To stem the tide of Genma demons, a new champion named Hideyasu Yuki (aka Soki, Oni of the Ash) enters the fray and teams up with a gal named Jubei whom he meets on unsure footing in the third mission of the game. Additional team mates such as Roberto, Tenkai, and Ohatsu may be recruited throughout the adventure to provide new offensive power and combination attacks. By pushing in the four cardinal directions of the d-pad, associates may be directed to attack, stand guard, distract, and wait for further instruction as Yuki takes charge.

NCS Game Notes & Spoilers
* After Akechi Mitsuhide assassinated the real Oda Nobunaga in 1582, the real Hideyoshi Toyotomi succeeded his liege and asserted imperial power. Within a year's time, Hideyoshi took control of Oda's far flung territories and united all of Japan in 1590.

* In the intro to the game, a song called "Startin'" plays while Yuki and cohorts are shown in rapid fire sequences as they hack 'n slash Genma demons by the hundreds. Cherry blossoms and flying crows are also glimpsed amidst the frantic swordplay in the early part of the intro. Snippets from cinemas throughout the game are also spliced in for good measure.

* Upon starting the game, another intro plays featuring Ishida Mitsunari who wears a purple pimp hat and he battles an Oni warrior named Tenkai on the top of a roof. As they banter and battle, Tenkai is impaled by Mitsunari with a mass of tentacles. The Onimusha warrior stakes Mitsunari back with his weapon but the battle is lost when he's dropped down with nary a scream as he plummets earthward. Speaking to himself, Ishida mentions that only the Black Oni can stop him. Mitsunari is Hideyoshi Toyotomi's advisor and retainer who was possessed by a Genma demon known as Claudius. With lofty ambitions, Mitsunari works to resurrect the Genma god Fortinbras.

* After the Mitsunari drama, the scene changes to a busy bridge area as the camera pans down the road towards a massive structure that later explodes in a cataclysm of raining rubble. The thriving village is transformed into a crushed skeleton in seconds. A ball rolls on the ground and a little girl in a pink kimono picks it up. In the background, Genma warriors home in on the gal in a killing frenzy but are blown back. After the dust clears, a blonde warrior (Yuki) stands between the skeletal warriors and girl. He dodges and attacks, making short work of the demons. In the distance, gigantic samurai demons with blazing red eyes are marching towards him. The warrior manifests blue light and leaps towards a gigantic samurai, performing a powerful attack which cleaves the samurai monster's sword in half and turns it into a crumbling pile of dust. After the killing stroke, he picks up the ball and hands it to the girl. As he leaves, she whispers, "The Black Oni." In the distance, near a bell, someone is watching and clicks on a stopwatch. The Genma hordes are still advancing and Yuki spins and slashes before the title screen appears.

* Hideyasu Yuki's nickname is Soki or "Oni of the Ash" because he burns down Hideyoshi Toyotomi's cherry trees.

Famitsu Demo Comparison
* NCS played the Famitsu Capcom demo (Onimusha DOD/Ookami) from last week and the first two levels are the same as the Famitsu demo but Capcom toned down the default difficulty level by a large measure. The game is actually much easier in the final release of the game. We recommend playing the game in NORMAL mode for a challenge.

* Game Controls
L-analog / Movement
R-analog / Camera Panning
R1 / Target enemy
R1+O / Kick a foe
SQUARE / Swing a sword

Scene by Scene
* At the end of first level, Yuki leaps on top of a roof to face non-aggressive Genma demons who snarl a lot but don't show a lot of swordplay. In the distance, the massive samurai awaits his turn and chops down a tower or two before coming in for the kill. The big samurai fires bullets from the turrets in its chest and sweeps the area where Yuki is standing with its sword. To destroy its oncoming sword, simply block with the L1 trigger and it will be destroyed and fly from its hand. It'll use conventional blows and launch fiery projectiles at the player but these are easily dodged. When it lands a blow on the roof, its gauntlet will be stuck for a few seconds so use that opportunity to whack its hand a few times to damage it.

