Just As Good, If Not Better Than The First
Game play: 10/10
Most people I know dislike the game play of the Onimusha series, excluding Dawn of Dreams. However, I cannot find any faults with it. It's the same gameplay as Onimusha 1 and 3: responsive, easy to learn and use, and while sometimes the RE-esque walking can conflict with the faster paced fighting of Onimusha, you get used to it quickly. The different weapons and characters add different play styles, each with their own weaknesses (being slow, sacrificing strength for speed, etc., usual stuff). Defeating bosses is satisfying, and turning into an Onimusha makes it doubly so.
Graphics: 7/10
Your typical PS2 graphics. Not bad at all, but not great at the same time. Just good. The prerendered backgrounds seems dated, but the models seem fine, even now. The demons designs are very fun to look at (Gogandantes'...hair/umbrella, the ninjas wearing noh masks, etc.), and the characters look realistic, but just fake enough to give the game a fantasy feel. Despite the relatively "meh" graphics, the game starts out with one of the best opening movies, ever. Which gives this an extra point.
Sound: 9/10
The music of the game, which mostly sounds like traditional Japanese with a slightly evil twist, melds in with the game, and really sets the mood. Aside from the music, the sounds of the game are very, very nice. The hissing sounds most of the demons make, the sword hitting steel (and flesh), and the sounds some of the magic attacks (specifically the lightning one) make, are all very nice and authentic sounding. Not that, uh, I'd know what lightning magic coming out of a katana would sound like.
Value: 9/10
There are a few reasons to play the game more than once. Unlockables, including new modes, and costumes, items you (probably) missed the first time around if you didn't use a walk-through, Demon Realms which will give you weapons, and the like. Oh, and it's damn fun to play through.
Onimusha 2 is one of my favorite games of all time, one of the best PS2 games, and the best in the series, managing to top the spectacular first game. If you're thinking about checking out this game, and you've played another Onimusha, just buy it, don't bother renting. It's probably only around $20 at the most right now, and $5-$7 at the cheapest. Nothing to lose, go and play it!