What do the games Onimusha, Dino Crisis and Devil May Cry all have in common? Each of these classic Capcom franchises started their life as either a Resident Evil spin-off, sequel or wannabe. These games helped to broaden the tried-and-true formula, all while introducing new elements, time periods and scares. We've already looked at the Resident Evil franchise, but what did Electronic Gaming Monthly think of these turn-of-the-century offshoots? That's the question I set out to answer.
Now, in case you're curious, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed fifteen games across these three franchises. This means that they managed to hit all three Dino Crisis games, all of the mainline Onimusha games and most of the Devil May Cry sequels. They basically only missed Devil May Cry 5, the reboot and that tactical Onimusha game. What we're going to do today is countdown the best and worst games from these three franchises using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. So, go and grab your favorite pair of jeans and dinosaur repellent, because it's time for another time-traveling episode of EGM Ranks Onimusha, Dino Crisis and Devil May Cry.
Dino Stalker (PlayStation 2)
#15
“Dino Stalker's fusion of light-gun gameplay and free-roaming first-person shooter control is, if you'll excuse the pun, hit or miss. There are definitely some cool ideas here: Giving you full control of movement in a light-gun game is something fans have been screaming about for years, and Dino definitely delivers on that promise. That said, even after mastering running, strafing and firing with the Guncon, having to constantly hold the weapon with both hands got tiresome – fast. And despite its adventure game pretensions, Dino still suffers from annoying time limits and short overall length, pitfalls that plague many other light gun titles. With its detailed graphics, wide assortment of weapons and high-production values, Dino would have made for a much better first-person shooter sans the gun gimmick.” (5.5 out of 10)
Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
(PlayStation 2)
#14
“When I first saw the French-infused Onimusha 3, I remember developer Keiji Inafune telling me that it would be the franchise's swan song. Too bad he's not a man of his word. Dawn of Dreams makes a considerable amount of alterations to this soul-sucking action series, and while I'm cool with things changing, I'm not cool with the execution. Let's start with the new A.I.-controlled partners: Simply put, these warriors are total wussies. You can now swing [the camera] around using the right analog stick, but the viewpoint's set way too close to your character, and you know what that means – lots of cheap hits from offscreen enemies. Don't let this one's slick presentation fool you; it's simply another title that looks good from afar, yet is far from good.” (6.2 out of 10)
Dino Crisis 3 (Xbox)
#13
“Dino Crisis 3 is an absolutely gorgeous game, but all of the gripes about the camera are spot-on. I so wish it used a 3D camera like the one found in Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Playing from a series of static perspectives seems like a harkening back to the days of clunky, older PS1 titles, and it's completely unsuited for a game that requires so much fast action. Vertigo-inducing viewpoints aside, the gameplay's solid – the addition of the jetpack is a neat, new gimmick for the series. But still, this Crisis feels like the vestigial remains of a genre that needed to evolve or die a long time ago.” (6.3 out of 10)
Onimusha: Blade Warriors (PlayStation 2)
#12
“Admit it: You wouldn't like the Super Smash Bros. series half as much without the heavy Nintendo flavoring. So, if you took that same four-player battle concept into the world of Onimusha, it wouldn't be nearly as cool, right? (Answer: Right.) Blade Warriors simply doesn't have the variety needed to keep you and your friends hooked on multiplayer – all the warriors have essentially the same moves, and each level isn't that different from the next.” [...] “While all the rewards are nice, the effort is as dull as a wooden practice sword.” (7.2 out of 10)
Devil May Cry 2 (PlayStation 2)
#11
“Dante definitely retains his crown as the most stylish badass in gaming today; his two-handed gunplay and Crouching Tiger acrobatics are so cool, it's often a thrill just being behind the controller (not cool enough to convince me to buy a pair of Diesel jeans, but cool). Too bad the game around him can't match the same level of excitement. The story is awful, enemies and bosses lack imagination, and you won't find anything worth calling a “puzzle.” Slash, slash, slash or endless blasting is as deep as it gets; real technique is rarely necessary or useful, even on the hard settings. Devil May Cry 2 is solid as an easy, mindless action game, but as a big fan of the original, I can't help feeling disappointed.” (7.3 out of 10)
Genma Onimusha (Xbox)
#10
“Resident Evil in ancient Japan: That's a pretty good primer for Onimusha, in case you missed the original PlayStation 2 version released just one year ago. Oni's lighter on the Puzzles and heavier on the combat than Resident Evil, but wandering room to room, cleaving down undead evil creatures will definitely feel familiar. So, you'd think this new, improved version with added outfits, areas, enemies and a harder difficulty would be even better, right? Wrong. Genma's tougher and more numerous bad guys do lengthen the game a bit, but they also highlight the flaws in the already weak controls. With no lock-on system and a “left or right to turn, forward to move” scheme (like Resident Evil), things get confusing and frustrating when you are surrounded, which is now much more often. The graphics still look sharp, and striking down ninjas and horned demons holds enough thrills to make Genma a worthy rental for rookies, but if you already had your way with the PS2 version, don't bother.” (7.3 out of 10)
Dino Crisis (Dreamcast)
#9
