While many would be quick to call Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams Onimusha 4, it is anything but. The game ditches the “Resident Evil with a sword” premise of the first three games for more of an action game approach.

Dawn of Dreams is all about eye candy. The trademark opening cinematic is here and joined by well-choreographed in-game movies. Compared to other games in the series, the fourth installment is a little brighter and flashier, though not so much so that it loses the series’ atmosphere. Character models are sharp and animate really well. Of course, there are a few minor details like lips being out of sync or not even moving, but there are barely worth the mention.

Both Japanese and English voice tracks are available, which should please everyone. The translation is good, though some phrasing sounds awkward. The voice acting is so-so, which is par for the series. Music is the game’s real high point. Each track matches the situation perfectly and even carries over familiar themes from the past three games.

Fifteen years after the Onimusha 3, Japan has been united under the leadership of Nobunaga’s lieutenant, Hideyoshi. This peace is broken when a mysterious moon appears in the sky, transforming Hideyoshi into a power-hungry warlord. He unleashes a new army of demonic Genma on Japan, leaving the blonde-haired Soki as its only salvation.

As with previous games, the main story is told through cutscenes with background information given in various notes and diaries found throughout the game. It doesn’t expect that you know the game’s history, though some references may go over your head if this is your first time with the series. The long narrative (which spans two disks) is well done, even if it takes a while getting to the point.

Dawn of Dreams is more open-ended than past games, though the “slash the hell out of every enemy you see” premise is still firmly intact. Gameplay is faster and reminiscent of Genji (which oddly enough was described by some as a “Faster Onimusha”). There is a lot to do in the game and the pacing is pretty even so you never feel overwhelmed.

Levels follow a linear flow, though once you start acquiring allies, they open up. Each of the five characters has a special skill that allows them to access tucked-away areas in each level. Again, the pacing is well-done; so while you may find a hidden area in one level, you may not meet the character that can actually go there until ten levels later. While it does add some artificial length, it is usually worth the time to go back and check previously impassable areas.

There is a ton of stuff to find in the game, ranging from jewels that will increase your health and power to new weapons and armor. There are also items like puzzle boxes, challenges and the Dark Realm that can be completed. However, the game does recycle areas, leading to the drawn-out feeling.

Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is tough, but not punishing. You’ll find yourself going up against even more enemies at once than in past games, but it is easy to just slice through them all. Health is easier to come by, so you’ll never find yourself in a situation where you’re stuck facing down a boss with a low health bar and no way to recover it. And, if for any reason you do find yourself without health, constantly switching between characters and telling one to stay back and heal is a good, if cheap, way of building your health up.

Boss fights drag on longer than they should, so they’re more tiring than challenging. Most use easy-to-follow attack patterns, so any strategy goes out the window once you have figured out what to do. However, the fatigue that sets in during long battles makes mistakes a little more likely.

Two controllable characters is one of Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams' stronger points. All characters stick to the same underlying gameplay mechanics, but each also has their own unique combat styles and abilities. During most of the game, you’ll have direct control over one while a relatively competent A.I. controls the other. Allies are usually helpful, though they do tend to get beat up quite a bit during fights. At any time, you can switch between the two with a press of a button and issue simple commands to the other with the D-pad.

Characters and weapons are both upgradeable, adding an RPG element to the game. Captured red souls can, as in previous games, be fused into weapons and armor making them more powerful. Characters also gain skill points as they level, which can then be spent on upgrading abilities. Each begins with a limited set of abilities, but as you spend points on different abilities, new ones will begin to unlock.

Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is a great follow-up to the series. It doesn’t stray too far from what made the original three enjoyable, but at the same time, it introduces enough new elements to keep the game from being more of the same.