There’s a lot riding on Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Capcom has a few dormant franchises in its dusty closets just waiting to be revived, yet this one feels particularly significant. Despite never really taking off commercially, Onimusha commanded a passionate fanbase that continues to hold the series in the highest regard – right up there with the likes of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry.
So to bring back Onimusha with a brand-new mainline entry in 2026 — two decades after the last game — feels especially risky, but it’s one that I’m happy to report has largely paid off. I love Way of the Sword. It’s a wonderfully paced adventure that combines horror, action, exploration, and a surprising amount of comedy to great effect. Not everything works, but I feel confident that Onimusha has a thriving future ahead of it.
You take on the role of new protagonist (and historical figure) Miyamoto Musashi, who finds himself in possession of a sentient Oni Gauntlet with which to harvest the souls of his fallen Genma foes. Musashi himself is modelled after the legendary Toshiro Mifune (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo), and Capcom did a pretty great job with this. Not only does Musashi look like one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time, but he also embodies some of that carefree, joyous personality of Kikuchiyo, Mifune’s character in Seven Samurai.
I will say, however, that the English voiceover just doesn’t quite fit with the overall presentation. There’s nothing wrong with it necessarily — it’s certainly well-acted — but it’s a bit odd hearing Musashi speak with such a strong English accent when dealing with monsters. He even occasionally exclaims “P*** off!” when defeating an enemy, as if they’d barged into his local pub and downed his pint. I’d recommend changing the audio language to Japanese.
Aside from that, the narrative is engaging from start to finish, boasting a great supporting cast and a lineup of absolutely diabolical boss characters. They’ll have you giggling with delight before promptly slinking away with utter dread. The excellent soundtrack also elevates moments of tension very well with some suitably grand and rousing orchestral tracks.
If you’ve played the previous Onimusha games, then Way of the Sword will feel both familiar and refreshingly new. Overall, combat feels slower and more deliberate than before, and I’m absolutely certain that Capcom has been taking a few pointers from FromSoftware.
Although you can tap ‘X’ and ‘Y’ to swing your sword and slowly chip away at your enemies’ health, the big addition here comes in the form of a posture meter. By blocking, deflecting, or dodging your foes’ attacks, you can cut down their posture quickly, eventually putting them in a staggered state that allows you to instantly dismember them.
It’s a lot like Sekiro in that sense, then, but thankfully nowhere near as brutal. You still need to be accurate with your deflections, though, but this will soon come with time and practice. Overall, standard enemies will rarely present much of a threat, but it’s the boss fights that will wind up testing your skills the most. They demand constant focus to avoid taking substantial damage, and you’ll find them nigh-impossible if you’ve not suitably mastered how to deflect, which is easily the most effective way to affect their posture.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-2/onimusha-way-of-the-sword
