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| O N I S P I R I T S |
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/----------------------------------\
/ Oni Sprits Strategy Guide \
/ Genma Onimusha for Microsoft X-Box \
/ By: Richo Rosai \
\ Email:
[email protected] /
\ Home Page: www.jehovahgyra.com /
\ May 15, 2002 /
\----------------------------------/
The Oni Spritis mini-game in Genma Onimusha is quite a challenge, and
especially so if you don't give it a chance and a lot of time. I quit after
the second floor, but I eventually decided that it had to be possible, and
that there had to be one of those great Capcom secrets to gain by beating it.
I was right on both points.
==============================================================================
CONTENTS:
1. What is Oni Spirits?
2. General Tips
3. Step-by-step Strategy (Floors 1 through 12)
4. The Sigh of Relief
-------------------------
1. What is Oni Sprits?
-------------------------
Oni Sprits is a short but intensely tough mini-game in Genma Onimusha. You
can gain access to it by collecting 20 or more fluorites in the main game.
This is not exactly hard to do, especially with the "vision staff."
In Oni Spirits, you have to work your way down through twelve floors of a
temple, releasing your Oni pals' sprits from vases. Unfortunately, the Genma
(demons) are also out to bust those vases, and I suppose that when a demon
releases a spirit something bad happens to it. So you have to break free an
allotted number of spirits before the demons can. To make things harder, you
seem to be allergic to Oni soul temples, so your health will slowly start
to drop each time you begin a new floor. This is essentially a time limit,
although you can do things to cause the bar to drop faster (taking hits from
enemies) or to partially refill it (absorbing yellow souls).
There are two kinds of vases. Normal brown vases simply release Oni souls.
But the decorated gray vases also give you a small health boost. Large health
boosts are also available after killing most demons. (The Long Armed Demons,
on the other hand, only give blue (magic) souls.)
Incidentally, the characters written on the floor of each stage comprise, in
succession, the Eto, or the Chinese Zodiac.
-----------------
2. General Tips
-----------------
*
Take a little time to get comfortable with the slicing mechanics. It is very
easy to slice three vases in a corner, and even more with, for example, the
fire sword.
*
When possible, save health souls for when you are closer to them. Sucking a
health soul from the other side of the room will take as much time as it
saves you.
*
Use the R trigger to face and focus on enemies. This is much more crucial
here than in the main game. Also learn the two attacks possible while in the
R stance: the jab (attack while holding the toward button from a distance)
and the upper-cut slice (attack while holding the toward button up close),
and their advantages.
*
Assuming that your goal is to beat the twelve floors, never spend time sucking
purple souls while there are still vases or demons to go after. You can save
this for future hi-score runs. As for clearing a floor, breaking the vase is
all that counts.
*
Learn the proper positioning for a chest stab on a downed demon.
*
Don't forget that you can get and use the matchlock, and a decent amount of
both types of ammo for it.
*
Save magic in the middle levels for the end ones. Blue souls are very rare.
*
You can't count on them, but it is possible to get five green souls. Use
the invincibility wisely.
*
Try to develop a strategy for each level so that you can beat it without
using an herb. You will want the herbs when you mess up.
*
If you are going for purple souls, remember that the floor will end a few
seconds after you break the last vase. So break all but one vase, absorb all
of the souls, then break the last one and get that soul.
*
---------------------------
3. Step-by-step Strategy
---------------------------
Oni Spirits can be frustrating. They key is to develop a strategy for each
level, and not to make any tactical errors carrying it out. Here is the
strategy I used. I found it to be quite effective.
<<FLOOR 1>>
1 Soldier Demon
1 Herb
This is simple. You don't even have to kill the single Soldier Demon to win.
If you need help on this, I don't see how you could have gotten the twenty
fluorites or beaten the game to open up Oni Spirits. You can use this floor
for practice, and to get used to the two different kinds of vases.