* In the next scene, Yuki is lying down somewhere and relaxing when he hears something in the distance. The camera shifts to a caravan of demons on the move. Scene shifts back to the warrior and a little munchkin beast named Minokichi drops from behind and speaks in a squeaky voice. Yuki then exits from where he's staying and confronts the approaching demon forces. The leader named Danemon goes one on one against Yuki until he loses about a quarter of its life bar and starts summoning demon warrior lackeys to attack en masse. The encounter is fairly straightforward - block and guard with the L1, hack 'n slash with the SQUARE, and kick away enemies that are ranging too close with the R1+O attack. To play it cheap, it's possible to knock down the big bruiser and then continue kicking it when its down until it gets up again. After that, it's fairly easy to defeat it with a combination of hack attacks and kicking to keep it off balance.

* After the battle, an artwork depiction shows Yuki facing off against a purple colored demon figure with bulging yellow eyes while flames surround the battle scene. A female narrator talks about the ascension of Hideyoshi Toyotomi as he unites the entirely of Japan and the next events to come as old Japanese paintings appear and the camera pans across their surface slowly. She speaks also of the Omen Star which changes Hideyoshi from benevolent ruler to wicked power monger. In one of the paintings, massive forces are amassing for war as ships sail in. On another painting, demons and their ilk attack the populace of Japan in a massive panorama of destruction as citizens are trampled beneath their feet. Natural disasters ripple across Japan, opening the way for the Genma to reappear.

* After the first level and narration, a save-game prompt appears to store your progress.

* With the second level boss defeated, Yuki checks out the caravan, burns the cherry trees, and continues onwards. A crow appears and watches the burning of the caravans while two individuals on an elevated slat of logs observe Yuki. They discuss amongst themselves the situation and call Yuki, "The Blue Demon." The camera pans in on the burning wood while haunting screams sound off in the background. It's possible to save your progress again after the level.

* Yuki walks inside a wooden edifice of some sort and engages the munchkin Minokichi in conversation. To purchase items, walk in front of the pinkish orb (Enchanted Mirror) and select the third option to summon an upside-down hanging merchant who appears to take your order. The enchanted mirror is also the place to enhance items, enhance skills, and save progress.

* In the third level, a girl named Jubei Yagyu with a long ponytail is accosted by two rowdy scoundrels who appear to have evil intentions as they attempt to grab her. She shows massive skills and smacks both down to the ground with acrobatic attacks. Cut to Yuki who is lying down again as munchkin speaks to him. Another conversation ensues and the two soon go outside where the caravan has been reduced to charred hulks of wooden slabs. Since Yuki doesn't have the ability to jump, he'll have to wander around, looking for whirling blue swirls of light on the ground to determine where to go/do/trigger next. After exploring rooftops, killing a few Genma demons, and destroying some barrels, Yuki eventually spies two dead bodies that are being feasted on by crows. If you go near them, the crows scatter but walk away to battle two Genma archers and demons and they'll return to feed again. A meal is a meal... Jubei crawls under the fence to meet Yuki and the munchkin who causes her to bump her head on the fence. She attacks without provocation and the two banter a bit before the battle.

* After proving to be no challenge at all, Jubei drops on her butt and thinks better of her unprovoked attack. She seeks revenge on Munenori Yagyu and the two agree to team up towards a common cause. As they're speaking, fireballs arc through the sky and land near them as Genma demons surround the two. A new battle starts as purple fireballs continue to drop. Jubei is now part of your party and her actions are selection by pressing the four cardinal directions of the D-pad which allow her to perform actions which she replies with "Hei Hei"

Up = All-Out Attack
Down = Guard thyself and recover
Right = Follow and attack
Left = Distract Enemy and Special Order

The mid level boss in the third level is a skeleton in armor who wields a massive axe. The goal is to defeat him in under a minute.

* The second Onimusha DOD DVD in the game packaging is a continuation of the adventure.

* In the Options menu, it's possible to change the color of blood in the game from red to green or toggle it off entirely.

Hablo Ingles
* To toggle the language in the game to English, press Start on the title screen and highlight the third menu selection. Toggle the first two selections to switch subtitles and voices to English.

This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.