Onimusha is a series that’s been on a real comeback over the past year or so, with Capcom dusting off Onimusha: Warlords and Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny with “remasters” of sorts. However, those feel very much like the appetiser to the main event of the series’ return in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
After more than 20 years away, Capcom has finally decided it’s time to bring the samurai demon-slaying series back with a new instalment. Thankfully, this isn’t just another remaster or re-release. This is very much a brand-new adventure and the first mainline Onimusha game in two decades.
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This time around, you step into the sandals of the legendary samurai rogue Miyamoto Musashi, who finds himself battling his way through an Edo-era Kyoto that has been twisted by the supernatural Malice.
It’s a classic Onimusha setup, really: samurai, demons, blood, swords, and more than a little Japanese folklore thrown into the mix. Right from the off, Way of the Sword feels like a proper return for the series.
Prodigal Sword
The biggest reason for that has to be the combat. Capcom has gone for a much more deliberate approach than simply giving you a sword and letting you hack away at everything that moves.
Every swing feels like it has weight behind it, and learning when to attack, defend, dodge, and parry is where the real fun and skill begin.
Reward
When you nail a perfectly timed parry and immediately follow it up with a deadly counter, it feels fantastic. There’s a real rhythm to combat. Simply charging in with your sword swinging will usually get you a game over screen.
The boss battles are where this really comes together. These fights are genuinely brutal, but rather than feeling unfair, they encourage you to learn when to pick your moments and bide your time. Ultimately, you just have to get better.
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There’s a real sense of satisfaction when a boss that has been kicking your backside finally falls apart because you’ve worked out its rhythm. It’s like solving a puzzle that you’ve been banging your head against the wall trying to crack for hours.
Musashi is a great lead. Capcom has given him plenty of personality rather than making him just another silent killer, thanks to Kenichiro Thomson’s voice talent. The use of Toshiro Mifune’s likeness also gives the character a wonderfully old-school samurai film feel.
Aesthete
Visually, the game looks fantastic, with the world brought to life through some excellent environments, gruesome enemy designs, and some seriously impressive cutscenes.
There’s a very nice mix of horror, action, and even some moments of comedy, which helps stop the whole thing from becoming too po-faced.
Oni-Ishu
As for issues, there isn’t much. If I were to nit-pick, it feels like there may be a bit of padding with repeated fights and some unnecessary backtracking. But that’s me being really picky. There are also moments where the fights feel a little too easy compared to the much tougher boss battles, which creates a somewhat uneven difficulty curve.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword feels like a franchise that has been given a second chance rather than simply dragged out of the past. It keeps the spirit of the originals while bringing the combat and presentation firmly into the modern era. After 20 years away, Onimusha is finally back, and it’s still as sharp and deadly as Musashi’s blade.
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