Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Review (Needlecrash)
Onimusha is one of my favorite gaming series. So when I learned the 2nd game in the series was getting a remaster, I decided to JUMP on this ASAP. I am NOT a shill, just a fan since the series came out during my High School days. I will not go over the story of the game, but the updated mechanics of the game and changes. Nevertheless, here are the following changes for better or worse:
THE NEW ADDITIONS & CHANGES!
* Game has been remastered from the ground up using the RE Engine. Game runs at a very smooth 4K/60FPS with 0 frame rate drops.
* Load times are much faster.
* All cutscenes can now be skipped from the start. You don't have to beat the game to skip the cutscenes, just hold Start and the cutscene will be skipped.
* Onimusha mode is now manually activated by pressing both triggers together. Onimusha orbs are no stocked and will not activate automatically.
* All post game modes and game difficulties are unlocked from the jump (Man In Black, Puzzle Phantom Realm, etc) except for Ultimate mode which requires you to finish the game in Hard mode.
* The Original Soundtrack is available to listen to in the Special Features section.
* New artwork has been added to view in the Special Features section.
* The new "Hell" difficulty mode has been added to this remaster. You get an instant Game Over if you take ONE HIT.
* Real time weapon switching has been added to this remaster. Stand still, hold LT/L2/ZL and cycle through your arsenal with your D-Pad. SUPER USEFUL.
* Auto-Saves have been added in the game. Very useful.
* The Samanouske Akechi costume can be selected to wear in the game for Jubei. You have to have a save file from the 2019 Onimusha 1 remaster present on your PC. Then, it's unlocked from the start. This is purely a cosmetic change but cool otherwise.
* There are 20x save slots available this time around, as opposed to the 10x slots in the original 2002 release.
THE BAD:
* The attract movie featuring the song Russian Roulette by Hotei, has been removed due to legal reasons. SADNESS!! See here for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c48w3JqWAr4
* The introduction movie, when you start the game, has had a change. Oyu's body is censored by fog this time around. No Oyu of Oichi booty to see here.
* Denuvo is implemented. LAME.
* Oyu's special costume has been censored. No skin showing, it's covered up with a black shirt.
* "The Making of Onimusha 2" movie is not in the remaster.
* The Onimusha 3 Teaser trailer, which is available to view when you finish the game and located in the Special Features section, is no longer here in this remaster.
Overall, this is a very good remaster. Capcom took their time to remaster the game properly and this isn't a slapdash port like the previous remaster. I am annoyed with the unnecessary censorship the game has received, as well as the removals of the Onimusha 3 teaser trailer and Making of Onimusha 2 videos and the Denuvo implementation. But with everything else that has been put into the game, I am still content with the final product. This is definitely worth the $30 with loads of replay value.
I highly recommend Onimusha 2 Remastered!