Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

Presentation

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege continues the conflict between Samanosuke Akechi and Nobunaga Oda while introducing something new to the series: time travel linking feudal Japan with Paris in 2004.

While confronting Nobunaga at Honnō-ji Temple in 1582, Samanosuke is thrown five centuries into the future. At the same time, Jacques Blanc, a French soldier facing a Genma invasion in Paris, is sent back to 16th-century Japan.

The adventure therefore alternates between the two protagonists and their respective eras. Samanosuke notably explores a Paris transformed by the demonic invasion, while Jacques discovers Japan during the Sengoku period.

Both heroes use the power of the Oni and can absorb souls left behind by the Genma to strengthen their weapons and abilities.

Samanosuke retains a style close to the previous entries, mainly built around melee weapons, magical attacks, guarding and timing-based counterattacks.

Jacques uses a different system centered on the Oni Whip. His weapons can grab enemies, throw them or interact with certain parts of the environment.

He can also use Fireflies to reach otherwise inaccessible areas, giving his sections a distinct exploration element.

The small Tengu Ako accompanies both heroes. Through her powers, she notably helps connect the two eras and allows certain essential items to be transferred for time-based puzzles.

This structure regularly requires the player to act in one period in order to alter a situation or obtain an item that becomes useful in the other.

Michelle Aubert, someone close to Jacques, also becomes playable during certain sequences. Unlike the two main heroes, she mainly fights with firearms.

The game abandons the pre-rendered backgrounds of the first two entries in favor of fully 3D environments, while still retaining staging that largely relies on predetermined camera angles.

Key points

• Samanosuke Akechi returns as a protagonist.
• Jacques Blanc becomes the second main hero.
• The story alternates between 1582 Japan and Paris in 2004.
• Nobunaga Oda remains at the center of the Genma threat.
• Both heroes use Oni powers.
• Souls are used to strengthen weapons and abilities.
• Samanosuke focuses on melee weapons and magical attacks.
• Jacques uses the Oni Whip for combat and environmental interaction.
• Fireflies allow Jacques to reach certain areas.
• Ako accompanies the heroes and connects the two eras.
• Certain items can be transferred through time.
• Puzzles regularly make use of the dual timeline.
• Michelle Aubert is playable during certain sequences with firearms.
• The environments are now fully rendered in 3D.

Conclusion

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege expands the formula of the earlier entries by building its entire adventure around two heroes separated by five centuries.

Samanosuke retains a style close to the series' traditional combat, while Jacques' Oni Whip introduces different possibilities both against the Genma and during exploration.

The constant movement between 1582 Japan and 2004 Paris also gives time-based puzzles an important role, with Ako allowing the actions and items of both protagonists to connect despite the eras separating them.

Good to know

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege is developed and published by Capcom.

The game was originally released for PlayStation 2 in 2004: February 26 in Japan, April 27 in North America and July 9, 2004 in Europe.

A Windows version was later released, beginning in 2005 depending on the region.

It is a single-player experience.

The story mainly connects Honnō-ji and Japan in 1582 with Paris in 2004, incorporating several French locations into the adventure.

Samanosuke Akechi retains the likeness of actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, who also contributes to the character's performance.

Jacques Blanc is based on the likeness of French actor Jean Reno, who also participated in motion capture and provides the character's French voice.

The game is the first main entry in the series to use fully 3D environments, replacing the pre-rendered backgrounds of the first two titles.

It also introduces more direct analog movement while preserving a game structure immediately recognizable as part of the series.

Michelle Aubert serves as a third playable character during a few sequences, with an arsenal mainly composed of firearms.

This entry focuses on the main campaign, Samanosuke, Jacques Blanc, the two eras, Ako, Oni powers and the main developments introduced in Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, without detailing every weapon, boss or unlockable.