Onimusha 3
PS2, £39.99 Capcom, ****
The latest instalment of Capcom's popular hack'n'slash feels more sophisticated than predecessors. Essentially, it combines dispatching demons with nifty swordfighting and puzzle-solving, but the addition of a character adds welcome depth to the gameplay. Action takes place in modern Paris and Japan in 1582.
The new character, Jacques Blanc, is voiced by and visually modelled on Jean Reno, and his whip/lassoo mode of attack is reminiscent of Castlevania (he can use it to immobilise enemies or vault into apparently unreachable areas). Blanc finds himself in ancient Japan, while Samanosuke is in Paris.
The ability to switch between the two characters, a device that works well, has much bearing on the puzzle-solving. The convoluted plot is bog-standard, but the graphics are excellent, and the gameplay benefits from a straightforward, responsive control system that has a few extras.
Onimusha 3 is also easier to play than its obvious rival, Ninja Gaiden, although it is visually inferior. It should keep fans of Japanese-style action-adventure games happy.
Steve Boxer
Smash Court Pro Tennis 2
PS2, £29.99 Namco/Sony ***
While you can understand the marketing decision - releasing a tennis videogame around Wimbledon - the timing is less important than it seems. This is because tennis games, like golf games, are enjoyed by people who wouldn't go near a club. The reason? Simplicity and multiplayer.
Smash Court Pro 2 offers these plus licensed courts, players and equipment. The main part sees you playing a Pro Tour, competing in tournaments and working your way up the ladder.
Oddly, you play less than you would think. Instead, you jump in at key moments, attempting to complete a challenge such as scoring points using a small number of balls. Traditional play is found in the multiplayer mode, which works well. The players move around court convincingly, shots are relatively easily placed and skill soon replaces what seems at first to be a button-mashing exercise.
On the surface, the graphics can't be faulted. The players are well animated and the licensed players are realistic. Unfortunately, the shadows and perspective make it hard to accurately judge the ball's position. While not as addictive as Sega's Virtua Tennis, Smash Court 2 is a decent game that holds its own in the rankings.
Greg Howson
SpellForce: Breath of Winter
PC, 19.99 Phenomic/JoWood, **
SpellForce was a daring but flawed attempt to combine two genres, and for that reason, much was expected from this add-on pack. Unfortunately, once again we have a game with flashes of genius but the same random problems of the original.
Fans will delight at another massive campaign and brilliantly detailed storyline. The combination of realtime strategy and dungeon master has been tried (Warcraft3) but SpellForce did it best and Breath of Winter continues that tradition.
While your hero is winning battles and accumulating levels, your economy must be kept running, sometimes balancing the needs of from three to six races at once. Breath of Winter fine-tunes a fascinating formula that makes other Diablo-type games look prehistoric. Undoubtedly, others will copy it but, for now, this is RTS heaven with the bonus of a great dungeon hack on top.
However, the stability of the program is questionable. Levels still take ridiculously long to load, sound occasionally disappears, and there's SpellForce's old habit of refusing to work with certain graphics cards or system specs. This time, I played for more than five hours before an irreversible crash, but PC owners have a right to expect it not to happen these days. The developer's past performance doesn't inspire confidence - hence what might seem a criminally low rating to those with the exact system spec to enjoy the game fully.
Mike Anderiesz
