During our earlier review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which is the highly anticipated continuation of Capcom’s action-fantasy series, we made a point to emphasize that it shares no resemblance to Dark Souls.
It might appear unusual to discuss what a game doesn’t embody, but it’s clear that the gameplay style from FromSoftware has grown quite extensive – even overwhelming at times. Despite our appreciation for this Japanese studio, not every game should follow the path of Elden Ring or Bloodborne, don’t you agree?
Although this new Onimusha might seem similar in some ways, we feel confident in stating that it’s distinctly not Dark Souls. Instead, it bears a stronger resemblance to Stellar Blade, if you need a recent point of reference. Unlike Dark Souls, there’s more emphasis on performing exciting actions rather than constantly dodging attacks.
In this game, mastering the art of parrying is crucial and nearly indispensable. On the Action difficulty setting, the timing for parrying is quite forgiving. This seems to be the standard mode, though we found there’s also a Story difficulty option in the demo version. Kudos to FromSoftware for catering to players who aren’t fans of their challenging gameplay style!
Essentially, we finally had the chance to play a demo featuring the demo we previously just watched. It starred Miyamoto Musashi, a samurai with superhero qualities, portrayed by Toshiro Mifune, a renowned Japanese actor. The action took place in Kyoto where Musashi swiftly stormed one of its famous temples upon arrival.
In line with contemporary Capcom games, the graphics on PS5 Pro are stunningly impressive, and the art style is truly captivating. The animation quality is exceptional, though we hope for a wider range of movements in the final version, as certain actions appeared slightly repetitive compared to what we prefer.
As you progress through the game, the demo gradually introduces various combat strategies like dodging and parrying. However, given that this appears to be quite early in the campaign, it can be challenging to fully grasp how the action will develop. Yet, it’s clear that each move is meticulously designed and offers a satisfying gaming experience.
The demonstration concludes with a tough opponent battle against Ganryu, a menacing character adorned with a hat, skillfully designed by Capcom’s remarkable art team. His voluminous robes and elongated figure create a striking contrast to his distinctive cone-shaped hat, leaving an indelible impression.
In the course of combat, you have the freedom to decide whether to damage his hat or attack another part of his body, allowing for some flexibility in your strategy. Destroying his hat weakens his armor significantly, which is why we opted for that approach. Eventually, we managed to defeat him using this tactic…
It’s possible that we included Ganryu in the game due to our suspicion that he will be a recurring character. After all, much like Musashi, he possesses a mystical Oni gauntlet, which suggests his role in the storyline.
Among our concerns, besides its resemblance to other action games, is the quality of the English voice acting. Fortunately, a Japanese voice option was available in the demo we saw. We’re looking forward to using that version at launch. It’s not that we dislike British soap operas, but we prefer our Japanese power-fantasy experience not to mimic one.
Given the quality of the Japanese voice-over is expected, we’re looking forward to some exceptional Capcom gameplay. While it might not be breaking new ground, much like Devil May Cry 5, they demonstrate their expertise in action games, especially when they give you a sword and task you with vanquishing various demonic foes.
Are you looking forward to playing Onimusha: Way of the Sword? Are you curious about the style of gameplay that Capcom is using for this game? Share your thoughts and anticipation in the comments section below.
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2025-08-20 14:37