Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review

The opening minutes of Onimusha: Way of the Sword set a chaotic and humorous tone. The protagonist, wandering ronin Musashi, wakes up under a bridge, reacts to starving urchins with a distinctly British exclamation, and is subsequently chased through a muddy village by a large group of martial arts students. The sequence is goofy and brash, effectively distinguishing the title from the more serious fantasy slashers in the current market.

However, the game occasionally struggles to maintain this initial energy. The tonal direction shifts between macabre feudal horror, the invincible aura of a shonen manga hero, and quieter moments of following map markers around Kyoto. Despite these inconsistencies, the underlying action adventure is well-constructed, featuring one of the smoothest sword-deflecting mechanics in the genre.

The character animation is a standout element. Capcom has animated Musashi with expressive detail, from awkward shuffling in narrow spaces to the contortions of his face, which is based on samurai cinema icon Toshiro Mifune. The English voice acting by Kenichiro Thomson complements these visuals with precise line readings. Even the combat retains a sense of humor; the physical and reactive nature of the fighting allows for moves like redirecting a charging enemy into another, causing them to collide with significant force.

The game also incorporates environmental interactions, providing boards, carts, or barrels as improvised weapons. This approach adds a layer of absurdity to the combat, though these elements are introduced early and only occasionally revisited. Straight sword duels are well-formulated but often lack the memorability of these physics-based interactions.

The pacing is a point of contention. The initially lively flow is frequently interrupted by numerous cutscenes and NPC conversations. The semi-open world structure of Kyoto keeps players moving through corridors without adding significant story or action possibilities, leading to a sense that a more compact format might have better served the combat and presentation. Nevertheless, the game retains its strengths, with new monsters appearing to re-engage the player when the pacing slows.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.”}