Onimusha: Way of the Sword Demo First Impressions

Written by Omar Solanji

(Demo played & reviewed on the PC version)

In-game screenshot of Sasaki Ganryu in Onimusha: Way of the Sword

On Tuesday's PlayStation State of Play, Capcom showed off a new trailer for their upcoming game Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the long awaited next entry in the Onimusha series.  With the trailer came a free demo that released after the presentation ended.

How was it?  What was the gameplay like?  Does it visually hold its own against other Capcom IPs that use their in-house RE Engine?  Let's unpack as we look at our personal thoughts on the demo.

Story & Dialogue

In-game screenshot of Miyamoto Musashi in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

As previously mentioned on our State of Play news recap, this game sees you play as swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, a samurai looking to prove he's unmatched in the way of the sword.  Along his way, he'll encounter his rival, Sasaki Ganryu, who also seeks to claim this moniker.

The demo starts at some point after the game's introduction, as you've already been introduced to your spiritual gauntlet (more on that later), and you've already been introduced to the central issue that's arrising in Kyoto: the Genma, or demon warriors, have began to invade Kyoto.

Using your swordsmanship & the powers of your spritual gauntlet, it's up to Musashi to defeat the Genma and prove that he's unmatched.   

In-game screenshot of Musashi & his spirit gauntlet in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

One aspect the game severely suffers from is its dialogue.  While the story isn't anything lackluster, the dialogue feels forced, especially when it comes to throwing in humor.  I mean come on, Musashi calls his gauntlet "Weird Gauntlet Lady" after his gauntlet gives him advice on how to capture Genma souls.

It doesn't help that the English voice acting in the game sounds so soulless & uninspired.  Especially Musashi, who makes proving he's the greatest swordsman sound like a 9-5 shift he doesn't want to work.

Visuals

In-game screenshot of one of the environments in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

As mentioned before, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is running in Capcom's in-house RE Engine, one of, in my opinion, the most visually impressive graphics engines in the gaming industry today, as seen in games like the namesake Resident Evil Series, Street Fighter 6, & Monster Hunter: Wilds to name  a few games.

That being said, Way of the Sword's visuals are a mixed bag for me.  On one hand, as seen in the screenshot above for example, the game's environments & set pieces are nothing short of spectacular.  So many of the forest environments, temples, and villages make you feel like you're in ancient Japan.

However, some visuals, especially when it's darker, just look really muddy and unpleasant.  Additionally, some assets look eerily similar to another RE Engine Capcom title, Monster Hunter: Rise.  Granted, both games feature ancient Samurai architecture & story beats, but that was just something I personally noticed.

In-game screenshot of capturing Genma souls in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

With that being said, one thing the game does visually really well are the effects.  From the blood splatter from slashing through Genma to collecting Genma souls with your gauntlet, the effects in the game are very visually pleasing & satisfying.

Gameplay

In-game screenshot of what seems to be one of many boss fights against Ganryu in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Now, something the demo got very right, and arguably the best part of the whole experience, was the gameplay.  Onimusha has always been known for snappy, yet well timed sword gameplay, and I can happily report that Way of the Sword follows that suit.

The swordplay is responsive & snappy, and it feels really satisfying whenever you successfully parry or dodge an enemy attack.  Additionally, there are Doom-style glory kills that you can jump from enemy-to-enemy with if multiple Genma are out of their personal stamina gauge.

There's also sword clashes with enemies that trigger a rock-paper-scissors style clash where if you swing your katana the opposite direction of your enemy, it'll slash them.

Boss fights will also be sure to please gamers, as the demo fight, what seems to be one of many encounters with Ganryu, has moments that are cinematic & flashy, while also mixing in just about every aspect of the combat

In-game screenshot of encountering a common Genma in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

After killing some Genma, you can use your spirit gauntlet to collect their souls, in which, depending on the color, can give you health, in-game currency, or meter to use for your special attack.

Another really cool aspect of the gameplay is the environment itself.  You can use things around you to your advantage in the gameplay.  Is there a wooden table on the ground?  Use it as a shield & kick it towards your enemy.  See a sharp object?  Use it to impale some Genma.  

However, one thing that really needs to be fixed before the final release is the enemy AI.  Even in the boss fight against Ganryu, the enemies in the demo will just not charge at you if you simply back away, taking away a sense of urgency from fights.

Overall Thoughts

Key art of Musashi & Ganryu in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

All in all, the Onimusha: Way of the Sword demo had a lot of really great positives, as well as a lot of minor negatives that could use some fine tuning.  Considering that the game still has over three and a half months before release, I'm sure Capcom will be able to fix most issues.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword releases on PS5, Xbox Series & PC on September 24th, with pre-orders live including a deluxe & premium deluxe edition.

What did you think of the demo?  Is there anything you hope Capcom fixes?  Let us know in the comments below!