<<FLOOR 2>>
2 Soldier Demons
The Thunder Orb
Matchlock Bullets
This floor is also a piece of cake. Use the R trigger to slice to the first
Soldier Demon, release it and chest stab him. Repeat for the next one. Absorb
their health souls. You'll have plenty of time to get the Thunder Orb in the
top right and the Bullets to the bottom left, before or after meeting your
vase quota. Equip the thunder orb before you leave.
<<FLOOR 3>>
1 Gyaran
1 Long Armed Demon
The Matchlock
This can be the simplest level if you know what to do. First, hold the R
trigger and slice your way to the Gyaran with the Thunder Orb equipped.
Continue to hold R and slice after it dies, and you will make your way to the
Long Armed Demon. If you're afraid of taking a hit, you might use some magic
(since this monster will give you a blue soul anyway), but with all the gray
vases here you should have no problem with time. Don't forget the Matchlock
in the center of the room.
<<FLOOR 4>>
2 Three Eyed Ninja
Matchlock Bullets
The Fire Orb
Here you will encounter the Three Eyed Ninja. Follow a similar strategy to the
second floor and you should be okay. R trigger and slice to the nearest one.
When you see him fall, release the R trigger and keep slicing. (If you
continue to hold R, you'll start toward the next Ninja.) This will guarantee
you a clean chest stab. R trigger again, slice again, kill again. If you made
it without any trouble, you're health should be close to full with the two
large health souls you'll get from the Ninjas. Bullets wait in the very top
left, and the very important Fire Orb in the very bottom right. Equip it as
soon as you get it.
<<FLOOR 5>>
2 Long Armed Demons
1 Gyaran
Matchlock Burst Bullets
If you just try to fight the demons with no strategy, this level will be a
real pain. Even if you win, you'll often not have enough vases. I was always
either loosing on this stage or winning with an herb. Then I made it into a
science.
Have the Fire Orb equipped before this level. The split second it takes to
access the menu may allow the Long Armed Demon a few vases. Immediately R
trigger the nearest Demon and use a fire attack. Release R and walk forward.
You will already be facing the Demon exactly, so chest stabbing him will be
no problem. Hit the R trigger again to spin around. FROM WHERE YOU ARE
STANDING, or maybe just a bit closer, use another fire attack. If done
correctly, a fire attack at this distance will not only knock down the Long
Arm Demon, but kill the Gyaran, who has been hoarding some precious yellow
souls all this time. Chest stab the fallen Demon, and suck in all the yellow
and blue souls left. This should buy you enough time to grab the burst bullets
just in front of you and meet your vase quota without an herb.
<<FLOOR 6>>
2 Soldier Demons
1 Herb
The sixth stage is the first in which you must not loose one vase to an enemy.
It can be tricky, but we have strategy. Have that Fire Orb handy? Walk
strait forward to around the red line drawn on the ground, and let a magic
attack out. If it kills both Soldier demons, you are lucky. If not,
immediately R trigger the remaining Demon and take him out with the powerful
Fire Sword. Take your time and get the herb to the middle left before smashing
all the vases, and equip the Matchlock before moving on.
<<FLOOR 7>>
2 Long Armed Demons
1 Gyaran
The Wind Orb
The music changed, but calm down. A little gun powder and we'll be on our way,
and with full magic to boot. Start off with the R trigger. Bang to one, and
then the next of the Long Armed Demons. They are dead, but you probably want
those blue souls. No problem. Walk AROUND the center of the room (because a
box will block your path), and then R trigger and kill the Gyaran, who will
refill your red magic. The Thunder Sword's yellow (weakest) charge attack is
nice here, but you should be able to deal the necessary damage to the Gyaran
without much hassle. Say "yippee" and get that Wind Orb that blocked your
path in the upper middle of the room. Smash more of those ugly vases.
<<FLOOR 8>>
4 Bazuu
Matchlock Burst Bullets
The Ninja Suit
Congratulations. You've made it to the level I hate. You should know by now
how you like to fight Bazuu, so equip your favorite weapon and go after them.
