Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams

Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Director(s)	Koichi Kimura
Producer(s)	Yoshinori Ono
Writer(s)	Hiroshi Yamashita
Composer(s)	Hideyuki Fukasawa Jamie Christopherson
Series	Onimusha
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release date(s)	JP January 26, 2006 NA March 8, 2006 PAL March 18, 2006
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ACB: MA15+ CERO: C ESRB: M PEGI: 12+

Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams, released in Japan as Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (新 鬼武者 DAWN OF DREAMS^?), is the fourth canonical installment of Capcom's Onimusha series, released in March 2006. Dawn of Dreams focuses on a new protagonist, Soki (灰燼の蒼鬼 a.k.a. Yuki Hideyasu), the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Gameplay

Like Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, Dawn of Dreams utilizes a complete 3D rendition of its environment rather than pre-rendered backdrops. In addition, the player is now able to control the camera for most of the game, as opposed to the static camera angles employed within its predecessors. A shop system allows the player to purchase weapons that they can also upgrade along with valuable supplies such as medicine and accessories that convey a variety of benefits. Finally, a second party member now accompanies the player which they can also switch to and control. During gameplay, the second character that is not under the control of the player can be issued commands via the directional buttons (for tactics) with the AI performing them to the best of its abilities. This was also the second canonical game in the series to allow the players to hear either English and Japanese voice-overs, a feature that was omitted in both the second and third games. (This feature seems to be strangely missing from the PAL version of the game.)^[1]

Story

Onimusha series fictional chronology
Warlords Samurai's Destiny Tactics Blade Warriors Demon Siege Dawn of Dreams

The game takes place in 1597, some fifteen years after the defeat of Oda Nobunaga at the end of Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Nobunaga's vassal, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, takes control of the country, unifying it under one banner and essentially ending the wars that had torn the land apart under his former lord's banner. However, this period of peace ends with several natural disasters acting as an omen of things to come including the appearance of an "Omen Star" in the sky. The Genma return to Japan due to all of the natural disasters and prey on the innocent. Hideyoshi ignores all of the chaos sweeping the land. In addition, Hideyoshi sends massive armies of men and Genma to invade the Asian continent over seas. Two years Hideyoshi uses the Genma armies to gather "cherry trees" across Japan.

Characters

Soki

Main article: Yūki Hideyasu

• Sōki (黒き, Sōki^?): A strong warrior who possesses the dark power of the Oni, referred as the Black Oni. Having learned about Hideyoshi's insidious scheme, he sets out on a journey to burn the Genma trees and defeat the Genma running rampant across the land. Wielding two swords with such grace, precision and power, Sōki is soon referred to by townsfolk as "Oni of the Ash" (灰燼の蒼鬼, Kaijin no Sōki^?). He is also called the "Black Oni" due to his extreme resemblance to the Oni God. Sōki uses a variety of heavy broadswords and katanas. Soki appears as a playable character in the crossover fighting game, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars, being the only Onimusha character in the entire series to appear in a Capcom crossover fighting game. In his ending, he was accompanied by Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins and Ghouls n' Ghosts who help him defeat Astaroth and the minion. (Voiced by David Beron in English version)

Akane Yagyu

• Akane Yagyū (柳生 茜, Yagyū Akane^?): A young woman with exceptional skills who carries on the name of the famous Yagyū clan, possessing the rare Demon Eye of the Oni trait. Prior to the beginning of the game itself, Akane is assigned the duty of hunting down Munenori Yagyū to restore her clan's honor. Assuming the name of Jubei (十兵衛, Jubei^?), Akane hears of Soki's deeds and finds him at the Plains Outpost at Suruga to defeat him. But after losing to him, she joins him in his fight against the Genma. Near the end of the game, she is depicted wearing eye patch to cover her Oni Eye. Akane's swift, iaijutsu-like style of attack is similar to that of Kaede from Onimusha: Warlords. At one point in the game, Akane is confused as to whether she is romantically interested in Sōki, or he is just her elder 'brother'. Shikomizue swordsticks are her main weapons. Akane Yagyu is the daughter of Yagyu Munetoshi's first son Yagyu Toshikatsu, noted by virtue of her knowledge of Yagyu Seigo-ryu, the style that was incorporated into her brother, Yagyu Toshiyoshi's Owari branch of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu. A scene after the end credits depicts her starting off on another journey as she has heard rumors that "someone is still alive". (Voiced by Nika Futterman in English version)

