The resurgence of Capcom over the past almost decade should be studied. They release excellent games at a pace few other companies even come close to. This year has felt like the culmination of all their efforts since their revitalization started in 2017 with three massive releases all coming back to back to back. We started the year with Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata, and, now, we get the return of one of their most beloved franchises with Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Since it was revealed at The Game Awards in 2024, fans have eagerly awaited its release, and I can say it was well worth the wait.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the first new entry in the series (not counting remasters of the first two games) in twenty years. I was twelve when that game released and had absolutely no idea what the series was. Now, two decades later, I have played the remasters of the first two, and, after spending over 35 hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, I can say I’m now a huge fan of the series. However, if you’ve never played the series before, you can jump into this game without the need to play the older games as this one stands alone in its story.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword puts players in the role of real life legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. However, Musashi isn’t dealing with real life issues, but a slew of supernatural threats known as Genma as they invade Eastern Kyoto and the surrounding areas during the Edo period of Japan’s history. Mushashi starts out as a lone swordsman, but both he and his rival Sasaki Ganryu are both killed in a Genma ambush at the start of the game. Luckily, or not, both are revived by a mysterious Man in White who gives them each an Oni Gauntlet that will keep them alive as well as absorb souls of those they cut down. Upon his revival, Musashi meets the Oni spirit who lives inside his gauntlet along with the Onimusha Takamura and his assistant the Kabuki dancer Okuni, and together they band together to stop the Genma. All the characters throughout the game from the main group of characters and even the antagonists give the story so much more depth as they can provide both moments of seriousness and levity. Honestly, Musashi is probably my favorite new character this year, and seeing his journey throughout the game was a delight.
While the story of the game is great, the combat in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is where the game shines the brightest and feels far more tied to what the series was two decades ago. Combat feels slow, deliberate, and sometimes cinematic with the parries. Taking on the plethora of different types of Genma will test your skills as new, more difficult to deal with ones are introduced as you progress through the game. Typically, you’ll be attacking and parrying enemies to break their stamina meter to be able to perform a killing blow. However, a key feature of the series is the Break Issen which deals massive amounts of damage to enemies or straight up takes them out if you time your attacks to happen right before you get hit. Along with Musashi’s basic attacks, he can find Oni Armaments throughout the world which range from dual hammers that deal massive stamina damage to a blade that produces a whirlwind and deals damage to all enemies caught up in it.
Where combat shines most is in the boss encounters throughout the game. Bosses feel like they are on a completely different level compared to the regular enemies in the game as they are much more difficult and you can’t just mash your way through them. While the game isn’t close to being a Sooulslike like some feared, the bosses do give that vibe somewhat as you must be prepared to counter their attacks and find the right openings to deal damage. Bosses also have a unique mechanic, as when you deplete their stamina, the game slows down and lets you target specific spots on the boss colored red or purple which provide different effects depending which you targeted. Red spots deals massive damage to the boss and purple spots provide you with a ton of soul orbs that will replenish things such as health and the Oni Armament gauge. Thus, you must consider how the boss fight is going and what you need more in the moment. Bosses are also the only real downside to the game as many are reused throughout the game both in the main quest and in the game’s side content.
Speaking of side content, the game does feature multiple other things for you to do as you progress. Eastern Kyoto starts pretty small in where you can go, but expands as you continue through the story. While you explore, random events can happen where a person is usually being attacked by a Genma and you must save them earning you a reward. Other types known as Chance Encounters include archery challenges in the other areas you have visited or fining a hidden chest based on a picture. There are also more focused side quests called Mysteries of Kyoto which give a little bit of story to them, but these aren’t super in depth quests that you would see in the likes of an RPG.
Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a fantastic experience that was well worth the two decade wait for Capcom to revisit. A more deliberate combat system, engaging characters and story, and side content that is breezy and fun to do makes the game far different than what the action genre has become nowadays. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a worthy return of Capcom’s most beloved franchises, and a perfect cap to one of the strongest years a developer has ever had.
Score: 9 out of 10
Reviewed on PlayStation 5