Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Encyclopedia
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, released in Japan as is the second installment in the Onimusha series of video games. The plot revolves around a new protagonist, , as he battles a demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...

ic Genma army which is invading 1571 Japan. Nobunaga Oda, a sinister warlord who was slain in the previous game, has been resurrected
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...

 and placed at the head of the Genma forces. Apart from the main character, the game features four playable sub-characters, each of whom shares a part in the story. The player's actions determine which characters will decide to help Jubei in his quest.

The Jubei character is not the swordsman Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi is one of the most famous and romanticized of the samurai in Japan's feudal era.Very little is known about the actual life of Yagyū Mitsuyoshi as the official records of his life are very sparse. Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi grew up in his family's ancestral lands, Yagyū no Sato,...

, but rather his grandfather, Yagyū Muneyoshi
Yagyu Muneyoshi
Yagyū Sekishūsai Taira-no-Munetoshi was a samurai in Japan’s Sengoku period famous for mastering the Shinkage-ryū school of combat, and introducing it to the Tokugawa clan.-Early life :...

, the originator of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
is one of the oldest Japanese schools of swordsmanship . Its primary founder was Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, who called the school Shinkage-ryū. In 1565, Nobutsuna bequeathed the school to his greatest student, Yagyū Munetoshi, who added his own name to the school. Today, the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū remains...

 school of swordsmanship.

Gameplay

Like other Onimusha titles, Samurai's Destiny features a analog stick
Analog stick
An analog stick, sometimes called a control stick or thumbstick, is an input device for a controller that is used for two-dimensional input. An analog stick is a variation of a joystick, consisting of a protrusion from the controller; input is based on the position of this protrusion in relation...

 control scheme found in many survival horror games published by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...

, most notably Resident Evil
Resident Evil (video game)
Resident Evil, known as in Japan, is a survival horror video game by Capcom. The first installment in the Resident Evil series, it was originally released in 1996 for the PlayStation and was subsequently ported to the Sega Saturn and PC. In 2002, a remake of the game was released for the Nintendo...

. Other similarities include an open-ended gameplay structure, the use of herbs and medicine to restore health, and the inclusion of puzzles which must be solved in order to progress. Hostile demons known as Genma inhabit most areas, and will attack and give chase to Jubei if they see him. Certain Genma attack with melee weapons, while others will flank the rear and shoot arrows at the protagonist. Although the side characters of Samurai's Destiny are restricted to a single type of weapon, Jubei collects an assortment of short and long-range weapons throughout the game, including a bow
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...

 and a matchlock
Matchlock
The matchlock was the first mechanism, or "lock" invented to facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm. This design removed the need to lower by hand a lit match into the weapon's flash pan and made it possible to have both hands free to keep a firm grip on the weapon at the moment of firing,...

 rifle. Each of the characters can strafe and block forward attacks.

In order to discourage button mashing, the player is rewarded for performing "Issen" hits on Genma. Issen occur when the player initiates an attack the moment an enemy is about to lunge forward. A bright flash will appear if the move was successful, and the target enemy will die instantly. If a group of Genma surround Jubei, he will be able to instantaneously chain several Issen hits together, effectively mowing down the entire group.

In the beginning, Jubei's only means of defense is his katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...

; shortly into the game, he gains the ability to absorb the soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...

s of defeated Genma (a recurring device in Onimusha games). This power is similar to that of Samanosuke's gauntlet
Gauntlet (gloves)
Gauntlet is a name for several different styles of glove, particularly those with an extended cuff covering part of the forearm. Gauntlets exist in many forms, ranging from flexible fabric and leather gloves, to mail and fully articulated plate armour....

 in Onimusha: Warlords, and functions the same way. "Demons Souls" are most often seen emanating from the fallen corpse of a slain Genma, and appear as glowing orbs that float in midair. Jubei can attract any orbs in the vicinity and draw them into his hand, provided that he is standing close enough. Unlike Warlords gauntlet, Jubei draws orbs through his left hand.

Demons Souls are differentiated by the color of the orb: The most common type, red orbs, act as experience points which can be spent to improve Jubei's weapons and armor. Absorbing yellow orbs will restore a character's health. Blue orbs recharge magic ability
Magic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...

