level ups are a lot of fun as you build up stones for a gauntlet on your arm that allows for magic attacks through your sword. Some heinously difficult level bosses can be smacked down with some upper level magic/sword attacks.
Add to this some very clever and original puzzle door locks and secret passageways and you have an awesome action game with plenty of fantastic art design and a thorougly in-depth experience.
Capcom needs to make a lot more of games like this!
If you can find Genma Onimusha at a used price I recommend you jump all over it.

Feudal Japan Samurai Adventure

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: April 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

No game library is complete without a Samurai-theme game. Genma Onimusha is THE title to nicely fill that void in the XBox library. Set in feudal Japan era, laced with some true history background, this Samurai adventure is fun and simple to play through; you will even uncover secrets of the military warlord genius Oda Nobunaga.

Graphics 8
Identical to the original PS2. XBox anti-alias function somewhat smoothens the general look fo the game. The artwork and design of the characters and background bring you to the Warring States period of Japan. The composition and color scheme of the graphics are so well done that it makes it a very nice game to look at and play.

Sound 8
The orchestrated scores by the Tokyo Symphony is perfect for the game, although it could be repetitive; still it captures the passion and spirit of a lone samurai warrior. I do enjoy the voice acting alot, cheesy or not.

Gameplay 8.5
Fun. Its easy to pick up and start playing. Different swords, and soul absorbing adds tremendous fun and strategy to a simple gameplay. Puzzles is not hard at all. The option to obtain a set of "ultimate" armor and sword is very nice. I need to emphasis that the game is not easy but not frustrating too. It is rewarding in a sense that it makes you feel like your skill is improving while advancing through the game. Did I mention it's fun?

Value 7
The problem with adventure games is that once you beat the game, you don't have the strong urge to play it again. Good adventure games however often have elements that make you want to play it again. Genma Onimusha has side quests and minigames that make this an above average adventure game.

Overall 8
I like the game. It is a memorable game. I am a sucker for Samurai theme games. I think it is a worthy purchase for people who does not own the PS2 version. Overall, this is an enjoyable game.

...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: April 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Genma Onimusha is a really hard game with really screwed up controls. i mean hard like playing Halo on Heroic, the first time you ever play an FPS. but Onimusha is not an FPS. its a really hard third-person action game. first off, the controls really [stink]. you cannot adjust the camera and you can only use the d-pad. sometimes when the camera is facing infront of you, "up" is still to move forward, but sometimes the camera is crooked, so you may have to visualize it in ur head. the instruction book tells you nothing. in fact, the DOA3 instructions is about 2 times the size. killing the little monster zombie thingies take some effort and watch out when they absorb the green souls, which by the way are hard to get sometimes when you are in a jam. the story is great and the ending is awesome. this game is definitly not for kids. but sometimes, you can't tell if something is blood or not. its too dark. overall, rent it first. if you can get pretty far, buy it. if not, you won't like it, so don't buy it if you don't like it!

C'mon. It's not that hard!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The controls are a little weird at first but once you get used to them they aren't so bad. Everyone complains that the enemies are to tough, but thats not true. If you can figure out the enemies attack patterns, and know when to run away (thats right, I said "run away!" There's no point in sticking around a room full of monsters when you don't get anything for it!) then this game isn't so hard.
The graphics are really good. The only problem I had was the fact that you can't change camera angles, and this can be awkward in a few places. The sound is great (though I don't have a stero setup, so it might not be so good for those who do). And it's got a fairly cool story line.
The only problem I had with the game is it's length. It's very, very short. It only took me four and a half hours the first time I played it, and left me wanting more...

