Actually, in my own impression, many friends around me actually started the series from "Onimusha 3". As a masterpiece on the PS2 platform, the three generations of action elements and decryption are actually very satisfying. The plot design It is also expected as always. Unfortunately, after many years, CAPCOM seems to have forgotten that it still has such an IP. What is the difficult development of this classic action-adventure game? In this issue, let’s talk about the end of this Sengoku Legend series trilogy-"Onimusha 3".
Unreleased twists and turns
The year before "Onimusha 3" was released, it was an eventful year for CAPCOM. During this period, many of CAPCOM's works were met with unprecedented voices of doubt, the treasure of town society, "Onimusha 3" The "Resident Evil" series is in the throes of full-scale innovation; after entering the PS2 era, another original work, "Devil May Cry", which has also received high praise as the "Onimusha" series, encountered Waterloo in the second generation, and the glory is no longer; The decision to "five new NGC games in a row" has attracted many controversies, and the games involved are rarely successfully produced. Some experimental works such as "Chaos Legion" have many flaws in themselves, and it is difficult to become the main force in the market. In this context, "Onimusha 3", which maintains a high degree of expectations among the players, is even more important to CAPCOM. From the extensive publicity campaign before the release, it can be seen that the CAPCOM head office has also given great expectations for "Onimusha 3". To put it in an exaggeration, it almost treats "Onimusha 3" as a straw.
In addition to the two star stars of Takeshi Kaneshiro and Jean Reno, what CAPCOM emphasized in the publicity at the time was the first full 3D series. Since "Resident Evil", 3D characters + 2D static CG background has been a technique that CAPCOM has repeatedly used. The use of this method in the PS era is limited by hardware capabilities. However, CAPCOM has also accumulated considerable experience in this area. Take "Onimusha 2" or the NGC version of "Resident Evil" as an example. The 3D characters are very closely integrated with the 20 background, and the overall feeling is very exquisite and unobtrusive. However, in the PS2 era, this method is still used, and it is inevitable to get the evaluation of "low technical ability". In many similar games, such as "Devil May Cry", CAPCOM has gradually adopted a full 3D production method. The 3Dization of "Onimusha 3" is certainly progress, but the mentality of CAPCOM in the process of transformation is questionable. From the interviews of some producers at the time, we can see many times similar to this: "In the European and American game industry, people think that using 2D is a performance of insufficient technology and is a very shameful behavior." We cannot help but speculate: CAPCOM has fallen into the misunderstanding of "technology for technology", but forgets that technology is a means to serve the ultimate effect. As long as the final effect meets people's expectations, what kind of technical means are used to achieve it, why bother to go into it?
also mentioned various technologies used in "Onimusha 3" in the CAPCOM promotion. For example, the flexible use of high-precision modeling and rough modeling, flame effects, and even the expression of characters in the game. The most shocking thing is the trailer video released before the release. This video specially invited the famous martial arts star Donnie Yen as the action director. CAPCOM made every effort to produce superb effects, both in the details of the screen and the overall smoothness. Sexuality is almost perfect. It is worth mentioning that this video also won the best CG animation award that year. Such a publicity offensive creates the impression that "Onimusha 3" will be a work that will maximize the performance of PS2, and its effect is definitely unparalleled. However, in the eyes of people who know some 3D production knowledge, they can't help but put a question mark on the true level of "Onimusha 3" in their hearts.
In February 2004, "Onimusha 3" was launched, and people were finally able to witness its actual scenes. Of course, we cannot say that it was a failure. In fact, the screen effects of "Onimusha 3" can indeed be classified as popular among PS2 games. But an unavoidable fact is that compared with the pre-release publicity, it has no epoch-making significance as people imagine. 3DThe background inevitably brings a heavier hardware burden, the polygons consumed on the background increase, and the polygons used on the characters will naturally decrease. In terms of the exquisiteness of character modeling alone, CAPCOM has not achieved what they claim to be "not lost to the performance under 2D background conditions." The special effects such as the flame water flow in the game are satisfactory, but they are not far apart from other PS2 games. As for CG after all, it is just CG. Facts have proved that there is only the opening CG in the entire game, that is, the section used in the trailer video is of a high level, and most of the other CGs are perfunctory, giving people an anticlimactic feeling. All of this casts a haze on the prospects of "Onimusha 3".