. The rarest variety is the purple orb, which differs from the others in that it appears less frequently, and is much larger. When Jubei absorbs a total of five, he temporarily powers-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...

 into an "Onimusha", increasing his attack damage and rendering himself invincible. The transformation wears off after a few seconds, after which Jubei's stock of purple souls is depleted.

Unlike its predecessor, Samurai's Destiny features a gold mining town called Imasho which is totally free of enemy encounters.Onimusha 2 introduces several role-playing
Role-playing game (video games)
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...

 elements into the series; the first is the option to improve Jubei's attack power, defense and speed by upgrading his gear. Secondly, in the areas immediately surrounding imasho, defeated Genma often leave behind piles of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

 which can be spent on gifts for other characters. During the first half of the game, Jubei periodically returns to Imasho in-between action sequences. It is here that the player can buy gift items using the gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

 dropped by defeated enemies. The 'Imasho Town' portion of the game gives an opportunity to give items to the various sub-characters.

Allies

During the Imasho Town sequences in the game, Jubei can buy goods from merchants and give them to any of the four sub-characters (Ekei, Magoichi, Kotaro & Oyu). Reactions to a present will depend on that person's temperament; giving Oyu a bouquet of flowers will make her happy, whereas giving it to a male recipient will simply irritate them. Jubei's gift-giving will determine which warrior will assist him as the game progresses, and will in turn have an impact on the story. In some cases, if the player fails to win a character over, that person will opt to shun or betray Jubei later on.

At certain points in the story, control may be passed to another character for a short period. These side-quests often begin with Jubei finding himself ambushed, trapped, or incapacited, requiring one of his allies to help him. During these events, the sub-character can equip a bracelet which imbues them with the same soul-absorbing power which Jubei wields. Because this power is essential to gameplay, treasure chests containing bracelets are usually found in plain view as soon as the side quest starts.

Elemental weapons

As in the previous game, Jubei is able to use magic by wielding element-based weapons. The first one that Jubei receives is the Buraitou, the Thunder Sword, a blade that channels lightning. During the course of the game he may acquire weapons with different properties such as Hyoujin-yari the Ice Spear, Senpumaru the Wind Naginata, Dokoutsui the Earth Hammer, and the Rekka-Ken (a Fire-based broadsword
Broadsword
Broadsword may refer to:*Broadsword , a military sword used by heavy cavalry during the 17th to early 19th centuriesIn more modern times, it has also been used to refer to:...

). When wielding these weapons, Jubei can perform a stronger elemental attack at any time.

In addition to his life bar, Jubei also has a meter which measures his magic ability. The meter dwindles each time Jubei casts a spell, but can be restored by absorbing blue Demon Souls.

Story

The story revolves around a lone swordsman named Jubei who returns home to see his village in ruins after an attack by Nobunaga. On his quest for revenge he meets and befriends many other characters and eventually faces Nobunaga in a one on one battle.

Jubei Yagyu

: An ambitious young warrior who is first leader of the Yagyū clan
Yagyu clan
The ' were a family of daimyō with lands just outside Nara, who became the heads of one of Japan's greatest schools of swordsmanship, Yagyū Shinkage-ryū...

 and originator of Shinin style sword combat. Also known as Sougen Yagyu or Sekishusai. All leaders of the Yagyu clan are given a childhood name of Jubei. His father was the late Head of his clan, who was seduced and had a child by a female oni named . Jubei and his descendants possess the blood and ability of Oni-Clan; as Jubei is Half-Oni. Jubei was modelled after the late Japanese actor Yusaku Matsuda
Yusaku Matsuda
was a Japanese actor. Yusaku was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi to a Zainichi Korean mother. His father is not known. His date was wrongly recorded as 1950 on his birth records due to a parental error in filing a report.-Career:...

. After a period of solitary training, Jubei returns to Yagyu Village to find that his home has been raided and destroyed by Nobunaga's army.

Jubei Yagyu's weapons:
  • Katana
    Katana
    A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...

     is a standard Japanese backsword or longsword used by samurai.
  • Buraitou (舞雷刀, lit. Dancing Thunder Sword) is a lightning
    Lightning
    Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...