“Out of all of Capcom's PlayStation survival horror games, Dino Crisis benefits the most from the move to the Dreamcast. Since everything, including the backgrounds, are rendered in real-time, it all looks much smoother and crisper on Sega's hardware. Other tweaks include faster load times and a health and ammo display for the VMU, but none of it is really enough to make Dino Crisis for the Dreamcast worthwhile to anyone who already played the game. Still, if you're a survival horror fan, Dino Crisis is definitely worth a try, especially with the improved Dreamcast visuals and cheaper price.” (7.5 out of 10)
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
(PlayStation 2)
#8
“It's easy to bag on Onimusha 2 because it's a sequel that doesn't innovate much beyond its predecessor. Strip away the A.I. partners, pseudo-adventuring, item-swapping and periodic brain-bustin' puzzles, and all you're left with is a basic hack ‘n slash affair. After hours of eviscerating fiendish samurai zombies, however, I realized that sticking to Onimusha's action philosophy is a good thing. Why? Because dicing up the undead with your oversized Ginsu knife is a helluva lot of fun. It's the fast gameplay that floats Onimusha 2, but the pretty graphics, digitized faces or awesome production values.” (7.8 out of 10)
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (PlayStation 2)
#7
“While the original Devil May Cry proved that 3D action/adventures can be fast, tough and beautiful, its sequel proved that repetitive levels, dull bosses and designer-jean product placement could quickly sour the formula. With Devil May Cry 3, developer Capcom successfully brings back the series' rich gameplay and lush visuals ... but also pumps up the challenge to near-fatal levels. Devil May Cry 3 will mutilate beginners and vets alike. In fact, the game's so hard that you'll probably need to switch over to easy mode (which you unlock after the second brutal stage).” (8 out of 10)
Dino Crisis (PlayStation)
#6
“Dinosaur fans, rejoice! Capcom has managed to take the survival horror genre, remove the zombies and insert an equally terrifying menace – prehistoric beasts with a taste for blood. Using real-time environments gives it a more cinematic feel, making it feel like anything could pop out to attack at any time. There's plenty of puzzles, though they could've been a little more difficult. If you're a fan of Resident Evil, you won't be disappointed by Dino Crisis.” (8.1 out of 10)
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
(PlayStation 2)
#5
“Just when you thought Capcom would never top Dino Crisis 3's ‘Jurassic Park in space' theme for hokiest adventure game plot ever, along comes Onimusha 3. It's not that the idea of ancient Japanese demons time-traveling to modern-day Paris is a bad one ... wait, yes it is. That's exactly what it is: A just-plain-bad idea made worse with hammy dialogue, cliches, and some pretty ridiculous leaps of logic. It's painfully obvious that the game's awkward story was cobbled together to accommodate French actor Jean Reno, whom few Americans will recognize anyway and even fewer will care about.” (8.2 out of 10)
Devil May Cry 4
(PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360)
#4
“Coming into this sequel, Capcom's pioneering slash ‘n shoot franchise teeters on the edge of losing its triple-A status. The last two games felt like slight missteps – DMC2 was a lifeless, repetitive retread, while DMC3's absurd difficulty curve made it impenetrably tough for most gamers. The good news? In many crucial ways, Devil May Cry 4 feels like the return to form that fans so desperately desire. But at the same time, an obnoxious design choice keeps it from being an unqualified success. Although it dips into the recycling bin a bit too much, Devil May Cry 4 still remains a must-play title for action-adventure gamers. Its gorgeous trappings, addictive combat, and well-balanced difficulty make it the most satisfying Devil May Cry in years.” (8.5 out of 10)
Onimusha: Warlords (PlayStation 2)
#3
“Just like Dino Crisis is Resident Evil with dinosaurs, Onimusha is Resident Evil with swords. Er, and samurai and demons and stuff. At least, that's what I thought when I first saw shots for this game a good two years ago, but it turns out I was only partially right. Yes, there are plenty of similarities to Capcom's flagship horror series, but, thankfully, Onimusha also improves on the classic RE formula in many ways. Slicing through hoards of decrepit foes instead of shooting them is still a blast, and the upgrade system is a great addition. Onimusha is very short though; something seems out of place when a game you've been waiting years for can be easily beaten in a hair over three hours. But hey, it's a great three hours.” (8.5 out of 10)
Dino Crisis 2 (PlayStation)
#2
“I'm a Resident Evil-aholic, but even I have gotten a bit tired of the same old survival horror formula – that's why I love Dino 2. The whole game has been rebuilt to revolve around the action-packed run ‘n gun gameplay. Sure, that means you sacrifice some of the slow, burning fear and almost all of the superior puzzles of the first game, but I was having too much fun blowing away the big lizards to really care. Capcom took some chances that really paid off – the first-person sections are great, and the underwater parts kick some serious ass. (You can jump! FINALLY!) Graphics and sound are all top-notch as well. Almost makes up for Survivor. Almost.” (8.8 out of 10)
Devil May Cry (PlayStation 2)
#1
“To the point: Devil May Cry is what Castlevania 3D should have been. Don't mind that Dante doesn't wield a whip. He kicks much demon ass and looks dope doing it. Wrapped in some of the most luscious environments ever, Dante takes it to the street with fists of fire, bewitches baddies with double-jumps and double-pumps of his sawed-off, and is a real cut-up with his demon-sword Sparda. The camera is your worst enemy at times, but the switch from the usual Resident Evil control to the friendlier Mario 64-flavored setup makes up for it. Crazy-wack dialog aside, DMC is absolutely electrifying. Savor every hardcore bite.” (8.8 out of 10)
