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    Onimusha: Way of the Sword Preview – An Authentic Samurai Experience

    An extremely impressive first look.

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    By now, it’s no secret that Capcom had a huge presence at Summer Game Fest: Play Days this year. The Osaka-based giant brought three highly anticipated 2026 games: Resident Evil RequiemPragmata, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The latter is especially exciting, as the Onimusha series has been essentially dormant ever since 2006’s Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams. Sure, we got a remaster of Onimusha: Warlords and the browser-based Onimusha Soul, but a new mainline game felt out of reach for well over a decade. 

    With Capcom’s astounding output over the last seven years, it’s incredibly exciting to see the company return to the beloved Onimusha series for a brand new entry in Way of the Sword. While the demo I was able to experience at Summer Game Fest was hands-off, I still came away with a strong understanding of both the game’s fundamentals and its potential. 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the biggest years in gaming history, and right now I’m feeling that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is going to be a major part of that. 

    Way of the Sword stars Miyamoto Musashi, one of Japan’s most famous samurai. This is a man who is called a kensei for his swordsmanship, and those skills are evident in the gameplay. Capcom has modeled the character after the legendary Toshiro Mifune, which paves the way for an authentic samurai experience. The Play Days demo featured our first listen to the English dub, and Musashi has an English accent for some reason. Don’t get me wrong: it sounded great and fit the character, but it sure was a talking point at the show.

    You can start with Way of the Sword with no issues, as the game is not connected to previous games and features a new protagonist. Especially as Capcom continues to revive legacy series and IP, it’s great to see games that can appeal to all players. Producer Akihito Kadowaki has previously shared that the game is expected to be around 20 hours in length, which alone puts it in the lead for the longest Onimusha game to date.

    In an era where many games continue to push for bigger and more open worlds, Capcom made the decision to rein in Onimusha and keep the more linear approach. This was clear as day in my preview of the game, as the area showcased, while offering some exploration for those who wish for it, was mostly linear and clear about progression. I’m personally really happy about this direction, as I feel that an open world would diminish the combat system and its enjoyment throughout the narrative.

    By far, the most fascinating piece of information that was relayed by the Capcom team was regarding the location of this demo. The presentation was set in Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a real-life location in Kyoto, Japan that was established in 778. Alone, this might not impress, but we were told that the Capcom development team worked directly with the staff at Kiyomizu-dera to determine how to accurately depict the temple in the time period of the game. This above-and-beyond attention to detail is so exciting to me, as I want to feel connected to the world in a game like this set in the past. I actually had the opportunity to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple just a few weeks ago, and I was blown away seeing Capcom’s depiction of the location in the past.

    This isn’t just for Musashi’s time, though: Way of the Sword has a very exciting new feature that gives glimpses of the past, Dark Mass. These are huge orbs of energy that you can interact with on the battlefield. Once you touch them, visions of the past will play out following those who were killed in the area. Throughout the demo, this included people being tied down and thrown over cliffs, as well as other scenarios. I feel that this is a really intriguing mechanic to add, especially considering previous themes explored in the series. I’m very curious to see how Dark Mass is used throughout the game, especially considering the potential gameplay implications we have seen.

    While Onimusha is beloved for its stories by many, the star of the show is the combat system. Way of the Sword looks absolutely incredible here, with some gruesome, slick, and stylish attacks that feel right in line with the time period. In my mind, if I’m playing as Miyamoto Musashi, I want to feel like it, and Capcom showcased gameplay that left me really excited in that regard. Gameplay follows iconic Onimusha staples like the Soul Absorption, which allows Musashi to absorb different colored souls to gain different things. Blue souls help power your skills, yellow souls assist in regenerating health, and red souls give experience.

    Issen, a popular mechanic from the series, also returns better than ever. Way of the Sword has made this so stylish that it almost feels like you are watching a movie. You can chain these together to deal some serious damage, which can come in handy when you’re in a pinch. In addition to the combat, I found the character models and environmental detail to be astounding; Capcom has placed a great emphasis on the visuals in this release, and it’s evident when watching the gameplay in motion.

    While details on the story are still scarce, the relationship between Musashi and his Oni Gauntlet was interesting and enjoyable to watch, even in the 20 minutes of gameplay I watched. The two were bantering for the most part, with the Capcom team teasing that they will get along with one another… eventually. Musashi seems to have a reputation of sorts prior to the story, as one boss, Sasaki Ganryu, had some commentary with him amidst their battle. Ganryu, in particular, was a character I’ll be keeping my eyes on, as he appears with a corrupted Oni Gauntlet because of overuse. 

    Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword looks absolutely incredible. The combat system seems to have a ton to offer, and I am ecstatic to see what else Capcom has in store for this game next year. If my preview was anything to go by, we are in for a real treat in 2026.

    Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to launch in 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

    Noah Hunter
    Noah Hunter
    Noah is Final Weapon’s Editor-in-Chief, overseeing all written and video content. He co-founded the website in June 2019 and has been writing for it ever since. In total, he has over six years of writing experience across many publications, including IGN Entertainment. His favorite series include Xeno and Final Fantasy.

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