I was in the room at The Game Awards 2024 when Onimusha: Way of the Sword was announced, and it was one of the most palpable reactions of the entire night as gasps, cheers, and whispers rippled through the crowd at the realization of what was on screen. It’s little wonder: outside of remasters and a VR spinoff, it’s been nearly 20 years since the last Onimusha game. Now, I’ve played a short preview of Capcom’s supernatural samurai RPG, and it’s better than we could have imagined.
Given the time that has passed since Dawn of Dreams, Onimusha’s latest outing looks a little different. I’m usually a huge advocate for retaining classic visuals and not bringing every series kicking and screaming into the modern day – it’s part of the reason I scored the Silent Hill 2 remake lower than most. Modernized graphics always run the risk of losing something essential about an older game’s visual design, softening the hard edges in ways that make for a less distinctive aesthetic. That said, Onimusha: Way of the Sword looks incredible. The days of fixed cameras and lower-poly survival horror may be in the series’ past, but the sequel’s stunning Japanese scenery, gruesome Ganma, and breathtaking combat animations are a perfect fit for the capabilities of Capcom’s RE Engine.
The extent of the changes might worry long-time fans, but I don’t think we need to be concerned. In fact, it seems as though the action game caters to fans old and new, with a fresh protagonist and storyline that are both accessible to newbies and fit seamlessly with classic Onimusha mechanics, including familiar red and gold stamina and health bars, Ganma souls, and the Oni Gauntlet.
The latter may be the perfect example of Onimusha’s new era. The Oni Gauntlet is central to the story, and unlocking its powers reveals new combat mechanics. While the gauntlet still consumes Genma souls to boost your stats, a change to the weapon’s old powers comes in the form of Oni Armaments. Powerful dual attacks, like the preview’s Two Celestials, deal increased damage to the enemy, but are also an important part of our hero’s lore.
While Way of the Sword marks Miyamoto Musashi’s first time as a protagonist, he has already appeared both in the manga and as a side character in 2003’s Blade Warriors. More importantly, though, Musashi is a historical Japanese samurai, known as – wait for it – the first person to discover the art of using two swords at once.
So Way of the Sword looks spectacular, and its dedication to Japanese history and folklore is clear, but how does it play? As a linear action game, exploration and progress still feel like they did in the PlayStation 2 days, just with a fresh lick of high-definition paint. The preview area took me up a winding path to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, offering ample space to soak in the beauty of my surroundings, get a glimpse of a few mysterious apparitions, and enjoy some story beats. Upon my arrival at the temple, the way inside isn’t immediately clear, requiring me to explore thoroughly. Yellow-paint protesters will be pleased to hear there’s no handholding here. However, as intriguing as the levels can be, combat remains the star of the show.
Whether taking on groups or squaring up to a boss one-on-one, battles require the utmost patience and precision, making combat almost feel like a dance. Meticulously flowing from dodges, parries, attacks, and deflection with the Oni Gauntlet’s charged Oni Armament, all while switching between dual and single-handed hits, is an invigorating challenge that can end in disaster if you panic and start button-mashing.
In fact, it took me five or six attempts to defeat the preview boss, Sasaki Ganryu, before I figured it out. Mindlessly throwing myself at the enemy left me open and vulnerable. It was only when I stepped back, slowed down, and delivered carefully timed parries that Ganryu succumbed to my skills.
Series veterans will know the importance of dealing Issens – critical attacks that stagger or deflect your opponent – and they’re as crucial as ever in Way of the Sword. When dealt against bosses, new Break Issens even offer you a choice of where to strike them, with each area offering its own bonus. For example, against Ganryu, I could target his head or arm. The latter would have provided more souls to increase my stamina and health, while the former dealt more damage. Given I was in a fairly strong position, I whacked his head, slicing off a considerable chunk of his health.
This balance of preparation, composure, and counterattacking makes Onimusha Way of the Sword’s combat soar. If you ever wished you could be Toshiro Mifune in one of his movies, this is as close as you may ever get. Pair that with the stunning scenery, gripping exploration, and a genuine care for Japanese folklore, and Capcom’s latest is shaping up to be a return to form for another of its most beloved series.
The Onimusha Way of the Sword release date is currently expected to land in 2026.
