Capcom's upcoming Onimusha: Way Of The Sword is shaping up to be a standout revival, as our hands-on preview reveals a game that masterfully fuses the series' classic Resident Evil-style horror with medieval Japanese mythology. Set in 17th century Kyoto, the game drops players into a city besieged by grotesque underworld entities known as Genma, where towering pillars of conjoined human faces burst from the ground, screaming in agony. As the heroic samurai Musashi, players must cleanse the city, battling multi-limbed tricksters, lion-headed warlords, and gluttonous boar-men, all while wielding a magical gauntlet that acts as both guide and boxing glove, alongside golden weapons and a katana sharp enough to slice through anything.
Combat Redefined: Blade-on-Blade Precision
Combat is where Onimusha: Way Of The Sword truly distinguishes itself from its dark fantasy predecessors. As Capcom's first mainline installment since 2006, and the fifth overall, this is a bold attempt to modernize the series through deeper, more visually spectacular violence. Built on the RE Engine, the game employs motion capture from expert sword fighters, giving encounters a tangible heft. While clearly fantastical, every move carries weight and menace, whether you're battling groaning zombie warriors or simply cutting down bamboo trees. The core of the combat lies in blade-on-blade mechanics, emphasizing timing over button mashing. Players must choose the right moment to block, break through guards, and execute perfect ripostes, which cleave enemies at the precise angle of entry, leaving them in deli counter slices on the ground.
Orbs, Upgrades, and Oni Armaments
Defeated enemies drop precious orbs that players can absorb into their magic gauntlet by holding the left shoulder button—but speed is crucial, as other enemies can gobble them up for strength buffs. These orbs fuel different aspects of your build: yellow ones replenish health, red serve as currency for upgrades, and blue fill your Oni Armaments gauge. The first Oni Armaments, gleaming twin daggers called the Two Celestials, can one-shot multiple foes in a blitz of golden fury. Later, a double-edged naginata named Wind Whipper unleashes howling vortexes to blow away crowds, with follow-up flaming attacks igniting the gusts. This gradual buildup to special showstoppers gives combat a constant stream of crescendoes, keeping skirmishes fresh and exciting.
Kyoto Sandbox: Quests and Monkeys' Paws
Our demo featured a sandbox section in Kyoto, where skirmishes came thick and fast. Squads of undead soldiers terrorized the city, dragging people kicking and screaming out of dwellings and piling burned bodies high. Quests are playable in any order, with one involving hunting down three talking statues, each guarded by a floating fleshy mass that you must suck into your gauntlet like a Cronenbergian Ghostbusters encounter. Another mission, 'Be Careful What You Wish For,' presents a creatively realized monkey's paw dilemma: a citizen praying to a mysterious jinn begs to escape piano lessons, only to have her fingers snipped off; a couple pleading for eternal togetherness get their spirits trapped in inanimate dolls. Confronting the crafty demon triggers a tough boss battle reminiscent of early Elden Ring clashes, but far more cinematic. The jinn snaps with wispy black shears and flails its writhing mass of arms while laughing manically. Timing your guard with L1 wipes the grin off its face, with the camera whipping close to frame the counter like an action movie. Knock into a wall, and the camera angle shifts to show your impact knocking vases off shelves.
Cinematic Sensibilities and Historical Authenticity
The cinematic flair extends beyond combat. The hero, Musashi, is modeled on Japanese acting icon Toshiro Mifune, star of Seven Samurai and Rashomon. Though Mifune died in 1997, his likeness and mannerisms lend glamour and gravitas to the character. Alongside heightened choreography, the game adds accessibility options to the often-imitated Elden Ring formula. On easy mode, prompts indicate which buttons to press and when, offering a welcome helping hand for those who want to beat a boss on the first try rather than the 50th. Despite heavy supernatural elements, Kyoto feels grounded, thanks to consultations with historians. Shrines, temples, and domestic interiors are faithfully based on feudal Japan, creating an uncanny setting juxtaposed with grotesque monsters.
Release and Availability
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword does exactly what Capcom promised: it brings the series up to date with slick, satisfying combat, sharply written missions, and impressively detailed environments that deftly blend historical reality with outrageous fantasy. The game launches on September 4, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, priced at £64.99, with an 18 age rating. For fans of action RPGs and Capcom's legacy, this is shaping up to be a must-play title.