Like Resident Evil for XBOX, but BETTER

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game has been said to be just a port or copy of the PS2 game Onimusha. This isnt a port. This is Genma Onimusha.
Having played and beaten the PS2 Onimusha on hard level. I must say that this Genma Onimusha for XBOX can be crazy hard! The easy level on Genma Onimusha is a tad bit tougher than the normal level on PS2!! And it only get tougher.
There is a new tug of war system now for the green souls. Instead of just taking them in to enhance your swords, the monsters now want the green souls and will try very hard to suck them in. This adds alot to gameplay. 1st, while your trying to suck up the green soul against a monster trying to do the same, you are VERY vunerable to attacks from other monsters. So most of the time you have to let the green soul go just to defend yourself.
2nd, if the monsters get the green soul they will become what Resident Evil players call "crimson heads" Look out!
And if a Boss gets a green soul.... oh boy.. your gone!!
There are monsters here that were not even in the PS2 version!
But even with the toughness of the bosses and even with the numbers of monsters you'll encounter, this game is fun! The graphics are very nice and the soundtrack is perfect. For the few pennys you'll pay for this game you just have to have this game. If you pay a hundred dollars or one dollar for any game you have, this game must be played by survival horror fans.
Plus.......the trick box puzzles are fun too!
Hope this helps and i hope you play it.

THIS IS THE REVIEW TO READ!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: February 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Yes, the controls are awful for the first 30 minutes! After you have adjusted to that you will be playing one of the best xbox games ever! I warn you the controls will seem terrible at first, but after a while you will have enormous fun with this game! My favorite games for the x-box are "Buffy the vampire slayer", "Genma Onimusha" and Halo. My favorite PC games are Deus EX, System Shock, and Half-life. If you just use a little patience with this game you will have a lot of fun.

p.s. the doll will give you nightmares!!
YOU WILL HATE THE CONTROLS AT FIRST!! THIS IS COMING FROM A DEDICATED FPS FAN!! GET OVER IT AND KEEP PLAYING, THIS GAME ROCKS!!

WHOA! THIS GAME IS AWESOME! - NON STOP ACTION THRILLER!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: February 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

ok this is what this game is all about.
first off it's a resident evil/dino crisis type game with pre-rendered backgrounds (which is very cool).
it also has lots of fantasticly brilliant lighting effects that bedazzle the eyes when you use your swords magical abilities and also when you "catch souls" in your arm gauntlet.
genma onimusha is a survival horror game with a japanese twist to it, you basically go around and slash monsters to death, catch their souls (to level up your swords, become invunerable, boost your magic meter for the sword, and regain health and TRY TO STAY ALIVE!) there are many different weapons in this game including several swords (that grow in length size and power depending on its level) a bow and arrow and a early old time flintlock pistol (very cool). there are many puzzles that you have to solve to progress further into deeper levels of the game, or stay alive. the levels in this game somtimes can be very creepy! and cool creepy fog in the lower levels too. the combat gets VERY INTENSE, in that you have to catch the monsters slain souls before the other living monsters you're battling take them from you, some times you even have to tap the a button rapidly to "out pull" the soul from the monster fighting you for it, (when fighting several at a time at that!) if you're not crafty and quick in capturing the green souls the MONSTERS will take them from you and turn RED and get FURIOUS then ATTACK with outright VENGANCE (an excellent feature of this game).
this game is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! DON'T LET PEOPLE TELL YOU DIFFERENT!
it also has HUGE BOSSES that require special tactics to kill and rewards for killing them after you do so.
to sum up GENMA ONIMUSHA, ill say this IT IS THE BEST GAME OUT RIGHT NOW PERIOD! IT TAKES THE #1/AAA GAME FOR XBOX CROWN AS OF RIGHT NOW!
THIS IS A MUST BUY GAME, NOT A RENTAL. A PERMANENT EDITION TO YOUR XBOX LIBRARY.
DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE!

