The Ongoing Struggle Between Genma and Oni
The epic conflict between the Genma and Oni has persisted for thousands of years, often with the Oni facing defeat. Each entry in the Onimusha series witnesses heroes, usually inspired by historical figures, who acquire formidable Oni Gauntlets during their quests. In Onimusha: Way of the Sword, players are transported to the Edo period, stepping into the shoes of one of history’s most renowned swordsmen.
Channeling the Spirit of Miyamoto Musashi
In this installment, players embody Miyamoto Musashi, celebrated as the Sword Saint of the early 1600s and a pioneer of the dual-sword technique. Capcom brings this iconic character to life using the likeness of the late Toshirō Mifune, an actor famous for his roles in classic Japanese samurai cinema during the 1950s and 60s. Interestingly, the English dub features Musashi with a Cockney accent, leaving fans curious about the Japanese voice actor choices.
A Prideful Warrior’s Journey
This incarnation of Musashi is characterized as a proud warrior, who finds himself mysteriously endowed with the Oni Gauntlet. His quest centers on freeing himself from its sinister powers, yet he faces a land filled with peril and Genma intent on spreading chaos. As the narrative unfolds, Musashi may need to set aside his pride and harness the Oni’s power to succeed in his challenges.
New Abilities and Combat Mechanics
Given Musashi’s legendary status, it’s fitting that he brings unique abilities to the battlefield that previous protagonists lacked. Players can now take down foes stealthily—a welcome addition to modern action titles. Furthermore, Musashi’s natural clairvoyance allows him to block and parry attacks from any direction. Timing the guard perfectly enables powerful counterattacks, capable of knocking enemies back or reflecting projectiles.
The combat system in Onimusha: Way of the Sword has seen a substantial overhaul, aligning it with contemporary masocore gaming experiences. Both Musashi and his enemies possess health and stamina bars—depicted in yellow and red, respectively. Inflicting sufficient damage to an opponent’s stamina gauge can break their guard, opening up opportunities for devastating counterattacks. Musashi also features his own posture gauge, which limits his ability to guard against an endless barrage of hits.
Utilizing the Oni Gauntlet
Upon breaking an enemy’s guard, Musashi can target various colored nodes: hitting the red node inflicts substantial damage, while a successful purple “Issen”strike grants additional souls for the Oni Gauntlet. These souls replenish Musashi’s health and spell casting, with blue souls powering up a unique skill set that allows him to morph his weapon into dual daggers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ee6REzoGAVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Onimusha: Way of the Sword World Premiere Trailer | Summer Game Fest 2025 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ee6REzoGA)
Returning Signature Moves
True to the Onimusha legacy, players can execute the signature Issen strike—a high-risk, high-reward maneuver that may eliminate foes in a single blow. This technique can be performed by either attacking just before an enemy strike lands or parrying at the last instant. Originating from Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, Issen attacks can be combined into an “Issen Dance, ”allowing players to decimate multiple Genma in quick succession. During a hands-off demo, the developer showcased a seamless chain of four Issen strikes, slowing the action to enable targeting of subsequent enemies.
A Climactic Duel
The demo concluded with an intense showdown between Musashi and Sasaki Ganryu, a character rumored to be inspired by Musashi’s historical rival, Sasaki Kojiro. Ganryu, who embraces the powers of the Oni Gauntlet for enhanced abilities, represents a formidable opponent. Their duel encapsulates a clash of master swordsmen, where both leverage the powers of the Oni in their distinctive combat styles, ultimately culminating in Musashi’s victory. However, hints suggest that Ganryu’s story is far from over.
A Faithful Recreation of Iconic Settings
As we wrap up our preview of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, it’s worth noting how Capcom collaborated with Kiyomizu-dera to authentically recreate the historical temple. Their narrative incorporates captivating twists—like the myth involving Genma coercing humans to sacrifice loved ones by throwing them from the temple—a chilling allusion to the mysteries surrounding its past.
Looking Ahead: Release Information
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is slated for release in 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and Steam. Notably, a public demo is scheduled for Gamescom 2025. Should trends from Capcom’s prior titles persist, players might anticipate the arrival of Miyamoto Musashi’s Onimusha debut in early 2026.
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