Capcom who has the courage to make changes
"Onimusha" series is based on the Japanese Sengoku period as the story background. The origin of the story of a generation is that the magical Oda Nobunaga invades the Inaba Mountain Castle, and Iki has taken away the confidant Yuki Samasuke's confidant, which caused the battle between Saumasuke and Nobunaga. The second generation is based on Nobunaga’s attempt to destroy the Yanagyu family, which is a family of ghosts, and unfolds the revenge story of Yanagyu Jubei. Other characters that appeared in the second generation, such as Zaganoichi, Anguojie Joan does exist in history, and he does have various connections with Oda Nobunaga. Although
has a lot of fictional elements in the stories of these two generations, and even some supernatural and hyperspace things (such as robots and airships in the second generation), etc., it is basically based on history. Imagine it boldly. In contrast, "Oda Nobunaga transcends time and space to invade modern Paris" described in the story of three generations is a lot more abrupt, giving people a sense of "nonsensical". And throwing things like washing machines, compact discs, and motorcycles directly into "Onimusha" can hardly be said to have any positive effects besides being funny. We cannot but regret to say: "Onimusha 3" has greatly destroyed the overall feeling of "Sengoku Scroll" and "Samurai Live Drama" constructed since the first or second generation in the story structure. Of course, the appearance of these elements is not entirely bad. Who would have expected these elements to appear in the "Devil May Cry" series many years later?
If you want to examine the reasons for CAPCOM to make this change, it may be traced back to the first or second generation sales in Europe and the United States. Although these two games have been well received by professional game media in Europe and the United States, it is difficult for ordinary players to resonate with stories that are too strong in Japanese style. Therefore, they are also difficult to eat in the market. In order to change this situation, CAPCOM The strategy adopted was to invite Jean Renault, the famous French movie star, to join. The addition of Western actors will inevitably break the original story structure. From the final actual effect, this is not a wise move, because the number of players added by Jean Renault can only be said to be quite limited, and the dissatisfaction caused by the old players is even more serious.
is moving towards popularization, so that more novices can also play cool
"Onimusha 3" is not a shoddy work. The producers still put a lot of energy into it, and strive to seek new changes. However, the decision-making direction they took is questionable in many places. Regarding the subversion of the Ichikan system in "Onimusha 3", it is not only Ichigan or the action system. We can also see many traces in the setting of the game flow and rhythm control. The producer is Try to change the game "Onimusha" so that players who are not good at action games can accept this game faster. Of course this is not a bad thing, and this is indeed the trend of game production at the time.
However, the "Onimusha" series has established its status as a classic action game since a generation. It has received unanimous praise. It is because the game includes the "high play and big touch" flash system. Nor does it ignore players who are not good at action games. In "Onimusha 3", this difference is largely erased, making it difficult for players to find various levels of fun in this game. For the above reasons, coupled with the overall downturn in the Japanese game market, "Onimusha 3" finally did not continue the glory of this series.
trilogy is over, the series is newBefore the release of
for a lifetime, producer Keiji Inafune had already declared that "Onimusha 3 will be the end of the series." When I heard this sentence, in fact, most players were holding a skeptical attitude. In this era when sequels are in power, it is hard to believe that manufacturers will easily abandon a prestigious series. This is no different from self After destroying the cash cow, the later facts really fulfilled everyone’s conjecture. Two years later, "Shin Onimusha Fantasy Dawn" appeared in front of everyone. Inafune Keiji said that ""Onimusha 3" is just the end of the story, not The end of the game series", emmmm... really fragrant?
But when the players try out the new work, they find that "New Onimusha" is a continuation of the series. Rather, it is a brand-new work. It greatly increases the upgrades, collection and other elements of RPG games. The action system has basically been completely changed quite differently. It can no longer be called an action game in the strict sense, but an "RPG game with action elements". So many players feel that "New Onimusha" is a step backwards compared to the previous three generations.
and above is the entire content of the "Onimusha" trilogy. As for "New Onimusha" and its derivatives, there is actually nothing to say. Fans and players will definitely choose to play, but as for the quality, there are mixed reviews among players. The evaluation still makes sense. Nowadays, the development technology of CAPCOM is getting more and more against the sky. The RE engine applied to "Resident Evil 2 Remake" also has a pretty good effect. If CAPCOM can remember that it has such an IP, let’s take a copy of "Onimusha" III. The part's fried rice (remake), will it surely gain the support of players again? It’s just that we have everything in our dreams, let us look forward to Capcom’s smashing skills.
