Onimusha: Way of the Sword – The Return of the Demon Samurai Between Japanese Folklore and Cinematic Action

After too many years of absence and the feeling that Capcom had definitively shelved the Onimusha saga, the footage of Way of the Sword shown to us during a closed-door event swept away even the last doubts about the love and care with which the Japanese software house has brought this historic saga back to light. Although it is still a version in development (the scenes shown date back to May and do not yet reflect the final product), the visual and narrative impact was truly powerful. The protagonist, Musashi Miyamoto, is inspired by a real historical figure and was modeled after the actor Toshiro Mifune, famous for his roles in Akira Kurosawa's films. The effect achieved, in our opinion, is a perfect mix of auteur cinema and Japanese action game. 

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Cinematic Combat System

The combat system appears fluid and well-paced, thanks to parries performed with precise timing, counter-moves, and the ability to use the surrounding environment as a weapon, with enemies that can be knocked against obstacles or even set on fire, making clashes dynamic and spectacular. The action never seemed frustrating to us: while offering an adequate challenge, the game seems designed to be accessible even to those who do not seek extreme difficulty like in various Souls games. In addition, perfect parries fill a bar called Blazer State, which increases the generation of blue souls and unlocks powerful special attacks.

One of the most fascinating sequences we saw takes place in the Kiyomizu-dera temple, a real location that has been reinterpreted in a dark key, where the team has integrated local stories and legends into the plot, blending Japanese folklore and video game narrative in a coherent and intriguing way. The atmosphere is charged with malaise: a dark fog envelops the area, and demonic creatures – (called Gamma) emerge from hell with the aim of reclaiming the human world.

In the footage, we also managed to see an intense boss fight against a mysterious opponent also endowed with the power of the Onygonnote, and for the first time in the saga, there are two characters with the same demonic power. The battle, marked by perfect parries and targeted attacks on weak points, culminates in a spectacular final move, although it is clear that the boss will return later in the story, hinting at a deeper narrative development than what was shown.

Forget the Open World

The team clarified that Onimusha: Way of the Sword will not be an open world, but will feature hub areas, with possibilities for free exploration and alternative paths. The demo was very linear and designed to showcase the mechanics and environments, although some areas, such as hidden passages unlockable via Oni Vision, suggest a Metroidvania-style progression, where new abilities unlock previously inaccessible paths.

In Conclusion

Despite being a non-final version, the presentation of Onimusha: Way of the Sword bodes well, as the game honors the series' past but expands its boundaries with new mechanics, a more layered narrative, and a stylistic care rare in the current landscape. Musashi's charisma, the use of Japanese history, and refined mechanics foreshadow a grand return for the franchise, but it remains to be seen how deep the connection with previous chapters will be. Even if we were to consider it a stand-alone title, based on what we've seen, it promises to be very good.