Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (2025) Reviews
A solid remaster of Capcom's cult classic.
At the end of the day, even if it hasn’t aged as well as expected, being able to play Onimusha 2 on modern consoles is still one hell of a treat. Just know what to expect before grabbing a copy. Get ready for some uninteresting cutscenes and dated controls, but stay for the amazing combat, music, and overall setting. As an appetizer before the release of the actual new Onimusha game coming out next year, as well as the stepping stone for a possible remaster of the third entry in the franchise (as in, the best one), Onimusha 2 gets the job done, without a doubt.
The remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny brings original PS2 game to modern standards with improved graphics and controls. It doesn't re-invent the game, but instead ensures it's kept alive for future generations. This remaster won't win over many new gamers, but will be welcomed of fans of the series. In a way, this is what remasters are meant to do: preserve and future-proof what otherwise might have been lost forever.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a remaster that does the PS2 original justice and a great experience to whet the appetite before the series' revival.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny represents the design tenants of a bygone era, more often for worse than better.
Considering how long Onimusha fans have been waiting for Samurai’s Destiny to make a return on modern platforms, the lack of significant bonuses doesn’t feel like a big sticking point. More than anything, it let me finally experience a brilliantly unique series that for years I’ve been missing out on.
Capcom's retro hack-and-slash adventure Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny returns in a crisp new remaster.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a strong, worthy successor to the original that is now at its absolute best on Switch. Some of it feels dated by modern standards, with fixed camera angles that arguably should have been ditched back in 2002, but it still feels incredibly fun regardless. The remaster adds in a bunch of quality-of-life updates and extras that both longtime fans and newcomers will appreciate, but ultimately, this is a faithful revival of one of the PS2's very best games. Now the patient wait for Onimusha 3 begins.
Playing Onimusha 2 in 2025 has been a surprisingly satisfying experience. Despite its technical limitations from the era, the core of the game remains just as addictive. Its focus on strategic combat, the depth of its characters, and its fascinating setting make it a unique experience. This remaster also serves as preparation for the new installment announced by Capcom, which could signify a renaissance for this forgotten but beloved saga. If you've never tried Onimusha, this is the perfect moment to discover why it has such a dedicated fan base, and understand how it influenced later games like Devil May Cry itself. In conclusion, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Remastered is a journey to the past that proves good games, like fine wines, get better with time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Onimusha 2 is a strange but good action game. There aren’t many things like it, but I’m glad it’s back just the way it is. The swordplay and progression are great and the story is an oddity determined by a number of decisions you make at crucial points.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a highly influential classic, one that deserves a lot more love from Capcom than this drab remake has to offer. There was a brilliant opportunity to spoil the player with behind-the-scenes developer content here, but that chance has been squandered. Instead, you get to swap weapons with a button press rather than by going into the menu and sharper visuals. You're best off saving your money and digging your PS2 out of storage, I say.
Onimusha 2 was a great game in its time, but times have changed. It definitely has blemishes that showcase game design from the early 2000s. Still, it was fun revisiting this game and I hope they managed to get the third game out there eventually. I just hope it doesn’t take another six years. With a new entry in the franchise on the horizon it would be a great time to revisit these classics. Just know what you are getting into before diving in.
Despite the sometimes frustrating fixed camera angles, goofy voice acting, and rushed second half, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is one of my favorite games I’ve played this year.
Some believe that in order to truly "remaster" a game, there has to be a mastered game to begin with, and in the case of Onimusha 2, it certainly (with all due respect) isn't a game that was made with mastery to begin with. A derided sequel given an appreciable but unsurprising remaster, Onimusha 2 is worthwhile to play if you didn't play it in 2002, and is a capable study for new players.
A faithful remaster of a PS2 classic, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny brings back the brooding atmosphere and layered storytelling fans remember. The improved resolution and new QoL features are welcome, but the lack of real enhancements or modern refinements holds it back. While Jubei's journey remains compelling and replayability is high thanks to branching paths, the dated combat and stiff controls may deter newcomers. Longtime fans will appreciate the nostalgia, but this feels more like preservation than revival.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Even with the baggage of its PS2 origins, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a welcome trip down memory lane.
The Onimusha 2 remaster does exactly what it says on the tin. Sharp visuals breathe new life and color into a cult classic that merits a life beyond the PS2. However, Capcom's dedication to the original experience means that decades-old problems remain unaddressed, and its capitulation to analog movement undercuts the authenticity it sets out to achieve.
If you've never played the original and want to get into the series, you should consider what kind of experience you're getting, and if you've already played something similar, it's clearly a good idea to play it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Six years after the release of the remaster of Onimusha: Warlords, the re-release of Samurai's Destiny presents itself to the public as an operation substantially in line with the characteristics of its predecessor.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I hope Capcom decides to remaster the rest of the series while continuing to reboot the franchise in a title that will be released next year. The truth is, so far, the work bodes well .
Review in Spanish | Read full review