In Japan, they call him "Hatchy the Hatchet".
Publisher: Capcom/THQ Australia
Mon, 10 April 2006
by: Hatchy
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It's a known fact that when most games get to version four in their evolution it becomes harder to attract newcomers to the series. No matter how good they are the prospect of having to invest in the previous games seems like not only a waste of time, but a drain on finances too. Capcom, perhaps sensing the limited marketing appeal, have worked hard to produce an entirely new game with Dawn of Dreams. For people like myself, who never had more than a passing interest in the previous three versions, this can only be a good thing. It's still set in medieval Japan of course (some traditions are sacred) but with a new plot, new characters, upgraded fighting moves and numerous other enhancements it is bound to appeal to a much wider audience than ever before.
Dawn of Dreams opens with a large and highly detailed movie introduction that sets the scene for the game. The graphics and sound affects are awesome and it is also where we get introduced to the main character in the game, Soki (also known as the Black Oni or Blue Demon). Similar to the lavish introduction, vivid cut sequences are utilised throughout the game to move the story along, showcasing the high quality graphics and sound. Environments have a lot of depth and both the characters and enemies are highly detailed. Adding to this, the game's included voice-overs are well scripted, and never intrusive. Sound and graphics wise it gets a big tick.
Game-play wise there is plenty of fighting to be had, and it's very good. Enemies can range from George Romero style zombie peasants to massive towering bosses. Some are easy to kill whereas others require a bit more tact and forethought. To give you an idea the first boss you fight is a massive beast that towers over the rooftops! It is a great sign of what lies ahead. There are simple and complex puzzles to solve as you progress through your quest, and plenty of areas in the game that can only be accessed by certain characters.
 | | The action is both pretty and brutal. Just like me. |
That's right, additional characters. This game is not just another clichéd lone warrior fighting the world, it has a cast and yes, you need to use it. Apart from Soki, there are four other characters. Jubei, a sword wielding young girl with one red eye, may not inflict a lot of damage in a fight, but she can access many places that befit her small size and the monk Tenkai, can communicate with the dead. The remaining characters Ohatsu and Roberto also have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. An added bonus is that you can fight with two characters at the same time. While controlling your main character you can instruct the other one to attack, defend and avoid trouble by shouting out commands. It's a handy option to have and saves you the trouble of trying to take on 20 bad guys at once.
The movement of the characters is very fluid, especially during the fight scenes, and the control you have to pull off killer moves is excellent. The camera control available to pan and rotate during the field of play is swift and responds nicely. I was never left struggling to get a decent angle in this game, even during large complex fight scenes. Another nice touch is that you can lock onto characters during a fight so you can concentrate your hits on the one bad guy. Handy when you need to take out a more powerful enemy amongst a cast of weaker ones. Despite the great fighting tactics and moves available, one negative aspect is that the enemy AI isn't very good. They can be rather stupid at times, and don't attack and counter-attack like the psychotic crazed-looking demons that they are. They can be very predictable in their tactics and you often find yourself with a little too much time available to practice new moves and combos on them.
In order to help you complete your quest the game includes a role-playing element that enables you to enhance each character. Whenever you slay an enemy you can absorb their soul. Collecting souls enables you to buy and upgrade weapons, armour and magic. You need to upgrade carefully though, different levels unlock better weapons so you have to be careful not to waste souls upgrading a current weapon too much. As the game progresses, the fights gradually get harder, so weak characters are not going to survive if you don't look after them. Lying around on the ground are useful potions and ornaments that can, amongst other things, help heal your wounds and unlock doors.
During the game you also have a little side-kick named Minokichi that pops in now and again to give advice and, if you like, provide some amusing conversation. Despite being given a highly pitched annoying voice Minokichi does provides a bit of comic relief, it is a nice touch in such a large game. Just to add to the weirdness Minokichi lives in a clay pot and spends his life hanging upside down on a rope. Tethered to what you don't know!
One thing that did bug me, a lot, was that with all the movements and attacks each character is blessed with there is only one simple thing they can't do. They can't jump. Yep that thing you learn to do after you can walk and run as kid! It's a bizarre omission in a samurai game like this and I found it quite unforgivable. Another irritating thing is that, while characters can hack and slash their way through demons, they can still be stopped in their tracks by a box or some flimsy door.
To support its abundant content Dawn of Dreams boasts two discs and with around 18 to 20 hours of game-play on offer it is definitely a game that will keep you occupied. With such a large game it's also nice to know there are many save points on offer throughout so you can play a little or a lot, depending on how much time you have to spare. You're going to spend a lot of hours with this one, but trust me, it'll be worth it.
 | | More orange than a commercial for Fanta. But only half as confusing. |
The fight sequences are fantastic, the graphics and sound first rate and all the characters have a lot of depth and originality. Combine that with the puzzle solving, unique and beautifully scripted plot line and the many role-playing elements, this game is pretty hard to fault. Capcom deserve a lot of credit for going out on a limb and re-creating the Onimusha series with Dawn of Dreams. By not taking the easy way out and rehashing an old plotline to pass it off as a flimsy sequel, they have transformed it into something completely new. Without losing what made the series so good in the first place. It is a grand achievement and one that sets an enviable benchmark for its many rivals.
by: Hatchy
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If the characters could jump it would have been 10. | |
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