    -elemental katana and the first magic weapon you acquire.
  • Hyoujin-Yari (氷刃槍, lit. Ice Blade Spear) is an ice
    Ice
    Ice is water frozen into the solid state. Usually ice is the phase known as ice Ih, which is the most abundant of the varying solid phases on the Earth's surface. It can appear transparent or opaque bluish-white color, depending on the presence of impurities or air inclusions...

    -elemental straight-headed spear
    Yari
    is the term for one of the traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear...

     found in the Imasho gold mine.
  • Senpumaru (旋風丸, lit. Whirlwind Circle) wind
    Wind
    Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer space, solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the sun through space, while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet's atmosphere into space...

    -elemental naginata
    Naginata
    The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...

     found in the fog valley.
  • Dokoutsui (土荒槌, lit. Earth Barren Hammer) is an earth
    Earth
    Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...

    -elemental hammer found in the Oni sacred grounds.
  • Tanegashima is an upgraded version of the matchlock
    Matchlock
    The matchlock was the first mechanism, or "lock" invented to facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm. This design removed the need to lower by hand a lit match into the weapon's flash pan and made it possible to have both hands free to keep a firm grip on the weapon at the moment of firing,...

     rifle.
  • Rekka-Ken (烈火剣, lit. Raging Fire Sword) is a fire
    Fire
    Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....

    -elemental broadsword
    Broadsword
    Broadsword may refer to:*Broadsword , a military sword used by heavy cavalry during the 17th to early 19th centuriesIn more modern times, it has also been used to refer to:...

     and the ultimate magic weapon.
  • Tri-Barrel is an upgraded rifle that fires three consecutive shots. This is given to you by Magoichi during his scenario.
  • Bow
    Bow (weapon)
    The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...

     is a standard weapon that comes with standard arrows or a fire-tipped variety.

Oichi

: Nobunaga's sister who assumed the alias of to secure her husband
Azai Nagamasa
was a Daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japan. His clan, the Azai, were located in northern Ōmi Province, east of Lake Biwa. He was both the brother-in-law of Oda Nobunaga, starting in 1564, and one of Nobunaga's enemies from 1570-1573. Nagamasa and his clan were utterly destroyed by Oda...

's territory
Odani Castle
was a Sengoku period mountain-top castle located in the present day town of Kohoku in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable...

 by fighting her brother, learning to fence with a circular shield. She meets Jubei in the town of Imasho, later saved by him when in the clutches of Tokichiro, who takes her daughter Yodo
Yodo-Dono
or was a prominently-placed figure in late-Sengoku period. She was a concubine and second wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was then the most powerful man in Japan. She also became the mother of his son and successor, Hideyori. She was also known as Lady Chacha...

 as his future concubine.

Ekei Ankokuji

: A master spearfighter in the Houzouin style, Ekei a monk who loves money, liquor and the company of beautiful women. Before entering monkhood, he was a warlord who lost his wife and daughter when they were burned alive by soldiers who ignited the building they were in, leaving Ekei in despair with one wish: To put an end to war by becoming daimyo (a feudal lord) by any means. He also has a soft spot towards little children.

Kotaro Fuma

: A Fuma Ninja who works for the Hojo clan. He confounds his opponent with his agile movement and countless Ninjutsu. His childhood has been stained by the experience of being abandoned by his mother; which has caused him to distrust women. However, it is wiped by Oyu's caring and kindness. He appear to be in his late teens to early twenties.

Magoichi Saiga

: The leader of the "Saiga Shu
Saiga Ikki
The , based in Ōta in Kii Province, were one of many Ikkō-ikki groups in feudal Japan.In particular, the members of the Saika Ikki, along with the monks of the Negoro-ji, were renowned for their expertise with the arquebus, and for their expert gunsmiths and foundries...

" gun troop in Kii prefecture. Bold, bright and cool-headed, he is good at handling firearms and explosives, and takes a keen interest in books and documents.

Nobunaga Oda

: The main antagonist, an ambitious warlord resurrected by the Genma, determined to rule Japan with an iron fist. Becoming the new Genma Lord after Fortinbras' death, Nobunaga orders his troops to conquer all of Japan.

Tokichiro Kinoshita

: Nobunaga's most loyal servant, he is portrayed in the game as a lackey, and some call him the 'monkey man'. Now he is helping Nobunaga to conquer the entire country. He is a slippery and devious foe, who always remains one step ahead.

