Onimusha Blade Warriors[a] is a 2003fighting game developed and published byCapcom for thePlayStation 2. A spin-off of theOnimusha series,Blade Warriors is a2D fighter game featuring many of the characters of theOnimusha franchise.
Players may use standard sword fighting with combos, blocks, block-breaking kicks, jump, switch planes (the different levels of the fighting area), use various items, and disarm their opponents. It also includes the original aspects of theOnimusha series, including the absorption of souls and special elemental attacks (lightning, fire, and wind). The story takes place months after the events inOnimusha 2 and before the events inOnimusha 3.[3]
Samanosuke Akechi - a protagonist samurai fromOnimusha: Warlords. A warrior who wields the Oni Gauntlet, he disappeared mysteriously after defeating Fortinbras at Gifu Castle. Once again he has set out to defeat the demons with his Oni power.
Kaede - a female ninja fromOnimusha: Warlords, she fought the demons with Samanosuke and searched for his whereabouts after the battle at Gifu Castle. Kaede will throw herself into the heat of battle no matter what the risk to life and limb.
Keijiro Maeda - Yumemaru fromOnimusha: Warlords ten years later, he is also known asMaeda Keiji. Famous eccentric swordsman, his gaudy dress conceals a warm heart. Rumored to have originally come from China, he wields a giant Nagamaki in battle.
Grunt - this nameless warrior wanders battlegrounds in hopes of an opportunity to raise his stature. Lucky for him he rarely has a break from war, or he would realize how bleak his future is.
Jubei Yagyu - a protagonist samurai fromOnimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, Oni blood flows through the veins of this mighty swordsman. He defeated the Demon Lord Nobunaga in the name of justice. He settled down at home until hearing that demons were on the move.
Oyu of Odani - a swordswoman fromOnimusha 2 and Nobunaga's younger sister, she fights alongside Jubei to defeat her monstrous brother. After many fierce battles, she has returned to her home castle to find some tranquillity.
Kotaro Fuma - a ninja fromOnimusha 2, he is a young leader of the Fuma ninja gang who serve the Houjyou family. Fought with Jubei against Nobunaga, he uses his masterful reconnaissance techniques to provide Jubei with intelligence.
Ekei Ankokuji - a warrior monk fromOnimusha 2 and a spear master of the Hozoin School. This monk with a taste for wine and women is still a top-class fighter with a sharp mind. He has served the Mouri family since the battle with the demons.
Magoichi Saiga - a gun trooper fromOnimusha 2 and the head gunner of the Kishu-Saiga gun team. Although he is trying to protect his homeland he hates Ekei.
Gargant - an unknown warrior of the Genma, he is seen inOnimusha 3: Demon Siege andOnimusha: Dawn of Dreams. He first swore his allegiance to the nefarious demon lord Fortinbras. After the demise of Fortinbras, he had yielded his position as the righthand man under the new Genma Lord, Oda Nobunaga.
Marcellus - a demon boss fromOnimusha: Warlords. He was once an Oni Warrior that converted into a Genma through Guildenstern's experimentation. This engineered demon, created from materials fetched from the Cave of Treachery, is Guildenstern's pride and joy. He wields a weapon resembling the Oni Gauntlet on his right arm.
Gogandantess - self-proclaimed "The greatest swordsman of all demons" inOnimusha 2.
Jujudormah - a demon boss fromOnimusha 2 and self-proclaimed 'most beautiful' concubine of Genma LordOda Nobunaga. A combination of cunning mind and ferocious nature makes Jujudormah as one of the most feared demons. Confident of her looks, she has an interest in the Demon Lord Nobunaga.
Zombie Warrior - a demon grunt fromOnimusha: Warlords and the first of Guildenstern's engineered demons. This zombie makes up for his lack of intelligence with a powerful instinct to seek out and destroy life.
Three Eyes - a demon ninja fromOnimusha: Warlords, this engineered demon was modeled after a ninja. Highly athletic, his agility far exceeds normal human levels. He can be spotted by his three eerily glowing eyes.
Nobunaga Oda - the demon lord who appeared inOnimusha: Warlords,Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny andOnimusha 3: Demon Siege. He wants to rule over the entire world with his Genma Army.
The game's music was written primarily by Shinichiro Sato, with additional compositions fromSega's Masaru Setsumaru, Hideki Abe, Yutaka Minobe, Hideaki Kobayashi, Junko Shiratsu, and Tomonori Sawada.
The game received "mixed" reviews according to thereview aggregation websiteMetacritic.[4] In Japan,Famitsu gave it a score of one eight and three sevens for a total of 29 out of 40.[7] Atomic Dawg ofGamePro gave a positive review to the game, commending the selection of characters to choose in several modes, "sharp" graphics, "tight" controls, gameplay, sound, and replay value. The reviewer said that the fans ofOnimusha will appreciate the title, as well as fans of fighting games in general.[18][c]
