Onechanbara Z2: Chaos is a hack-and-slash game with a simple promise: four sisters fighting demons, zombies and ghouls while switching between them on the fly. The 2014 release from Tamsoft brings back Aya, Kagura, Saya and Saki, and adds a touch-panel swipe move that turns PS4 hardware into a weapon. On PC, the game runs through Microsoft Windows. The premise is straightforward. The execution is less so.
Trailer, via XSEEDgames.
Four Sisters, One Touch Screen
The core loop is easy to explain. Players switch between Aya, Kagura, Saya and Saki mid-fight, pairing them up for combos called Cross Merge Combinations. Each girl has her own moves and her own way of handling enemies, and switching lets fights feel fluid rather than rigid. That freedom is the game’s strongest idea.
The touch-screen swipe is the weirdest addition. Players trace shapes on the PS4’s touch panel to trigger special attacks, and the system works, even if it feels awkward at first. On PC, the same effect is reproduced with mouse movements, which changes the rhythm of play. Neither version of the swipe feels natural, but both versions get the job done.
Orbs, Gear and the World Leader Board
Progress comes from yellow orbs, the game’s currency. Spend them on new moves and gear, and watch your performance get judged at the end of each level. Combo length, items used, damage dealt and damage taken all shape that score, and those scores can be sent to a worldwide leader board. It is a small feature, but it gives players a reason to care about how they perform beyond simply finishing a stage.
Enemies include zombies, werewolves, ghouls and demons, and players clear them with swords, chainsaws and guns. Limbs fall off during fights, and combos pile up fast. The game rewards players who keep the hits coming without breaking rhythm, which fits the genre’s usual approach.
Plot and Blood Lines
The story picks up where the 2012 Japan-only OneChanbara Z left off. The Banefuls and the Vampirics, two ancient rival blood lines, had their numbers dwindle almost to nothing. It was thought that the feud was over. Then Carmilla, the Vampire Queen, was defeated by Kagura and Saaya, aided from the shadows by Aya and Saki. The peace lasted until the floor beneath Carmilla’s throne room gave way, dropping the four sisters into the abyss below.
In the catacombs, Kagura drinks Aya’s blood to heal after being wounded by demonic moles kept deep in the castle’s depths. The fusion of blood lines inside her body lets her change into a new form, called Dare Drive, which clears everything before her. Saaya and Saki escape a pocket hell dimension by working together to defeat undead waves guarding their exit. The four sisters reunite and advise Saaya to drink Saki’s blood to heal and gain her own Dare Drive form.
Together, the four force Misha to retreat and kill her undead forces.
Where It Falls Short
The pace is faster than earlier Onechanbara games, which is a genuine improvement. But the frame rate dips during busy fights, especially on PC, where the touch-screen swipe is replaced by mouse movements that can feel clumsy next to the original hardware. The camera struggles to keep up with fast movement, and enemies sometimes clip through scenery.
There is also a thin sense of scale. The world is mostly castle halls, catacombs and villages, and the game rarely steps outside those settings. That narrow scope means the pacing suffers once players have seen every stage a few times.
| Feature | Onechanbara Z2: Chaos |
|---|---|
| Genre | Hack and slash |
| Platforms | PS4, PC |
| Playable characters | Aya, Kagura, Saya, Saki |
| Currency | Yellow orbs |
| Touch screen | PS4 swipe, PC mouse |
Final Word
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos is a solid, if uneven, entry in a long-running series. The cross-character switching and the Dare Drive transformations give it personality. The touch-screen swipe is novel, even if it takes time to master. The story ties together the older games without wasting time on backstory, and the world leader board adds a reason to replay stages.
But the frame rate issues, camera trouble and limited settings hold it back from greatness. Anyone looking for a deep, varied hack-and-slash experience may find the game’s ambitions outstrip its delivery.
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