Genji: Dawn of the Samurai [PS2]

It's easy to forget how long the reach of Onimusha has been. We remember when Capcom unleashes a new title upon us, or when a rival publishes a challenger bearing the obvious stamp of influence. Genji is just such a title. It's easy to forgive the debt to Capcom's series, however, as fledgling developer Game Republic has delivered an experience full of beauty and action.

Genji is the tale of Yoshitsune, a lightning-quick swordsman. He's the lost son of a once-powerful clan wiped out by rivals in a battle long ago. Victory in that conflict hinged on the possession of powerful stones called Amahagane. The evil Heishi clan gained possession of many stones, ensuring their victory, however undeserved. Now Yoshitsune and the massive warrior monk Benkei must regain the stones and defeat the Heishi.

The comparisons to Onimusha begin with the game's gorgeous visual style, in which pre-rendered environments are seen through fixed camera angles. The level of detail is incredible. Vegetation, lighting effects, and architectural details are all plentiful and gorgeous. At times the graphics look painted. Strong voice acting (in subtitled Japanese) complements the lush images, giving Genji the quality of fine anime.

In the most basic situations, using Yoshitsune's swords and Benkei's giant club requires only the most basic button mashing skills. Light and heavy attacks, combined with blocking and jumping, provide the basis for a combat system that is fast and very cool to look at, but not terribly deep. But as the game progresses, and the waves of enemies are thicker and more difficult, the combat requires more subtle timing and defense.

Thankfully, each character has a totally unique feel, and for the most part, players can always to use one or the other at will. Yoshitsune is remarkably fast, but the slow brutality of Benkei is just as useful. And since Genji will be over very quickly for most gamers, the dual leads offer reasonable replay value for those able to master both fighting styles.

A big part of mastering the game's combat is learning how best to use the powers of Kamui. That's the pseudo-bullet time effect available to the owner of an Amahagane stone -- thankfully both heroes have at least one, and will eventually gain several. Learning to properly use Kamui not only flattens the many pedestrian enemies inhabiting the game, but is key to defeating the large, bestial bosses which punctuate every few stages.

An Amahagane's powers become available when the Kamui meter is full; acquiring more stones provides extra levels of power. When activated, Kamui slows time and telegraphs enemy attacks. An icon will appear below enemies about to swing; tap the corresponding button at the right time and Yoshitsune (or Benkei) will begin an unblockable combo that can instantly kill up to six enemies, so long as the player's timing is right. It's cribbed straight from God of War, to be sure, but the effect is still great fun.

There's a danger, though -- botch the button sequence and extra damage will rain down on Yoshitsune. Learning to use the system is crucial, however, as dominating the ever more plentiful enemy force is otherwise tremendously difficult. And watching enemies fall to pieces is eerily entertaining; there's a feeling of power and speed transmitted through Kamui that is infectious.

Relying on such power has a downside, though. Namely, the game is shortened noticeably. There's not a great amount of content in Genji to begin with, and mastering the combat will only make it fly by faster. It's a fun ride while it lasts, but skilled players looking for more than a weekend's distraction might be disappointed.

Regardless, Genji 's presentation and overall quality are so high that it's a shame the game can't be discussed without frequently invoking other classics. But if Game Republic had to borrow, we're happy they took from the best. With a more detailed and challenging storyline, Genji could have been right up on the top tier with the titles that inspired it. As is, this is an entertaining, beautiful experience for any fan of swords and samurai.