TinyChan

A TACTICAL RPG FOR BEGINNERS

With Capcom's Onimusha series back in the public eye, it feels like the perfect time to revisit this lesser-known spin-off. While the publisher seems to be slowly remastering its way through the original PlayStation 2 releases, it's highly unlikely we'll see any sort of remaster of Onimusha Tactics (although a digital release via the Nintendo Switch Online service doesn't seem out of the question).

If you've never played it before, it's a tactical RPG that looks very similar to Square Enix's Final Fantasy Tactics Advance series. It's a far simpler take on the genre though and is perhaps best thought of as a My First Tactical RPG. That's not to say it's bad of course, but those coming to it after Square's game or similar examples of the genre may be disappointed with the lack of substance that Onimusha Tactics offers.

You don't need to worry about how your character is positioned during fights or aggressive enemy Al like in other games. Similarly, the levelling system that Onimusha Tactics features for improving characters and enhancing weapons is also straightforward (as is its story). The early battles are laughably simple as well, meaning the first few hours present very little challenge.

And yet, I've always enjoyed the game and recently added it to my collection again with the intention of playing through it once more. I've been slowly making my way through all the Onimusha games (I've recently completed the first three) and I've forgotten how much I like the lore of the series that features noble samurai battling against evil demons.

Onimusha Tactics is definitely a cuter take on the typically dark series thanks to its delightful pixel art and colourful backgrounds, but it somehow hangs together and works, particularly when you meet characters from other games like Magoichi Saiga and Ekei Ankokuji. Onimusha Tactics may not be as good as some of the other games in the series, but it absolutely shouldn't be ignored, particularly if you've never dabbled in tactical RPGs and always fancied giving them a try.