History VideoGame / OnimushaWarlords

''Onimusha: Warlords'' (2001) was the first game of the ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' series published by Capcom. ''Onimusha: Warlords'' is, essentially, an ActionAdventure game with elements of SurvivalHorror and [[Main/JidaiGeki feudal Japan as background]]. It was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 in January of 2001, and later for the UsefulNotes/XBox in January of 2002 under the title ''Genma Onimusha''.

A remaster of the game for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} was released on January 15, 2019. It features many updates from the original, including upscaled visuals, a re-recorded soundtrack, an Easy mode available from the start, the ability to switch weapons without pausing the game, and a more modern control scheme including full analog stick support. However, since it is based on the original [=PS2=] release, the extras from ''Genma Onimusha'' are not included.

** ''Genma Onimusha'', for the UsefulNotes/XBox, includes enhanced audio and graphics, as well as some new costumes, areas, enemies, as well changes to enemy placements. The biggest change to gameplay is the addition of green souls, and if enough is gathered, the player can gain temporary invincibility and a LimitBreak attack, but they could also be absorbed by enemies, giving them increased damage.

* FiveManBand: The game has this:
** BigBad: Technically Oda Nobunaga, with Fortinbras as the ManBehindTheMan or GreaterScopeVillain.
** TheDragon[=/=]DragonInChief: Tokichiro Kinoshita to Nobunaga as the DragonInChief. Stylado is also implied to have a similar role.
** TheBrute: Osric (who's tasked with kidnapping Yuki) and Marcellus (Who serves as Guildenstern's personal bodyguard) are the musclebound fighters of the group.
** TheEvilGenius: Guildenstern, the mad scientist Genma responsible for the monsters and responding directly to Fortinbras.
** TheDarkChick: Hecuba, only female member, lasts longer than the others and uses a mixture of trickery and direct force to achieve her goals. Also, quite remembered for her transformation sequence.

The story is set in Japan, during the Warring States period: ruthless fuedal lord UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga is felled by an arrow to the neck during the historical battle of Okehazama. Several months later, Samanosuke receives a letter from his childhood friend Princess Yuki of Inabayama: according to her, strange events are plagueing the castle, people are vanishing and she's deeply afraid. Samanosuke, with his loyal sidekick and love interest Kaede, arrives at the fortress, only to witness the appearence of monsters, which proceed to kidnap Yuki in front of his eyes and knock him out cold, proving impervious to his sword. However, Samanosuke is visited by the spirits of the Oni Clan, who bestow him the power of the Oni Gauntlet to slay demons and drain their souls. Armed with the power of the Oni Clan, Samanosuke must stop the Genma demons, who have taken over Inabayama, revived Nobunaga Oda and plan to turn him into a loyal, unstoppable vassal to take over Japan.

In a way similar to ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', this game has you explore a large castle with secret passages, traps, gardens and dungeons while solving puzzles, fighting demons and upgrading your weapons to explore every nook and cranny as you fight a variety of monstrous demons with both magic and weapons. Features returning in the following games would also be the setting (3D-rendered actors moving on a 2D scenery), [[InkSuitActor Ink Suit Actors]], sometimes narmy dialogues, TankControls and limited save points which you can also use to increase the power of your weapons.

* ActionGirl: Kaede is a kunoichi who can take care of herself even against the demons.

* AllSwordsAreTheSame: Averted: Your weapons are a uchi-gatana, a fancier-looking, thunder enchanted katana, a massive fire broadsword, a dual-bladed wind naginata and a special longsword: each of these weapons have their own advantages, animations and flaws.

* AsteroidsMonster: Reynaldos will, if attacked with an horizontal slash, split in half and reform into two Reynaldos.

* BlackSwordsAreBetter: The Bishamon Sword is black with red runes, and is the best sword the game has to offer.
* BonusDungeon: The Dark Realm, whose entrance can be found midway through the game in two different locations. It consist in a series of brutal fights against every type of enemy in game, but there are also treasures to be found, as well as Bishamon Ocarina, the key item to obtain the InfinityPlusOneSword.

** AllYourPowersCombined: The secret weapon Bishamon Sword, a longsword with the power of the three orbs which can release a tray of purple energy which doesn't consume Magic.

* EssenceDrop: Enemies killed by Samanosuke drops "souls" which can be collected to heal yourself or enhance your weapons and magic. You can find a special rare talisman that forcibly extracts the souls of Genmas in a restricted circular area.

** Guildenstern is introduced digging with excitement into the dissected abdomen of a poor sod, enjoying some BlackComedy ("And what's this? Ooooh, a liver!")

* EvilKnockOff: Stylado, a deadringer of Samanosuke who cannot use Oni Magic but attacks with a sword and purple fire instead.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Most of the male demons such as Osric, Fortinbras and Guildenstern's Japanese voice.

* FantasticRacism: Genma, namely Guildenstern, costantly refers to humans as nothing more than "animals" or vermins, useful only as food or research material.
* FinalBoss: Fortinbras, the Genma Demon King and the ManBehindTheMan for Nobunaga.

* MundaneUtility: One puzzle involves using Enryuu's magic to light some candles, so that you can locate the exit from the room. Then again, [[JustifiedTrope is kinda unwise to move blindly in a room which you know it may contain deadly traps.]]

* {{Gainaxing}}: On Kaede, subtle but it's there: just watch her chest closely after performing a sudden backstep or dash forward.

* AnAxeToGrind: The massive, minotaur-like Genma known as Oowassha/Barawassha are armed with humongous axes dealing lots of damage with each strike. Some variation of the former carry a throwable labrys along with an oversized cleaver.

A remaster of the game for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} was released on January 15, 2019. It features many updates from the original, including upscaled visuals, a re-recorded soundtrack, an Easy mode available from the start, the ability to switch weapons without pausing the game, and a more modern control scheme including full analog stick support.

''Onimusha: Warlords'' (2001) was the first game of the ''Franchise/{{Onimusha}}'' series published by Capcom. ''Onimusha: Warlords'' is, essentially, an ActionAdventure game with elements of SurvivalHorror and [[Main/JidaiGeki feudal Japan as background]]. It was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 in January of 2001, and later for the UsefulNotes/XBox in January of 2002 under the title ''Genma Onimusha''.