I will admit I didn’t stay with the Onimusha series through all of them. I did dabble in the original ones with their fixed cameras and tank controls. Obviously it stood out with Capcom’s signature style and blending real life Japanese history with supernatural fantasy. And I remember it being very difficult due to the cameras and controls. I’m not exactly sure when the series removed tank controls, I think that was for Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (the one with Jean Reno), but the recent remakes have also removed it or at least given the option to swap.

I swear I’m ramping up to a point here. Now with Onimusha: Way of the Sword coming out, I haven’t played it with modern controls, and playing the public demo before my Summer Game Fest demo, I noticed it was a bit easier than I remember. I absolutely loved the public demo, but I was very excited to see what they had for the hands-on demo since it was something different than what I played.

Hmmm there might be something more to these creepy dolls.

Before the demo started I did ask the Capcom rep if there was going to be difficulty options in the final build. He said he had nothing to announce at this time, take that as you will. The demo took place in one of the more open maps compared to the public demo that was more linear. While we couldn’t venture out too far and the missions were still limited, we had the options to attack the objective from different paths due to the open nature. The main mission we were given was to investigate a local shrine in hopes to get answers on how to remove the Oni Gauntlet. Being the exploring type, because I refuse to let a secret item or weapon pass by me, I went searching.

Exploring in Onimusha: Way of the Sword seems to be worth it because not only did I get some great items, but I ran into some surprise fights. The level design really pulled me into wanting to explore as well. There were little clues and ways that the game would catch your eye to an area like seeing enemies rummaging through buildings or pots. There were also residents that would come running out asking you to save them before they’re slaughtered. Sides of buildings wrecked leaving openings to explore through.

While you’re exploring you will run into civilians to help out. This will grant you a reward if you save them.

The combat is extremely engaging offering some fun sword combat. Slashing through enemies, breaking guard and killing them off with a stylish finishing move with dismemberment felt very satisfying. I really love the sword clashing in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, as it adds a lot to the fights. At times you will clash with an enemy and you will need to remember the last attack button you crashed with. You will need to alternate the attacks in order to beat them in the clash. It’s fun and stylistic way to add some intense moments without it just being more combo inputs.

Parrying and deflecting also play a huge factor and both are used optimally in different ways. Parry obviously is to block normal attacks and build their break meter, while deflecting redirects an attack and makes them stumble allowing follow up attacks. Deflecting can also be done on bigger power attacks, as well as projectiles. Mixing the two different kinds of blocks is key here.

The Oni Armaments are a good way to clean up a group of enemies.

As I went through the mission to the shrine, I entered a strange dream like area where everything is perfect, beautiful, and the people that are in here are strangely too happy. I came across a couple of dolls that were bound together, happy little things that looked too human. There is something definitely off about these dolls. We continue the mission to try and make contact with Yorimasa’s soul which is enshrined in this dreamy area, but to find it, we need to consult the Eight Stout Pillars. However, we find out that the Genma that has taken of the shrine has tricked humans into taking and hiding three of the Stout Pillars, and I have to return them.

Now we are back to exploring the town again trying to find these chunky little loud mouth pillars. Shizuka can sense them in the area, but not an exact location. I had to get in the area and search, well, mostly listen for them chattering, before finding where they were. This leads to some more big battles and other areas of the town which opened up more side stuff to find. I ran into a room full of enemies with multiple archers in the back, but the mechanic where you can pick up a table and use it for cover came in handy. Not only can you use it for cover, but you can then kick it across the room to knock over enemies and stun them.

They may look grumpy, but they are at least helpful.

After returning the three pillars, they help form the Malice in the area into a dark mass that I can follow with my gauntlet. This allows me to track where the Genma is that is taking over this place. After finding the Malice, we head into a flashback of what happened into this area. A demon, Rasho-gan, offering an exhausted woman: “Joining, or severing?”. She goes on to explain her suffering about her being mistreated by her mistress. She is made to practice the Shamisen every day, and if she messes up she is scolded harshly. Rasho-gan then offers to help her, by severing her fingers so she no longer can play.

In the Onimusha: Way of the Sword demo, the flashbacks were only flashbacks, but to my surprise Rasho-gan then turns to Musashi and talks to him directly about him wanting to sever the gauntlet from himself. No arm, no gauntlet. Rasho-gan then reveals himself as he tries to take off Musashi’s arm. The boss design for Rasho-gan is wicked. His entire body made up of the severed limbs and digits of his victims. Multiple arms are all around him linked together and stitched together with fingers interlocking all over his body like armor.

Such a disturbingly awesome design!

Rasho-gan was a tough boss, very fast and used multiple attack types. He had fast sword combos, projectiles to throw, and some ground smashes where he would come down with his many arms. After defeating his first health bar, he goes into a rage, this time his arms turn red and the hands covering his face open up to reveal his true face. He gets more aggressive and has harder and more varied attacks now. He can even pick up a nearby building and try and slam it on you.

The boss fight is intense and so much fun. I did die once on it, but it didn’t feel unfair. In fact, much like my general thoughts on the combat, I felt it was a bit easy. However, unlike the slow enemies who just stand around waiting to attack, Rasho-gan at least attacked more frequently. But the attacks are often too broadcasted with long build ups. It gave me plenty of time to react and figure out what attack was coming. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it is what made it feel easier.

“Oh, shit” is right Musashi!

The demo ended after the boss fight and I was thoroughly impressed. The combat is a ton of fun with using the Oni Armaments which are special weapons you can use after collecting enough of the blue souls. I loved the different parrying and deflecting opportunities and the clashes as well. While this level design wasn’t the best, it was a pretty standard town, I did like how much there was still to find and do within it. Hopefully they dial up the difficulty a bit or a least increase the enemies attack rates because that’s really my only concern here. Otherwise, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is shaping up to be a fantastic action game.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword comes out September 4th, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam, Epic, Microsoft).

*All assets provided by publisher