After more than two decades on the sidelines, Onimusha is almost back! Sharpening its blade once again with Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
During Playstation’s June State of Play, not only did Capcom reveal the September 25th release date. They also surprised fans with a playable demo available immediately on PS5. The demo is set early in Miyamoto Musashi’s journey, as he comes to grips with the new talking gauntlet on his arm and the powers it affords him.
The demo offers around 30 minutes of gameplay, tasking players with cleansing the Kiyomizu-dera Temple of Genma, a staple foe of the series. It serves as a tutorial guiding players through many of the systems Capcom has been showing off in trailers, including parries, deflects, dodges, Issen strikes and the supernatural Oni Armament abilities. Culminating in a boss showdown.
READ MORE: PlayStation State of Play: Everything You Need To Know
And honestly, the combat is the standout affair here. While plenty of modern action games chase speed and spectacle, Way of the Sword appears more interested in weight and precision. The sheer amount of tools at your disposal is impressive, and each is accompanied by stellar animation work.
The more precise your parry timing, the flashier the animation and the bigger the damage boost after. Musashi can also chain kills by deflecting attacks and breaking the stamina of several enemies, allowing him to skillfully dispatch them one after the other. It’s a treat for the eyes!
The Gauntlet has use outside of combat too, it allows Musashi to glimpse into the past through dark magic rifts and see hidden entities through Oni vision. I look forward to seeing what else it can do in the full game.
For this longtime fan, the return of soul absorption mechanics and demon-slaying sword combat feels reassuringly familiar. It truly felt like playing Onimusha, without a static camera!
Either way, Capcom has handed players a chance to taste Onimusha: Way of the Sword for themselves months before launch. Be sure to check it out before the full release in September!