If you're not fast or take many hits, you might have to use an herb, but if
you can take the Bazuu out one at a time you'll get the large health souls.
After they are dead, smash vases and get the burst bullets in the middle and
the Ninja Suit in the top middle. Equip it, along with the Wind Orb.
<<FLOOR 9>>
1 Big Axe Demon
2 Gyaran
Matchlock Burst Bullets
Here's what we've been saving magic for. use your blade to speed to a point
within magic range of the Gyaran on the right. Wind magic attack it. Next,
equip the Thunder Orb, and use either a level 1 or 2 thunder magic attack on
the Axe Demon. He probably won't die, so chest stab him. By now the other
Gyaran should be either gone or leaving, so there went your souls. Oh well,
you have time to destroy enough vases and to grab the burst bullets, hopefully
without an herb.
<<FLOOR 10>>
1 Long Armed Demon
2 Three Eyed Ninjas
1 Herb
Here’s the other level that forces you to get every single vase, It is a trap,
unless you understand the mechanics of what causes which Three Eye to drop.
Once you do, it's as simple as old school Doom tripwire manipulation.
Start off by using fire magic on the vases in front of you. You can use
bullets if you want, but your fire magic should be full and the Long Arm will
refill it for you. Either way, once the vases are out of the way, you can use
a single regular matchlock bullet to take the Long Arm out. Keep to the "walls"
and take the perimeter of the room to the right. Get the corner vase and head
up toward the top. Because you are to the far right, only one of the Three
Eyes will come at you. Knock him down and chest stab him. Suck up his yellow
soul along with the Long Armed Demon's blue soul, then take out the corner vase
and grab the herb. Your magic should be full again. Continue to make your
way around to the left top corner, then down to the bottom. You don't have to
kill the next Three Eye if you don't want to; he can't beat you to the bottom
corner vase. Equip the Wind Orb. Hold the block button and stick your tongue
out.
<<FLOOR 11>>
1 Long Armed Demon
2 Three Eyed Ninjas
The same enemies populate this level as the last, except that this time the
Three Eyes are out from the start in a room full of vases. And they are fast.
Run to one or the other and unleash a wind attack. Go to the remaining Three
Eye and use another magic attack, or perhaps just regular sword technique if
you feel confident. I don't recommend a second wind attack here, because of
how useful it will be on the next floor. (And making it all the way to floor
12 and then not getting enough vases is one of the most controller smashing
frustrations in all of gamedom.) Make a beeline to the Long Armed Demon. Take
him out, get his magic soul, and hop on those vases, with the fire sword if
you like. Before you are sucked down, equip your Wind Orb one last time.
<<Floor 12>>
1 Bazuu
2 Big Axe Demons
This is it. If you've followed my advice and conserved your wind magic, you
should stand a decent chance. But if you don't do a perfect and quick job of
taking out those Axe Demons, you might well end up 10 or 15 vases short. Ouch.
Dash right. Wind magic the first behemoth. Hurry back to the left, and use
another wind magic. Fire magic will work nicely to take these two out while
they're on the ground, but whatever you do you MUST NOT let them at the vases.
The poor little Bazuu has been sitting still this whole time, perhaps in awe
of your unmatchable Samurai skills. Let him know you care by lightning-ing his
ass into ashes, and then do a little victory dance. Um, be sure to dance AFTER
you smash those vases.
In the words of Jim Morrison: "It's all over."
-----------------------
4. The Sigh of Relief
-----------------------
Congratulations. Now you have access to the Ultimate Mode, which will put you
on your way to an S ranking. If you used and/or liked my tactics, think that
they suck and want to tell me about your way that is ten times better, or have
any other comments, feel free to email me.
==============================================================================
This unpublished work is copyright 2002 Jerry Neighbors and may not be used
for any commercial purposes. It is available only on "gamefaqs.com", period.