Ginghamphatts

  • is a giant, semi-arachnid
    Arachnid
    Arachnids are a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. All arachnids have eight legs, although in some species the front pair may convert to a sensory function. The term is derived from the Greek words , meaning "spider".Almost all extant arachnids are terrestrial...

     genma who serves under Genma Lord Oda Nobunaga. During his first battle with Jubei — which he loses — he wields a giant pick axe. He swears revenge on Jubei for the humiliation of being defeated by a mere mortal and faces him again in the forest, this time wielding a giant axe. Jubei defeats him again and they do battle for a third and final time in the demon base tower. Ginghamphatts is vanquished for good in this battle by falling to his death, in which he wields a giant hammer.

Gogandantess

  • The self-proclaimed "Greatest Swordsman of all Demons", he boasts this title at every opportunity. He is human in appearance, which is unusual for most Genma in the series, and wields a Jian
    Jian
    The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE during the Spring and Autumn Period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian.Historical one-handed versions have blades...

     Sword, along with shuriken
    Shuriken
    A shuriken is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing...

    . Gogandantess revels in fighting worthy opponents and challenged Jubei to three separate duels to test his strength, defeating, but sparing him, on the first two. Jubei finally found the Oni Sacred Flute used to disable Gogandantess' magic shield, and emerged triumphant in their final duel to win the 'Respect' Orb. Despite being a demon warrior, Gogandantess still displayed values of honour and chivalry, going as far as saving Oyu from certain death.

Jujudormah

  • A Genma serving as a concubine for Lord Nobunaga, she is an old and rather unattractive Genma obsessed with Lord Nobunaga, even when it is obvious the feelings aren't mutual. She was also responsible for the death and murder of Jubei's mother "Takajo". Self-deluded, vain and obsessed with her 'good looks', she is flung into a rage when Jubei tracks her down in her lair and calls her a 'nasty thing', causing her to scream so loudly she shatters the mirror of her vanity desk. She is armed with a handbag equipped with a curved blade and a parasol that shoots powerful magical blasts. She is in a bit of a rivalry with Ginghamphatts as to who can kill Jubei first. She appears in a later game "Onimusha Blade Warriors", and as her younger, more attractive self as Juju-Ran.

Cast

Character Seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...

 
English voice actor
Jubei Yagyu Jacob Barker
Oichi Yōko Sōmi 
Kotaro Fuma Akira Ishida
Akira Ishida
Akira Ishida is a prolific male seiyū born in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan.He was a part of Mausu Promotion from 1988 until March 2009...

 
Robert C J Kim
Ginghamphatts Takanobu Hozumi
Takajo Atsuko Tanaka
Atsuko Tanaka
is a Japanese voice actress who works for Ezaki Productions. Her deep and sultry voice is often used to portray villainesses and mature female characters.-TV anime:*Angel Links *Black Cat *Berserk *Cowboy Bebop...

 
Jujudormah Yasuko Tani Diandra Lee
Ekei Ankokuji Kôzô Shioya
Kozo Shioya
Kōzō Shioya is a veteran seiyū born in Kagoshima Prefecture. He is currently represented by Aoni Production...

 
Magoichi Saiga Shunsuke Sakuya
Shunsuke Sakuya
, occansionally credited as Shusuke Sakino, is a Japanese actor and voice actor.-Notable voice roles:*A Spirit of the Sun *Bleach *Criminal Minds *Darker than Black...

 
Tokichiro Kinoshita Tōru Ōkawa  Robert Lee
Nobunaga Oda Akio Ōtsuka

Reception

Despite disappointing sales worldwide compared to its predecessor, Onimusha 2 still received high praise for its gameplay and presentation. IGN scored it 8.9/10 describing it as "Bigger, bloodier, and deeper than its predecessor, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is on many levels the perfect sequel."

Samanosuke and Guildenstern

Neither Samanosuke Akechi nor Guildenstern make an appearance in this game (though Guildenstern is mentioned in one of the files that Jubei finds, as well as in a drawing during the opening narration). Samanosuke also appears in the aforementioned opening narration in which he is fighting Fortinbras.
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