Onechanbara
{{short description|Series of action horror games}}
{{Infobox VG series
| title = Onechanbara
| image = Onechanbara Logo.png
| caption = Wii variant to the first Onechanbara logo (North American release)
| creator =
| composer =
| developer = Tamsoft
| publisher = D3 Publisher
| genre = Hack and slash
| platforms = PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
| first release version = Zombie Zone
| first release date = August 7, 2004
| latest release version = OneeChanbara Origin
| latest release date = December 5, 2019
}}
{{nihongo|OneChanbara|お姉チャンバラ}}, initially defined {{nihongo|The OneeChanbara|THE お姉チャンバラ}}, is a series of action-adventure hack and slash video games originally developed by Tamsoft for D3 Publisher's Simple 2000 series. The title is a portmanteau of the Japanese words {{nihongo|onee-chan|お姉ちゃん||lit. "big sister", but also a colloquialism for a young adult woman}} and {{nihongo|chanbara|チャンバラ||"sword fighting"}}. The series centers around Aya, a cowgirl who wears a scarf and wields a katana, who is pitted against hordes of zombies and other monsters.
Gameplay
Players guide their characters through the stages, completing tasks while fighting through enemies. The player-character's weapon becomes progressively covered in blood, causing their attacks to be slower and to inflict less damage, even getting stuck in enemies if it gets too bad. This is represented by a "Blood Meter" showing how dirty the weapon is. To prevent this, players must actively clean off their sword to keep the blood meter from filling up.{{Cite web |last=Hatfield |first=Daemon |date=2009-02-12 |title=Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/12/onechanbara-bikini-zombie-slayers-review |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Review: Onechanbara Z2: Chaos |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-onechanbara-z2-chaos/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US}}
In addition, there is also the "Blood Lust" meter. As a character kills enemies, this meter starts to fill. Once the meter is full, the character will go into a "blood frenzy". This gives the character an increase in attack power, but drains health. To recover from a blood frenzy, the player must use statue items, which are dropped by dead enemies. Additionally each level will contain a large statue. Going to the large statue will remove the blood frenzy and also recover any lost health.
Games
=Main series=
{{Video game titles|
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = Simple 2000 Series Vol. 61: The OneeChanbara ("Zombie Zone" in Europe)
| date = {{Video game release|JP|August 26, 2004|EU|October 21, 2005}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2004 – PlayStation 2
| platform =
| notes =
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = Simple 2000 Series Vol. 90: The OneeChanbara 2
| date = {{Video game release|JP|December 22, 2005}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2005 – PlayStation 2
| platform =
| notes =
- A sequel to the original game. The first to feature Aya's sister Saki as a playable character.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article = Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
| title = Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
| date = {{Video game release|JP|December 14, 2006|NA|February 10, 2009|EU|February 27, 2009}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2006 – Xbox 360
| platform =
| notes =
- The first game in the series to be localized in North America and support online features.
- Backwards compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article = OneChanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
| title = OneChanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
| date = {{Video game release|JP|February 7, 2008|NA|February 10, 2009|EU|February 27, 2009|AU|March 27, 2009}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2008 – Nintendo Wii
| platform =
| notes =
- This release came packaged with a CD of music from the previous OneeChanbara games.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = OneeChanbara Z: Kagura
| date = {{Video game release|JP|January 19, 2012}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2012 – Xbox 360
| platform =
| notes =
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article = Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
| title = Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
| date = {{Video game release|JP|October 30, 2014|NA|July 21, 2015|EU|August 28, 2015}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs = {{Cite web|url=https://gematsu.com/2015/07/onechanbara-z2-chaos-european-release-date-set|title = Onechanbara Z2: Chaos European release date set|date = 17 July 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://operationrainfall.com/2015/07/01/press-release-onechanbara-z2-chaos-launches-july-21/|title=Press Release: Onechanbara Z2: Chaos Launches On July 21|author=Joe Sigadel|work=Oprainfall|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=July 1, 2015}}
| release = 2014 – PlayStation 4
2016 – Microsoft Windows
| platform =
| notes =
}}
}}
=Updated versions=
{{Video game titles|
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = Zombie Hunters
| date = {{Video game release|JP|June 23, 2005|EU|March 23, 2007}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2005 – PlayStation 2
| platform =
| notes =
- An upgraded version of the first game including two new characters: D3 Publisher idol Riho Futaba and her younger sister Makoto.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = Zombie Hunters 2
| date = {{Video game release|JP|June 29, 2006|EU|September 28, 2007}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2006 – PlayStation 2
| platform =
| notes =
- An upgraded version of The OneeChanbara 2 featuring returning characters Riho and Makoto, as well as the female warriors Kiku and Hana, the stars of Dragon Sisters.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = OneeChanbara Z: Kagura with NoNoNo!
