A Stunning Return for the Series
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the latest entry in a game series that hasn’t seen a proper new release since 2006, but you won’t have had to play those earlier games in order to get into this one.
The game centres around Musashi Miyamoto, a samurai that arrives in Kyoto at the same time that the Genma are invading. These are creatures from hell that are unstoppable when facing normal humans. Early on, Musashi is confronted by this gap in power before being forced to wear a mystical gauntlet that gives him the power of the Onimusha.
Onimusha literally translates to Demon Warrior, and refers to beings that fight off the Genma to keep the forces of hell at bay. Musashi is hesitant to accept a power that isn’t his own, and the story focuses on his interactions with these newfound abilities, as well as the dark forces at work in Kyoto.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an action adventure game, with Kyoto serving as the central hub area for the game. At the beginning, malice has covered large swathes of the city and Musashi is tasked with purifying them by destroying massive flowers from which malice spews forth. As well as by sealing rifts from hell that the Genma are using to invade and terrorize the people. Each rift he seals, and every Genma soldier he defeats, will cause the gauntlet’s power to grow.
There are several areas separate from Kyoto, which add a great break from wandering around Kyoto. These include sacred shrines, impenetrable castles, lush forests, and beautiful mountainscapes. Playing through these sections is much more linear, and each one is introduced during crucial story junctions.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s Combat Is the Real Star
And as great as the landscapes and environments are, the true star of Onimusha is the gameplay. Combat feels satisfying every step of the way. It blends parry and perfect dodge combat wonderfully.
The most unique inclusion is the isshin attack, which allows anyone that is good enough at the game to respond to every attack in the game. By attacking at nearly the exact same time as an enemy’s attack is about to land, Musashi will deftly step out of the way before landing his own devastating strike. Weaker enemies will die in one isshin strike, while mini-bosses and bosses will take a sizable amount of damage.
But when I say any attack, I mean any attack. The timing is strict on these strikes, but it’s possible to respond to sword strikes, kicks, and eventually even arrows by attacking right as they are about to hit.
Parrying, Dodging and Blazing Sword Combat
Isshin strikes are risky though. More often, it feels better to rely on blocking attacks, deflecting them, or dodging. Risk and reward is built into the game though. Blocking attacks drains stamina quickly, but a standard block is easy to perform. Blocking as an enemy attacks performs a counter where Musashi will skillfully redirect the attack. Stronger enemies may continue to chain attacks after being countered, but each counter also increases a gauge that when full puts Musashi into a blazing sword state. This increases damage dealt and can completely change the flow of battle.
Attacks can also be deflected by pressing A at the same time an attack lands, which doesn’t charge the blazing sword gauge, but does reduce stamina loss and is a safer approach than trying to counter attacks. Attacks can also be dodged, and like countering, timing it closer to the attack can result in a perfect dodge, which will also charge a gauge that culminates in a quick strike response.
What makes Onimusha: Way of the Sword feel so good to play is just how fluid everything fits together. Countering attacks, then hitting an enemy right before making a perfect dodge makes you feel unstoppable. Depleting an enemy’s stamina bar will also cause them to become winded which allows Musashi to land a powerful attack, and having multiple enemies in an area with zero stamina will let Musashi dash between them. He may cut one in half before impaling another, instantly killing them.
Upgrading Musashi and Exploring Kyoto
These mechanics are expanded on throughout the game. Abilities unlock steadily as the story progresses and Musashi becomes more familiar and accustomed to the power in the gauntlet affixed to his arm. There are also fast travel shrines located throughout each area, which can also be used to upgrade stats and unlock new abilities by using the souls the gauntlet absorbs, as well as by collecting items that are scattered around the city.
Pacing Issues Slow Down an Otherwise Excellent Adventure
I only have one real criticism from my time with Onimusha and that would be the pacing. The opening sequence is a very guided experience, with the combat tutorial taking place over a sequence of cinematic encounters. The presentation of the tutorial is done well, but it also covers basic things that it feels like tutorials don’t need to cover anymore.
I mention this primarily because the tutorials feel ever present, and there are many sequences that seem to over explain features, which ultimately slows things down unnecessarily.
This is mostly an issue early on, but the pacing issues return towards the conclusion of the story as well. I won’t mention any story spoilers, but before the final mission sequence, a warning appears that lets you know what action will progress the game to its conclusion. At this point, Onimusha warns players to finish any tasks they might have remaining, as once they progress there is no turning back.
Of course, it’s possible to reload saves but I tend to have an issue returning to games once I finish the main story. So at this juncture I went around and completed the side objectives and tidied things up around Kyoto. One of the game’s features is a training arena where players can challenge any completed boss fight. I decided to clear any unfinished rematches just before progressing the game, but to my surprise, several of the previously cleared bosses returned in the final mission and I had to beat them once again.
This may have been compounded due to my personal choices, but it felt unnecessary to cushion the final mission time with the same boss fights from earlier in the game. Especially since players will be much stronger this time around, making the encounters less thrilling and more of just something to get through.
And it feels like Onimusha knows this to some extent because the final boss fight is significantly harder than anything else that is encountered – as it should be.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Is a Welcome Return
When all was said and done though, I greatly enjoyed my time with Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The combat is satisfying, every sword strike and dodge, every counter and isshin attack is rewarding. When playing well, Musashi feels like an unstoppable force of nature. The story is also engaging and the colorful cast of characters are unique and interesting. And alongside that, Onimusha does a great job balancing comedy and drama, managing to go from comedy gags in one scene, to high stakes emotions in the next, all without feeling jarring or throwing off the rhythm of the story.
Capcom seems to be unstoppable as they put out great game after great game. And I’m glad to say Onimusha: Way of the Sword is another welcome addition to their catalogue.
Important Links
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword Is The Samurai Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For – https://www.thexboxhub.com/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-is-the-samurai-comeback-weve-been-waiting-for/
Onimusha Rises from the Ashes: Way of the Sword – Release Date Confirmed! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/onimusha-rises-from-the-ashes-way-of-the-sword-announced-for-2026/
Buy the Standard Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/onimusha-way-of-the-sword/9nh6pq3l7ttp
There’s a Deluxe version – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/onimusha-wots-deluxe-edition/9p50g4hdzjsh
And a Premium Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/onimusha-wots-premium-deluxe-edition/9ph7cl8kw2n2
