In the video-game industry, sequels are like cigarettes. No matter how confidently designers insist this is their last one, chances are they won't be able to quit. Since Jak and Daxter's trilogy came to a close, we've been given a Jak racing game and a Daxter PSP title. And the PS3's upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 proves that Hideo Kojima can't break his Snake addiction. So it should come as no surprise that even after the "third and final installment," Capcom can't resist the refreshing buzz of Onimusha. Fortunately, what Dawn of Dreams offers is much better than cancer. The latest chapter in this medieval Japanese saga is too big for one disc. It crams in a 20-hour quest, five wildly varying, playable characters and all the demon-dicing, hack 'n' slash action we've come to expect from the trilo—er, series. Finally letting go of lingering Resident Evil conventions, Onimusha 4 also treats us to a fully controllable camera, which comes in handy during the most kick-ass boss battles yet. The cool art style and deep combat are like game-designer nicotine, ensuring we'll inevitably get an equally awesome Onimusha 5.
DRAKENGARD 2 by Ubisoft/Square Enix (2.5 stars)
Platforms: PlayStation 2.
Rated: M.
Lately there've been quite a few RPGs with disappointingly derivative storylines, so you'd think that Drakengard 2's compelling story of betrayal and intrigue would be a godsend. Unfortunately, you have to hack through countless identical knights—with mind-numbingly repetitive use of the square button—to get to the next plot point. It'd be easier to skip the game and wait for the book.
FULL AUTO by Sega (3 stars)
Platforms: Xbox 360.
Rated: T.
This combat-heavy racer has its good moments, and the bad moments you can correct with a nifty time-travel feature, allowing you to back up a few seconds if that last left turn sent you flying. But it's hard to ignore that Burnout, even without mounting guns on its cars, better captures the thrill of vehicular carnage. So you may want to back up a few seconds and buy Burnout instead.
EXIT by Ubisoft/Taito (4.5 stars)
Platforms: PlayStation Portable.
Rated: E.
This game will be a little frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it'll be extremely frustrating. It can take a lot of trial and error to rescue all the would-be disaster victims and get them to the exit in time, but beating each of these 100 brain-teasing scenarios will leave you feeling like a genius.
Matthew Scott Hunter has been known to mumble, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start" in his sleep. E-mail him at
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