Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
- October 30, 2014
- Tamsoft
It's hard for me to agree on the $50 price point for what's in the box. It is good mindless fun or a challenge depending on how you want to play. If you like these types of games you shouldn't hesitate to try it out!
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos is the latest entry in the Onechanbara series. Two sets of buxom vampire sisters battle through over a dozen stages of high-octane real-time swordplay. Fight off the invasion in gruesome detail, occasionally transforming into a demon for short bursts of added power and speed. Enjoy the gameplay experience with the original Japanese voices or – for the first time in series his…
Reviews
- The game features fast-paced, over-the-top action with a wide variety of weapons and special moves, making combat exciting and engaging.
- Visually stunning with beautifully designed characters and environments, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Offers a surprising depth in gameplay mechanics, including character swapping and combo chaining, which adds complexity to the otherwise mindless fun.
- The story is weak and predictable, often feeling thrown together and ultimately forgettable.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with some levels requiring backtracking to defeat enemies that block progress.
- Technical issues such as poor camera angles and bland environments detract from the overall experience.
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered short and lacking in depth, with many players finding it confusing and poorly constructed. While it offers some entertaining moments and engaging combat, the narrative feels secondary to the gameplay experience, leaving players wishing for more substantial content or additional story expansions. Overall, the story is described as "okay" but not particularly memorable.
“This game is great, the story is good, and the transformations are amazing.”
“The game's story is a bit light on substance, but it's still entertaining enough to keep you engaged.”
“I wish the game was longer, or they’d at least release a DLC to add something to the story.”
“Unfortunately, the plot and story look like they were just thrown together.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Onechanbara has evolved significantly over its ten installments, introducing new mechanics like character swapping and transformation abilities that enhance the action. While the game allows for straightforward button mashing, it also offers deeper systems for more skilled players to explore. However, some reviewers note that repetitive gameplay and uninspired environments detract from the overall experience.
“With every game, more mechanics were added.”
“For the latest one, the mechanics added include swapping between four characters at once, and transformations after your gauge has filled up enough.”
“The game encourages you to chain together combos and pull off stylish finishers, adding an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay.”
“Chaos brings the most complete experience in the series with its first US release in six years, but is still held back by the repetitive gameplay and dull environments that prevent it from being a fully satisfying experience.”
“Gameplay is straightforward enough to allow button mashing, but the underlying systems give action game fans something more substantial to sink their teeth into.”
“Onechanbara has been building off the gameplay from its original simple 2000 series low-budget PS2 release for about ten games now.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and character customization, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize the graphics as lackluster and inconsistent, suggesting that they do not meet the standards of top-tier 3D brawlers. Overall, while the visuals can be captivating, they may not satisfy all players, particularly those seeking depth in design and variety.
“But the real star of the show is the game's visuals.”
“The game's combination of fast-paced action, stunning visuals, and a killer soundtrack make for an unforgettable gaming experience.”
“Beautiful graphics, what's not to love?”
“The graphics are lackluster.”
“The visuals are all over the place.”
“The emphasis on graphics isn't a major concern.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack, a dynamic blend of j-pop and heavy metal, enhances its over-the-top atmosphere and complements the fast-paced action and stunning visuals. While the confusing storyline may detract from the experience, the engaging music and entertaining combat create a memorable gaming experience.
“The music is a mix of J-pop and heavy metal, perfectly capturing the game's over-the-top vibe.”
“The game's combination of fast-paced action, stunning visuals, and a killer soundtrack make for an unforgettable gaming experience.”
“The game's soundtrack is also worth mentioning.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by cheesy, self-aware dialogue that enhances the overall enjoyment and creates a lighthearted atmosphere. Additionally, the comparison to a budget version of a more acclaimed title adds a layer of comedic irony to the experience.
“The game's sense of humor also adds an extra layer of enjoyment - the dialogue is often cheesy and self-aware, making for a fun and lighthearted experience.”
“Onechanbara Z2: Chaos is essentially Devil May Cry on what feels like a budget of about £20, which is funny, since you can buy the far superior Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition on the PS4 for that same amount of money.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that while there may be occasional issues, game-breaking glitches are rare, and most problems can be resolved with community support.
“If there is something stopping you from progressing in this game, look it up; someone else has probably had the same issue, so don't worry about game-breaking glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
“I encountered multiple bugs that completely halted my progress, which was incredibly frustrating.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning environments, featuring detailed backgrounds and atmospheric lighting that enhance the immersive experience.
“The environments are stunning, with detailed backgrounds and atmospheric lighting that add to the overall immersive experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its beautifully crafted world.”
“Every location feels alive, with a rich ambiance that enhances the storytelling and gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when unexpected combat encounters require extensive backtracking across the map to complete objectives, disrupting the flow of gameplay.
“The combat becomes tedious, especially when you suddenly realize the game expects you to take a completely different path, forcing you to walk all the way across the map to kill that one last zombie preventing you from progressing to the next area.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game, making it hard to stay motivated.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, turning what could be exciting encounters into monotonous tasks.”
Critic Reviews
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos Review
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos offers up a campy, but repetitive monster-slaying bloodbath. Gameplay is straightforward enough to allow button mashing, but the underlying systems give action game fans something more substantial to sink their teeth into.
60%Onechanbara Z2: Chaos Review
A brainless slasher partially saved by a handful of good ideas and cathartic combat.
60%Onechanbara Z2: Chaos Review
It's mindless and corny hack 'n' slash fun. It doesn't try to be much more, nor does it need to. Onechanbara Z2: Chaos knows exactly what and who it's aiming for, and it succeeds. It's not a 3D brawler comparable to the best of them, but it is one that can be a perfect little time waster, provided emphasis on plot, stage variety, and graphics isn't a major concern. The heavy fan service may have resulted in a lack of focus elsewhere, but in an era of serious games, this is the sort of break from the norm that's needed. Onechanbara Z2: Chaos doesn't give a crap, and the industry is all the better for it.
60%