Capcom is bringing the Onimusha series back in a big way with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a modern revival that puts legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi in the role of the Oni warrior. I got the chance to go hands-on, and it feels like the most ambitious take on Onimusha yet, melding the tight combat of the classics with third-person action.
A New Blade for Musashi
The demo begins with Musashi arriving at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a malice-drenched sanctuary overrun by Genma forces. Equipped with his Oni Gauntlet and a steady blade, Musashi sets out to purify the corrupted grounds while being guided by a mysterious, feminine voice that echoes from the gauntlet itself. The atmosphere is drenched in eerie phenomena: floating embers, twisted architecture, and corrupted soldiers whose human forms are barely intact.
Right away, the shift from the series’ fixed camera angles to a full third-person perspective is striking. It’s more modern, yet still provides the precision required for action-focused combat. Movement is fluid, objectives are marked clearly on the map, and though the demo was fairly linear, exploration rewarded me with restorative items and hidden Hozuki plants to stock up for tougher encounters.
Cutting Through the Genma
Combat is where Way of the Sword feels both familiar and new. Attacks flow through light and heavy strikes, with the ability to block, parry, and string together counterattacks. Timing a parry leaves enemies wide open for a devastating follow-up, while draining their stamina allows you to trigger a Break Issen, a powerful strike that can target specific body parts for huge damage.
Musashi’s Oni Gauntlet adds depth to the swordplay. Souls absorbed from enemies restore health, power up abilities, or charge the gauntlet’s meter for heavy Oni attacks. The gauntlet can also reveal hidden paths with Oni Vision or unleash a devastating Oni Charge once filled. In one chilling sequence, I used it to relive a horrifying memory where a father was forced to throw his son off a guardrail, an unsettling reminder of Genma’s corruptive reach.
The Genma enemies themselves escalate in threat. Early foes are corrupted archers and swordsmen, but later encounters feature grotesque monstrosities who not only fight harder but also speak to Musashi, taunting him with distorted voices. Stealth mechanics also come into play, letting Musashi take down unaware enemies with quick, silent strikes if you prefer to thin their numbers before engaging directly.
Rivalry Reforged
The demo culminated in a duel with Sasaki Ganryu, a rival swordsman who wields his own Oni Gauntlet. The fight plays out like a deadly dance: reading attack patterns, timing parries, and baiting openings for Break Issen finishers. It’s a sharp reminder of what made the original Onimusha’s duels so memorable, now reimagined with more fluidity and spectacle.
The Way Forward
If this demo is any indication, Onimusha: Way of the Sword strikes a balance between honoring its roots and carving a new identity. It retains the series’ emphasis on precision combat while embracing modern design, cinematic presentation, and a deeper connection to Musashi’s mythic journey.
Capcom is clearly swinging for a major comeback with this one, and based on what I played, the blade is indeed sharp.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
