Introduction

In the unlikely case your spirit needs rescuing, Capcom's Onimusha Soul hopes to get you on that journey through turn-based combat launched on the PS3 from the vast realm of browser games. If you're expecting samurais battling demons in visually arresting 3D environments, hold that thought because what you actually get here resembles a mobile game you could play while avoiding the endless trauma of your daily commute.

Gameplay

Onimusha Soul takes everything you loved about the original Onimusha series and decides to throw it in a blender with a turn-based, card-collecting mechanic. You can summon a variety of previous characters but don't expect much in the way of decision-making outside of which cool waifu to summon when in trouble (cheers to all fans of Japanese packing tape!). Wave after wave of enemy attacks will have you playing a furious game of rock-paper-scissors while praying that your 'soul cards' are somehow better than those of your adversaries. For the uninitiated, it's mostly just tapping buttons... yes, you can literally enjoy the game with one hand while the other ferries your snack haul from the fridge. Strategy? Pfft. One just needs to train by repeatedly pressing buttons and hoping for the best. "All skill, no will", you might say.

Graphics

Visually, the graphics seem like they've been digitally preserved like the embarrassing childhood photos we all wish no one would find. The art is clean and colorful, but one can hardly make a case for it in the same breath as the more mature aesthetics that define classic samurai titles. If you're prepared for a soft nostalgia trip via nostalgic pixelation, set your expectations to 'pleasantly mediocre', because nothing more demands to be said here. Think of it as a fine blend of watercolor art, only without the satisfaction of an actual masterpiece at the end. Bravo, Capcom, you truly did make this game look like candy on a rainy day, giving us visuals that could only wow a grandmother.

Conclusion

If your samurai dreams can tolerate a free-to-play, browser-based game adapted for the PS3, Onimusha Soul offers a satisfying pseudo-slice of the classic series. However, if you're expecting the lush storytelling and immersive gameplay of previous installments, you might want to set your sights elsewhere. This title is no masterpiece, but, hey, it's worth a try when boredom hits after finishing all eight episodes of that new anime you binged. Depending on the day, just know that playing Onimusha Soul is somewhat akin to eating stale chips... it may not be what you planned to munch on, but at least it's a crunchy distraction!

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