Onimusha: Way of the Sword Reviews
Capcom essentially "issen"-ed its way back into every action gamer fan's heart with this fifth mothership samurai-versus-demons-and-soul-vacuuming action entry. With a likeable protagonist, beautiful aesthetics, spot-on controls and fighting, and memorable boss encounters, there's never a better time to get into Onimusha than with this big-budget samurai supernatural combo.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a truly excellent comeback, as it demonstrates once again how purely action-oriented games can evolve without losing their soul.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Capcom has another solid title on its hands. Onimusha: Way of the Sword sounds at odds on paper. A goofy rice bun eating samurai amidst a sea of dead villagers and ferocious Genma sounds like tonal whiplash but Capcom nails this balance. Musashi is now one of my favourite protagonists in the action genre and the moment to moment combat, despite a slow start, builds into some of the best boss battles I’ve seen in some time. There is some run of the mill padding that detracts from the spectacle and visuals that don’t hold up outside of cutscenes. But these issues don’t get in the way of what Onimusha does best: a goofy character that I’ll continue to follow into hell, with my own rice bun in hand.
With sharp combat and a story mixing humor and weight, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the kind of well-written, stylish revival fans have waited decades for.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a masterclass of action, blending fast-paced swordplay with graceful character movement for an experience that feels both fantastical and grounded. Rather than sticking to the formula of its predecessors, it takes bold risks and delivers an unforgettable story about the greatest swordsman who ever lived. Capcom couldn’t have closed out its stellar year on a higher note.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword shines with excellent combat, fantastic bosses, and a Musashi full of personality. Some sections slow the pace down, but when it gets good, it gets really good.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
No longer slumbering, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a fully realized successor to Onimusha that makes it more than it ever was. CAPCOM has managed to reinvent and reinvigorate the series for new and old fans. Onimusha: Way of the Sword offers excellent soulslike combat and systems within a character action game, representing a new hybridization of game design I’m all for. Parries carry the game to make the combat exciting, deep, and rewarding. As Takamura Ono says, “Just sublime, boy.”
Onimusha: The Way of the Sword lowers the barrier to entry with relatively easy parrying, while still delivering that satisfying combat feel for veterans through the series' signature 'Issen' mechanic. Furthermore, it attractively reinterprets familiar narratives by weaving bizarre occurrences at historical locations into captivating 'ghost stories'.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a fantastic revival of the franchise that once again proves that Capcom can seemingly do no wrong this console generation. The sheer quality of the blade-to-blade combat, the gorgeous visuals, and the epic storytelling make it impossible to put the controller down, with Onimusha: Way of the Sword offering a deeply rewarding adventure that honours its PlayStation 2 roots whilst carving out a brilliant new path for the franchise.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an incredible action game with an excellent story to match.
A sublime mix of classic Capcom action and weighty physical swordfighting. The only enemy it can't overcome is its own pacing.
Though some of the connective tissue that binds Onimusha: Way of the Sword together is a bit weak, though some of the pacing and padding is a bit thin, Capcom has once again shown us it is a master of its craft here.
Capcom’s willingness to return to old franchises is continuing to pay off, because Onimusha: Way of the Sword is yet another banger from a developer that just cannot stop winning.
The uninspired semi-open-world is a misstep that doesn’t justify its existence, yet Way of the Sword is still a fantastic and welcome return for the series, led by outstanding combat that firmly places it in the upper echelon of modern action games. Fighting is everything, after all, and there’s nothing else quite like Musashi’s brand of calculated violence.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword properly carries the mantle of the original games. Delivering exciting and satisfying combat swordplay in combination with an engaging story, Way of the Sword continues Capcom’s hot streak through 2026.
Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword may be the best game in the series and by quite a large margin. Definitely start out on Story difficulty to find your feet and get used to the game’s pacing of enemy attacks, but once you’re in the zone, it is a genuinely wonderful game from start to finish.
Does Capcom walk the way of the sword and successfully resurrect Onimusha, or should Onimusha: Way of the Sword be banished to hell with the Genma?
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a supremely satisfying samurai action game with some of the best video game boss battles this side of Sekiro. Pulling off perfect parries always feels great and makes the few flaws easy to overlook, like the wonky difficulty curve. Time-poor players will also appreciate the game's more approachable size. $69.99 at Amazon $69.99 at Amazon $69.99 at Walmart(Switch) Check Best Buy
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a successful revival of Capcom's samurai franchise that pushes its gameplay in an exciting new direction while still retaining its core identity. The slower, more deliberate combat feels great, especially when you manage several deflections in quick succession before slicing your foe in half. Glorious.Not everything works. The English voiceover doesn't quite fit with the overall presentation, while occasional jaunts to and from multiple NPCs threaten to derail the otherwise excellent pacing. These are minor gripes, though; Onimusha is back, baby, and it's better than ever.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a great action game with exciting combat and some of the best bosses Capcom has ever created. With its cinematic presentation and challenging yet fair gameplay, each boss encounter feels like a genuine highlight and offers a memorable experience. Unfortunately, everything between those fights is just alright, with the game becoming repetitive due to recurring objectives and the frequent reuse of minibosses.