I played a few games from the Onimusha franchise back in the early 2000s but haven’t kept up with the series in recent years, so I was eager to see what Onimusha: Way of the Sword had to offer. After years of dormancy since the PlayStation 2 era, this latest entry looks to strike a careful balance between modernizing combat mechanics and preserving the supernatural atmosphere that defined the original series. With a chance to dive back into the world of Onimusha, I was excited for my appointment and curious to see what had changed and how this latest instalment fits into the overall world the games have built up to this point.
The approximately 30-minute demo transported players to a dark fantasy interpretation of Edo-period Kyoto, where Miyamoto Musashi serves as the protagonist. Capcom reportedly decided to model the character after legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, adding an authentic cinematic quality—and it worked. I immediately recognized the face (being a fan of Kurosawa films), although I didn’t realize why until after the demo, when I looked up that fact. It worked, even on a subconscious level. More than just an aesthetic choice, this design reflects the development team’s commitment to honouring samurai cinema traditions while crafting something distinctly interactive.
The game’s story follows Miyamoto Musashi as he seeks to slay evil spirits with the help of the mythical Oni Gauntlet. The demo I played only provides a taste of the overall story, but it offers a general feel for how the protagonist will learn to hone his powers, unlock the full potential of the Gauntlet, and find a reason to fight in this world overshadowed by malice and evil. It’s a solid setup, giving just enough to draw players in and make them eager to explore where this quest will ultimately lead.
Before I dive into the combat, I want to make it clear: while Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a challenging third-person action game, it is not a Souls-like. It feels much more akin to what past instalments would feel like, with modern systems in place. That said, Capcom has nailed the modernization of the series without sacrificing its identity. Even though the game is challenging and very much a continuation of the series, it also feels incredibly fast, fluid, and engaging.
The swordplay mechanics demonstrate remarkable depth through their dual-meter system, where players must manage both health and stamina bars for each enemy encounter. This creates tactical decision-making opportunities that go beyond simple button-mashing, requiring players to decide when to press their advantage and when to maintain defensive positioning.
Unlike punishing contemporary titles that demand frame-perfect timing, Onimusha provides generous windows for successful deflections while maintaining meaningful consequences for poor timing. When executed properly, parries build a diamond-shaped meter that temporarily enhances blade damage with striking blue sparks, offering both visual and mechanical rewards for skillful play. More impressively, maintaining successful parry chains can sustain this damage buff indefinitely, encouraging aggressive defensive play rather than passive blocking.
Even during boss encounters, the fluid combat keeps the experience engaging, rewarding skill without punishing players for not achieving perfect parries or attacks. The game offers enough leeway to keep the experience fun while still providing a solid challenge.
“Even the monster and character design deserve a shoutout. Onimusha: Way of the Sword effectively captures the unique and dark tone of the world.”
Soul absorption returns as a central mechanic, with fallen enemies dropping coloured flames representing different resources. Blue souls provide power, yellow restores health, and red grants experience points. The twist comes from enemy behaviour: demons can also absorb these souls if players hesitate, adding urgency to post-combat collection. This creates micro-decisions throughout encounters, forcing players to balance immediate safety against resource optimization.
It’s an interesting system that, while feeling complex on the surface, works very well in gameplay. Capcom has managed to keep the experience fluid, making it one of the more fast-paced action games I’ve played in a while. That’s not to say it isn’t challenging, but it does so in a way that never hinders the enjoyment of what the game has to offer.
The demo’s boss encounter against Ganryu provided the most revealing glimpse into the game’s combat philosophy. This duel emphasized patience and precision over aggressive rushing, with the enemy becoming stronger when taking direct damage outside specific windows. Players needed to focus on dodging and parrying extensively until openings appeared for devastating counter-attacks. This approach suggests Capcom understands that memorable boss fights require more than just increased health bars and damage output.
I’m amazed by all the Capcom titles I saw at this year’s gamescom, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword is no different. Facial animations and character expressions achieve remarkable fidelity, while the authentic Japanese temple setting demonstrates careful attention to historical detail. The demo took place within a recreation of a Kyoto temple, emphasizing environmental authenticity that goes beyond surface-level aesthetic choices. It was absolutely stunning to see, and the fact that it achieves all of this while being as fluid as it was is a testament to the developers at Capcom.
Even the monster and character design deserve a shoutout. Onimusha: Way of the Sword effectively captures the unique and dark tone of the world. The creatures and people you encounter all feel distinct, with the Oni in particular showcasing the design chops of the team. They’ve managed to create creatures that are both stunning to look at and horrifying in their twisted forms. So much so, I found myself stopping at times just to take in the creatures I was fighting. It’s a beautiful and horrific game to experience, and I can’t wait to play more.
I walked into gamescom 2025 with a vague level of interest in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, but after playing the game and seeing more of how the team is working to bring this franchise back in a big way, it has quickly become one of the games I’m most excited about from this year’s show. Capcom has crafted something special, delivering a game that appeals to old fans while offering enough new content to excite anyone who loves action games and dark horror experiences. I love what I’ve played, and I can’t wait to see more as the demo inches closer to its 2026 release date.