Resident Evil in Sengoku era Japan-what could be better?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 12, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The general consensus of Genma Onimusha is that it is too difficult. Well, it is-at least at first, particularly if you've played the PS2 version. You won't be able to hack n' slash your way through this one. Once you learn how to use the block button and the game's new special features (like charging up your weapons and using the invincibilty provided by green souls) it becomes far easier. You are forced to fight in a more defensive, well thought out manner , using your magic and items judiciously rather than blindly lashing out at everything. This takes patience so if you're easily frustrated Genma isn't for you. Still, despite being an average gamer at best, I was able to defeat the game on difficult mode along with all of the side quests without too many problems so with a little work everyone should be able to master the game.The new features really add to the game. If you are a PS2 version vet, ignore them at your own risk. The green souls can make you invincible and add to your health but will be sucked up by your enemies, turning them into furious berzerk red killing machines, if you don't get them first. There is another difficluty level to be unlocked, the aforementioned charging of weapons and magic attacks, and new enemies. One of these is the possessed adorable doll from hell, Ayame (same name as my fiance, which just makes it better for me!). Everyone seems to hate the near-indestructible Ayame, but with magic attacks, blocking, and charged weapons (or even better, the Bishamon Sword) you can kill her every time. And the payoff for sending her along is enormous! Still, keep your ears open for the tinkling of bells, girlish giggling, a glimpse of a little head, or the sudden appearance of pots in a hall where they weren't before. Ayame also likes to hide inside chests and make you think she's somewhere when she isn't. I like the unpredictability this brings to the game, and of course, since this game is so much like RE Ayame is serving the same function as Nemesis. That'll teach you to remove the Saito family crest from her lap!The game has 4 minigames/side quests as well. The Oni Spirits minigame unlocks after beating the game. Now, talk about hard...use a bullet when you shouldn't, hesitate a second, or kill a creature a second late...and you lose! The game has 12 levels of pot busting action, limited time, and enemies that can make you lose in a matter of seconds. It's beatable but extremely frustrating as you can't save at any point. Win it and get access to Ultimate Mode, enabling you to blow through the regular game and mercilessly obliterate everything in your path.There are two different Dark Realm side quests (one 10 level Realm with a secret key, and a 20 level one with the Bishamon Ocarina needed to unlock the all mighty Bishamon Sword). Best of all is the Ogre Tower that is unlocked with the secret key. 5 floors of 6 levels each, this contains the most powerful and numerous enemies in the game. When playing through it in difficult mode it is ridiculously challenging-the final level features parades of Moles, Dark Spider Ninjas, 4 (!) huge red Ogre bosses (2 at a time, no less), Soul Armors, everyone's favorite doll Ayame, and the lightning fast and deadly suit of haunted armor, the Tower Warrior. After this floor the final two bosses in the game, Marcellus and Fortinbras, seem like a Sunday School picnic.Best of all, the game is based on actual Japanese history (and allowing the characters to speak in subtitled Japanese makes this even cooler). Samanosuke's family name is Akechi, and it was an Akechi (Mitsuhide, I think) that assasinated Oda Nobunaga in the 1570's (this would work great as a sequel, but Onimusha 2 looks like it's using legendary warrior Fuma Kotaro as the hero instead). Okehazama (where Oda is shown as being killed in the game opening movie) was a pivotal battle in Japanese history. The Saito family castle in Inabayama (where most of the game takes place) was attacked by Oda at the time the game takes place and was conquered a couple of years later (and renamed Gifu by Oda). Putting the game in a historical framework makes it work a lot better. For those who care, Toei Movieland Amusement Park in Kyoto, Japan has a haunted house filled with demons and victims that looks like it was pulled straight from this game.All in all, this game has a lot to offer for those who are willing to work with it. Great graphics, sounds (give a listen to the soundtrack CD sometime-a full orchestra and great all on its own), extras, and secrets. Challenging but not impossible. Decent replay value, and Samanosuke's extra Panda costume with frolicking little pal (who actually has a function-he points out hidden items) has to be seen to be believed. The way-too-large-even-for-adults Xbox controller makes life a little tougher here. Great gaming with the best opening movie and "attract mode" you're likely to see!

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