Onimusha: Way of the Sword Brings Capcom’s Samurai Series Back After 20 Years

Twenty years have passed since Onimusha received a new standalone entry. Capcom is finally bringing its samurai series back with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, but the genre has changed considerably since 2006.

Players now have plenty of sword-focused adventures to choose from among the latest game releases. Strong combat could help this long-awaited return stand apart, although several weaker areas keep it from landing every strike.

Combat steals the show

Sword fighting forms the backbone of Way of the Sword, mixing parries, dodges and counter-attacks into fast, tactical encounters. Players can gradually drain an enemy’s stamina through careful defence and aggressive strikes before finishing them off.

Issen attacks raise the stakes by rewarding anyone willing to strike just before an incoming blow connects. Miss that narrow window and Musashi is left vulnerable, but nail the timing and ordinary enemies can be sliced apart with a devastating counter.

Environmental interactions bring another dimension to each encounter. Enemies can be knocked into objects or one another, while wooden tables provide temporary cover from arrows and abandoned carts become makeshift battering rams. Among recent gaming industry innovations in action combat, these mechanics give familiar sword fights a more reactive feel.

Boss battles push those ideas even further. Different weak points appear once a boss loses its stamina, allowing players to choose between heavy damage or collecting additional souls. Fans checking game reviews before deciding between the latest game releases may find the combat alone gives Onimusha a strong reason to stand out.

Musashi returns

Miyamoto Musashi leads the adventure after an encounter with supernatural monsters brings his life to a sudden end. Down in hell, a mysterious man gives him a magical gauntlet capable of absorbing souls and sends the swordsman back into the living world.

Capcom modelled its protagonist on legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, best known internationally for films including Seven Samurai. Despite its supernatural setup, the story does not always match the energy of the action, with supporting characters and their motivations proving less memorable. Plenty of entertainment still comes from Musashi’s increasingly bloody journey.

Built using Capcom’s RE Engine, Way of the Sword avoids both a traditional open world and a completely linear structure. Eastern Kyoto instead serves as a central hub where players return to complete quests, collect resources and unlock new areas.

Repetition holds it back

Exploration occasionally introduces puzzles and more linear stages, yet combat remains the overwhelming focus of the experience. Side quests frequently send Musashi back through previously visited locations to fight newly appeared enemies, making optional activities noticeably more repetitive than the main adventure.

Progression makes those missions difficult to ignore because they provide resources needed to unlock new abilities. Roughly half of the 30-hour playthrough described in the source was spent tackling side content, giving those weaker activities a substantial presence.

Repeated bosses and limited variety also stop every part of the experience from matching the quality of its sword fighting. Still, Way of the Sword represents a major comeback after two decades without a standalone Onimusha entry. Facing a crowded gaming market, Capcom may not have reinvented samurai action, but its combat gives the returning series a sharp edge.