[Review] Onimusha: Way of the Sword finds its edge in brilliant combat

Mastering the art of the blade is a beautiful craft in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Your katana is a paintbrush, the bodies of demonic soldiers are your canvas, and each stroke, parry, and deflection results in a masterpiece of action in this revival of Capcom’s fan-favorite franchise. While its story is nothing to write home about, and its combat-corridor missions are sandwiched between some tedious busywork, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is still a stunning slice of Japanese fantasy and perfectly executed action that feels consistently exciting.

Like previous Onimusha games, Way of the Sword is a power fantasy that rewards quick thinking, reflexes, and strategic swordsmanship as you take on all manner of monsters drawn from Japanese folklore. The fifth mainline entry in the Onimusha series features the historical figure Miyamoto Musashi as its protagonist, with Capcom using the legends and fables of the undefeated swordsman to craft a young and cocky fighter who believes in nothing more than proving his own strength on the battlefield.

This is something of a tradition with Onimusha games (the previous title’s protagonist was based on the Sengoku period’s Akechi Hidemitsu), and for an added touch of realism, this version of Musashi wears the face of iconic actor Toshiro Mifune, who looks like he just stepped off the set of an Akira Kurosawa samurai movie. Musashi’s tale in Onimusha is one that has been told thousands of times already in shonen manga and anime, as the overconfident warrior quickly learns that no man is an island, and true strength comes from surrounding yourself with capable allies and fighting for them.

It’s a tale as old as time, and even with a well-rounded cast of partners and teachers, Way of the Sword’s story isn’t exactly memorable or original. But where the game does shine is in how it tells that story, and makes you a living part of it. Way of the Sword is easily one of the best-looking games of the year, and considering how Capcom has already dropped visually stunning adventures with the cool sci-fi aesthetics of Pragmata and the gory survival-horror vibes of Resident Evil: Requiem, that’s no small feat.

Feudal Japan has never looked better, as Capcom has woven the era’s elegant artistry into a dark fantasy setting that is a feast for the eyes. Every main character is also beautifully animated, whether it be a nefarious demon or Musashi’s goofy facial expressions, and the end result is a stunning showcase when all the pieces come together.

And as good as Way of the Sword looks, it feels even better to play. At first glance, the game might come across like a glorified Elden Ring clone, but those souls-like influences are mere flourishes upon old-school combat that feels closer to PS2-era Ninja Gaiden in its design. It’s challenging but not punishing, as the combat pushes you to not button-mash your way to victory but rather to put some thought into each attack before you unleash it.

Combos are kept simple with light and heavy attacks, but the real charm lies in using your blade to parry and deflect attacks, wearing down your enemies and setting them up for an instant-kill attack, or a flourish of slashes that shave massive chunks off their health bars. Learning that dance of death never feels out of reach, and thanks to some handy assists that Capcom offers, you’ll always know exactly which action to pull off at the right moment if you choose to enable those options. Enemies will still organically telegraph their attacks, and by the time you’re ready to take on more challenging foes, Way of the Sword’s combat sings an aria of steel clashes, last-second dodges, and demonic fury.

Musashi’s arsenal also expands throughout his journey, as Oni weapons add more options to your tactics, health tonics keep you in the fight, and the signature Issen strike rewards skillful players with a death-dealing blow if they can pull it off precisely. Throw a few unconventional options into an encounter – like flipping tables to block arrows or hurling explosive barrels at enemies – and you’ve got a well-rounded evolution of Onimusha’s action for the modern age; one that is nuanced and constantly gratifying to engage in whenever you unsheathe your katana.

And while the regular cannon fodder demons quickly fuel the Oni gauntlet bonded to Musashi’s arm, the various boss fights are where your newly acquired skills will be put to the test. This is where Onimusha is at its best, as you’ll regularly face off against foes who’ll punish you for whiffing an attack or failing to read their techniques in the heat of battle. Some stages feature a winged demon who powers up his blade with Musashi’s blood, another encounter has you fighting a tag team of thunderous hooligans, and one towering monk will force you to keep a finger glued to your parry button lest you get cleaved in half by his monstrous halberd.

Each one of these titanic threats is a masterclass in using everything at your disposal to overcome them, resulting in nail-biting showdowns full of lean-forward energy that’ll leave you breathless when you overcome them.

That superb combat is also the game’s saving grace, as the semi-open-world hub of Eastern Kyoto is a chore to explore when you’re not engaged in missions that send you out into the imaginatively designed locales surrounding it. Here the game tasks you with busywork between mission beats, as you can take on tasks that offer collectibles and upgrade materials to help you increase your power – with new abilities allowing you to gradually open up the map more.

It’s fine at best, and with no shortage of Genma patrolling the streets or harassing citizens, you won’t have to worry about your sword skills getting rusty. You’ll want to spend time tracking down the usual demonic culprit and grabbing the materials to make Musashi stronger and more resilient. However, compared to the tightly designed levels dripping with atmospheric dread, Kyoto feels more like an unavoidable pit stop.

While Onimusha: Way of the Sword may end up as Capcom’s weakest game of its big releases this year, it’s still leagues ahead of the competition, and worth checking out if you’re craving an action game that isn’t outright copying FromSoftware’s Sekiro and Bloodborne homework.

Releasing on 4 September, Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be playable on PC, PS, Xbox Series consoles and Nintendo Switch 2.