Ohatsuhime

Main article: Ohatsu

• Ohatsu (お初, Ohatsu^?): Younger sister to Lady Yodo, and Nobunaga's niece. Since the birth of Hideyori to her older sister, Ohatsu has been very troubled by the change she has noticed in the two. Friends since childhood, Ohatsu holds intense feelings for Hideyasu. During the first part of the game, Ohatsu unwillingly follows under Munenori, as he has implanted her with Genma insects. She subsequently joins with Soki, at which point the insects become near fatal. She is saved by Soki in stage eight after journeying through the Oni mansion. She is an expert marksman under her mentor, Magoichi Saika of Onimusha 2, able to use variety of firearms as well as explosives and a grapple hook. (Voiced by B. J. Ward in English version)

Roberto Frois

• Roberto Frois (ロベルト・フロイス, Roberuto Furoasu^?): A Christian missionary born to a Japanese mother and Spanish father. After being betrayed by Luís Fróis, who was possessed by a Genma who tried to use him as an experiment, Roberto is now on a mission of pure revenge. But, in a moment of temporary freedom of Rosencrantz control, Luís Fróis place the Exorcising Beads on Roberto's arms, justifying his primary role as Soki's companion, as this artifacts has the power to destroy the Dark Stones. Roberto's weapon of choice are his enhanced arms and fists, capable of numerous destructive boxing combinations. Roberto's gauntlets are based on the Christian archangels, Raphael, Uriel, Gabriel and Michael. Ordered from weakest gauntlet to strongest respectively. In a scene before his battle with Rosencrantz, it is revealed that he is in love with Ohatsu. (Voiced by Juan Monsalvez in English version)

Tenkai Nankobo

Main article: Tenkai

Main article: Akechi Hidemitsu

• Tenkai Nankobo (南光坊 天海, Nankōbō Tenkai^?): A mysterious monk residing at the ruins of the temple on Mt. Hiei, he senses an evil starting to spread across the land and eventually discovers Hideyoshi Toyotomi's bold and insidious scheme. He then sets out on a journey to find one who possesses the power of Oni to help him bring Hideyoshi down. He uses pole arms that are named after Hindu deities for example, Varuna, Indra, and Rakshasa. Tenkai's skills are based on Buddhist and Hindu terminology, such as Enlightenment and Nirvana. During the game's end credits it is revealed that Tenkai is none other than Samanosuke Akechi. (Voiced by Joshua Keaton in English version)

Minokichi

• Minokichi (みの吉, Minokichi^?): A bagworm creature who aids Sōki with instant "teleportation" travel, insight on the various creatures & places they traverse, and quips about the allies they eventually obtain. He also allows access to the demon realm upon completion of stage eight. He uses a power given to him at the Akechi tomb in order to transport the party to Kyoto at the end of the game, ultimately costing his life. An additional scene at the end of the credits shows him accompanying Jubei on her journey. (Voiced by Brianne Siddall in English version)

Arin

• Arin (阿倫^?): A girl with mysterious powers and a nun-like quality who travels with Tenkai, during the game's credits Arin is revealed to be Ako. (Voiced by Tara Strong in English version)

Hideyoshi Toyotomi

Main article: Toyotomi Hideyoshi

• Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉, Toyotomi Hideyoshi^?): Formerly known as Tokichiro Kinoshita, he succeeded Nobunaga in not only setting up the new government of Japan and reuniting the country, but in league with the Genma to resurrect Fortinbras.

Mitsunari Ishida

Main article: Ishida Mitsunari

• Mitsunari Ishida (石田 三成, Ishida Mitsunari^?): Hideyoshi's retainer, who is actually possessed by Claudius of the three Genma Triumvirate, who intend to resurrect Fortinbras. Upon being revived, Caludius reveals his true form being a Mukade Genma before slain by Tenkai. (Voiced by Alastair Duncan in English version)

Luis Frois

Main article: Luís Fróis

• Luís Fróis (ルイス・フロアス, Ruisu Furoasu^?): Roberto's guardian who betrayed him after being possessed by the Genma high priest/scientist Rosencrantz, one of the three Genma Triumvirate bent on the resurrection of Fortinbras. Once revived, he assumes his true form, a giant fly demon, before slain by Roberto. A moment of clarity after destroying the first dark stone suggests that he truly loved Roberto.

Yodo-dono

Main article: Yodo-dono

• Lady Yodo (淀殿, Yodo-dono^?): Cha-cha being her child-hood name only to later be given the name Yodo from Hideyoshi named after a castle. The daughter of Oyu who became a royal concubine to Hideyoshi and had is form stolen by the High Priestess Ophelia, one of the three Genma Triumvirate bent on the resurrection of Fortinbras. Her true form being a humanoid mantis Genma before slain by Ohatsu.

Danemon Ban

Main article: Ban Naoyuki

• Danemon Ban (塙 団右衛門, Ban Danemon^?): A Genma samurai who battled Sōki and died at his hands.

