After three hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Capcom's upcoming reboot is shaping up to be one of the best action games in a decade, with technical combat and a surprising open-ended structure.
Technical Combat and Exploration
The latest build picked up after the public demo, with hero Miyamoto Musashi having slain Sasaki Ganryu. My mission was to chase a boss through Eastern Kyoto's fog-shrouded streets, offering a glimpse into exploration. While mission paths are linear, I often deviated to find resources and hidden upgrades.
The Oni Bow, which Musashi can summon for infinite arrows, proved useful for far-off enemies and environmental puzzles. Combining bow and sword, I could shoot a rock above enemies to crush them, a tactic effective in group battles and boss fights.
Dodge, Parry, and Absorb
Combat emphasizes dodging, deflecting, and parrying at the exact moment of enemy strikes, creating a rewarding, involved style. Unlike Soulslike games, it finds other ways to keep you engaged, such as absorbing souls into Musashi's gauntlet to power 'Oni Armament' attacks, adding a layer of challenge.
My journey culminated in a battle with Daidara, an Oni-eating pig-like demon. Despite his size, I could get the drop on him with well-timed parries and hits when he crashed into the environment. Dodging his grab was crucial, as it dealt devastating damage if missed.
Sandbox Structure
After Daidara, the world opened up, letting me close rifts around the map in any order. This non-linearity shares more with Resident Evil and Pragmata. I could search for resources to upgrade my gear, take on optional rescue missions, and clear Kyoto of Magicite in multiple ways.
One path led to Rasho-Gan, an evil spirit of arms and hands, far more nimble than previous bosses. Defeating him required slicing red tendrils and using the Oni Bow to shoot them before he threw rocks. It took three or four tries, but his creepy look and agility made him my favorite boss of the demo.
A GOTY Contender
With tight dodge and parry-focused swordplay, epic bosses, and a sandbox approach, Onimusha: Way of the Sword builds on old-school foundations to create something greater. It could be one of the most memorable action titles of recent years, reinventing Onimusha for the modern era as Capcom did with Resident Evil.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches on PS5, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4, 2026.
