Capcom's acclaimed Onimusha: Samurai's Destiny is an important footnote in the PlayStation 2's history. When critics were bashing the system and accusing Sony of under delivering, Onimusha was a silencer because it was the first PS2 game to sell over 500,000 copies. A sequel later, and Capcom had a bona fide franchise on its hands, so when they went to the drawing table for the third and final installment in its samurai epic, they decided to go all out, and on the eave of its release, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege may be one of the greatest endings to a trilogy the entertainment world's ever seen.

Onimusha 3 continues the battle against the evil and undying warrior Oda Nobunaga and his army of demonic warriors. Ten years have passed since the events of Onimusha 2, and after a long battle with Nobunaga's evil minions, hero Samanosuke Akechi is about to settle the score once and for all in front of the burning Honnoji Temple. However, before he can get to Nobunaga, Samanosuke mysteriously disappears and is transported to modern day France! Under attack by demons, the French metropolis has been reduced to rubble, and in the confusion, Samanosuke runs into police officer Jacques Braun (Voiced by film star Jean Reno.), but while they're collaboratively defending the city, Braun vanishes and winds up in ancient Japan! The stage is set for an adventure that transcends time as players control both characters at different points in the game.

The game's story is definitely interesting, if not just a tad outside the box. However, there's very little concern that Capcom will drop the ball. Flagship, the same company responsible for the stories in the previous Onimusha games is at the helm, but they're not the only familiar faces coming back to ensure this game is the best in the series. The game's beautiful CG movies were done by Robot, who did a stellar job on the last two games, and they've also enlisted the help of some well respected movie talent. Acclaimed movie director Takashi Yamazaki and Donnie Yen, whose work includes the films Blade 2, Hero, and Shanghai Nights, are directing the game's cinemas, including the opening movie, which clocks in at six minutes! Capcom's not only aiming to make Onimusha 3 the most dramatic game of all time, they're looking to upstage some of the movie industry's hottest films as well.

In addition to the game's movie stars and behind the scenes talent, there's plenty more to get excited about. This is the first time you'll be able to control your character using the analog stick, and the game's engine generates full 3D worlds, and boy, do they look incredible! Sporting some the slickest visuals in a PS2 game, Demon Siege is truly a sight to behold, but not just for its character models (Jean Reno's face is truly spot on.). The environments are also very pretty, featuring faithful recreations of Japan's Anshi Castle, Honnoji Temple, and Sakai Town. However, if your heart's in Paris, you'll be pleased to know that Notre Dame and the Arc de Triumph make an appearance.

Demon Siege's gameplay has also received a much needed overhaul over its predecessors. Enemies can be defeated using dramatic one hit slashes, and you'll also have a wider assortment of weapons at your disposal, including Braun's whip, which will allow you to not only fend off enemies, but also perform combos and swing across platforms. The improvements definitely up the ante in the action department, making this the most intense Onimusha in the series. In fact, game peripheral developer Hori has crafted a special edition katana sword controller (Sold Separately.) to play with! The wireless Soul Controller allows you to slash enemies by swinging the sword. However, if you can't afford this high-priced peripheral ($150!), Sony's Dual Shock 2 is just fine.

Bring it on! Capcom's spared no expense to ensure that Onimusha 3 sends the series out with an emphatic bang, and I'm chomping at the bit to dive into what should be a masterpiece. I even picked up the special limited edition Soul Controller, so I'm ready to give those demons the business, but it shouldn't matter whether you're wielding a plastic katana or your trusty Dual Shock 2. Onimusha 3 will likely be yet another quality Capcom adventure, and reason enough for a special edition trilogy box set.