| date = {{Video game release|JP|November 7, 2013}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2013 – PlayStation 3
| platform =
| notes =
- An upgraded version of OneeChanbara Z: Kagura including a new character: Nonono from the Dream Club series.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = Onee Chanbara ORIGIN
| date = {{Video game release|JP|December 5, 2019|WW|October 14, 2020}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2019 – PlayStation 4
2020 – Microsoft Windows
| platform =
| notes =
- Remake of the first two games in the series.
}}
}}
=Spin-offs=
{{Video game titles|
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = The OneeChanbara Mobile
| date = {{Video game release|JP|January 11, 2007}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| release = 2007 – Mobile
| platform =
| notes =
- Rail shooter featuring illustrations by character designer Kengo Yonekura.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = Z.P.F. Anna: Onechanbara Special
| date = {{Video game release|JP|July 1, 2008}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| release = 2008 – Mobile
| platform =
| notes =
- Rail shooter spinoff featuring Anna as the main character.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article =
| title = OneeChanbara Special
| date = {{Video game release|JP|March 31, 2011}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2011 – PlayStation Portable
| platform =
| notes =
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| series =
| futuregame = no
| article = School Girl/Zombie Hunter
| title = School Girl/Zombie Hunter
| date = {{Video game release|JP|January 12, 2017|WW|November 17, 2017}}
| multiplereleasedates = yes
| canceled =
| refs =
| release = 2017 – PlayStation 4
2018 – Microsoft Windows
| platform =
| notes =
}}
}}
Other media
Aya, the series' main character, has also appeared in Simple 2000 Series Vol. 91: The All*Star Kakutou Matsuri (released as All-Star Fighters in Europe in March 2007), a fighting game featuring characters from many different Simple 2000 series releases.
{{Video game titles|
{{Video game titles/item
| article = OneChanbara (film)
| title = Onechanbara: The Movie
| date = 2008
| platform = Live action film
| notes =
- Live-action film directed by Yohei Fukuda starring Eri Otoguro, Manami Hashimoto, and Tomohiro Waki.
- The theme song is "69 Balloons" by Aural Vampire.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| article = OneChanbara (film)
| title = Chanbara Beauty: The Movie - Vortex
| date = 2009
| refs = {{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5223896/meet-the-stars-of-new-onechanbara-movie|title=Meet The Stars Of New Onechanbara Movie|date=2009-04-09|access-date=2009-04-09|work=Kotaku}}
| platform = Live action film
| notes =
- Straight-to-DVD sequel to the 2008 film.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
| article =
| title = OneeChanbara Kurenai
| date = 2009
| refs =
| platform = Manga
| notes =
- Published by Champion RED Comics.
}}
}}
Reception
{{VG Series Reviews
| game1 = Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
| mc1 = 39/100 (X360)https://www.metacritic.com/game/onechanbara-bikini-samurai-squad%2Fxbox-360/
| game2 = OneChanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
| mc2 = 55/100 (Wii)https://www.metacritic.com/game/onechanbara-bikini-zombie-slayers%2Fwii/
| game3 = Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
| mc3 = 57/100 (PS4)https://www.metacritic.com/game/onechanbara-z2-chaos%2Fplaystation-4/
| game4 = SG/ZH: School Girl Zombie Hunter
| mc4 = 59/100 (PS4){{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sg-zh-school-girl-zombie-hunter/ | title=SG/ZH: School Girl Zombie Hunter Reviews | website=Metacritic }}
| game5 = Onee Chanbara ORIGIN
| mc5 = 69/100 (PS4)
62/100 (PC){{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/onee-chanbara-origin/ | title=Onee Chanbara ORIGIN Reviews | website=Metacritic }}
}}{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{category commons}}
- [https://www.d3p.co.jp/oneechambara Official website]
{{Onechanbara series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneechanbara, The}}
Category:Crowd-combat fighting games
Category:Action-adventure games
Category:Video games featuring female protagonists
Category:Video game franchises
Category:Video games about zombies