Sakon Shima

Main article: Shima Sakon

• Sakon Shima (島 左近, Shima Sakon^?): A human made into a Genma general after his mind is twisted and brainwashed by Ophelia. He fought Sōki and company until he was defeated at the Port of Sakai. Once defeated, Tenkai Nankobo used purification skills to free Sakon of the Genma's hold over him. He is a prized possession of Mitsunari's, in fact, his more valued vassal.

Munenori Yagyu

Main article: Yagyū Munenori

• Munenori Yagyū (柳生宗矩, Yagyū Munenori^?): A member of the Yagyū whose heinous acts in betraying in joining the Genma and killing his kin are the reason Jubei accepts the task to capture her uncle dead or alive. He goes rogue and leaves the Yagyu village after his father rips his mother's eye out but in reality his mother sacrificed herself by giving him her eye. When confronted with the truth by Akane (Jubei) it is no longer of any relevance to him and continues with his plan. However, though she defeated him, Munenori lived long enough to make a vain assassination attempt on Fortinbras that cost him his life. He is also ironically the person who completes the revival of Fortinbras. (Voiced by Joshua Keaton in English version)

Claudius

• Claudius (クローディアス, Kurōdiasu^?)

Rosenkrantz

• Rosenkrantz (ローゼンクランツ, Rōzenkurantsu^?)

Ophelia

• Ophelia (オフィーリア, Ofēria^?)

Fortinbras

• Fortinbras (フォーティンブラス, Fōtinburasu^?): He's the main antagonist, and the Genma Lord, also known the God of Light or the White Serpent. He is portrayed as a gargantuan serpent-like demon lord, with a pair of large wings intact on his back and a third eye on top of his head. He attempted to rule the world with aid from Oda Nobunaga, only to be slain by Samanosuke Akechi. However, Fortinbras is eventually resurrected by the Genma Triumvirate, assuming his true form, a human-like figure resembling a European noble in dress and sporting a pocket watch who has been viewing the events of the game before revealing himself.

Related historic characters mentioned

• Sanada Yukimura
• Izumo no Okuni
• Azai Nagamasa - the first husband of Oichi (Oyu). Their three daughters Chacha, Ohatsu and Oeyo are said to be his with his previous wife.
• Shibata Katsuie - the second husband of Oichi, but their marriage had been engaged before Oichi was married to the Azai.
• Tokugawa Hidetada - Soki's third younger brother.
• Oeyo - Azai's third daughter and Hidetada's wife.
• Tokugawa Ieyasu - Soki's father.

Music

The game's music and soundtrack is composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa and Jamie Christopherson. Hideyuki Fukasawa, who first came onto the video gaming music scene with his work on Chaos Legion, is responsible for most of Shin Onimusha's in-game music and soundtrack (most gamers who are familiar with his work on Chaos Legion will notice his style of composing) while Jamie Christopherson was in charge of the game's CG cut scenes and FMV's Hollywood-style orchestral scores. The soundtrack of Dawn of Dreams has a different tone from other entries in the series, with more electronic tones.

Two songs by Ayumi Hamasaki, one titled "Startin'" and the other "Rainy Day", are featured as the opening and ending themes for the game respectively in the Japanese version. The opening theme has been removed from the western versions.

There is a Dark Realm that the player can freely choose to enter at the Hideout after a certain point in the game. If the active character is wearing one of the secret Street Fighter II costumes in the Dark Realm, the associated character's theme will play from the Panasonic 3DO port of Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

Other media

2 comic book tie-ins have been published by Udon Entertainment, filling in some of the background information behind the game:

• Onimusha: Twilight Of Desire, by Takashi Yaguchi, talks about the battle between Tenkai and the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, who was at the time utilizing Genma Power introduced by Ophelia. This story takes place before the game and is also part of the reason why Hideyoshi came to utilize the Genma Power.

• Onimusha: Night Of Genesis Volumes 1 & 2, by Mitsuru Ohsaki, explains some of the story between Soki and Hideyoshi, Soki's subsequent quest to destroy the Genma trees, and the machinations of Soki's birth family, the Tokugawa. It also details Jubei's inheritance of her grandfather's name and the awakening of her Demon Eye, as well as her start of her quest to hunt down Munenori.

• In 2010 a commercial for a pachislo version was released.^[2]

Reception

The game has generally been received well with an aggregate score of 81/100 on Metacritic.^[3] IGN awarded the game a 8.8/10 commenting that: "You won't be fighting the smartest enemies in the world (and some of the puzzles can be tedious) but the combat is fantastic and the challenge is just right".^[4]

References

1. ^ Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams Guide & Walkthrough - PS2, PlayStation 2 Walkthrough - IGN
2. ^ Ashcroft, Brian. "Capcom Can’t Kick Its Pachi-Slot Habit". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5484421/capcom-cant-kick-its-pachi+slot-habit. 
3. ^ Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams for PlayStation 2 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic
4. ^ Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams - PlayStation 2 Review at IGN

External links

• Official website (Japanese)