I REALLY like the Onimusha series with legions of the undead being cut to ribbons by a legendary Samurai warrior.

And turning adventure style hack 'n' slash games like Onimusha Warlords and its sequel, Samurai's Destiny, into an allout fighting title such as Onimusha: Blade Warriors would seem a logical next step.

The game features all the characters from its storydriven counterparts but this is essentially a fullon fighting game which pits you against multiple enemies including some very tough bosses.

The multiplayer action for up to four people with the help of a handy little invention called the multitap is where this game is really at and with the choice of 12 characters from the start and plenty more to be unlocked, expect some fierce battles.

In short, diehard Onimusha fans will like this game but it never really scales the heights of its predecessors. You may as well sharpen your Katanas and wait for Onimusha 3: Demon Siege to arrive.

Rating: 3/5 PHIL PHANTIS Onimusha: Blade Warriors on PS2.