During a special theater event at this year’s Summer Game Fest Play Days, Hardcore Gamer had the opportunity to view exclusive new gameplay from Capcom’s highly anticipated title, Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The latest entry in the legendary Onimusha franchise showcases a more grounded, realistic combat system, emphasizing cinematic flair and intense, visceral sword combat—hallmarks of the demo shown.

Wield Your Sword Against Enemies

The demo opens with Musashi, the protagonist, making his way toward Kiyomizu-dera Temple, katana in hand. As he traverses a serene forest path, he’s confronted by a variety of supernatural foes guarding the temple’s entrance.

Musashi dispatches these enemies with calculated precision, relying on defensive maneuvers and timing rather than reckless aggression. His standard guard can block attacks from multiple angles, though repeated blocking risks breaking his stance. The gameplay rhythm feels like a blend of Ghost of Tsushima's deliberate katana combat—sans stance switching—and the structured combat flow, environmental puzzles, and narrative pacing seen in recent God of War games.

One standout mechanic is the redirect move, a precise parry that turns enemy attacks against them or their surroundings. In one striking moment, an enemy’s charge was redirected straight into a flaming torch, setting them ablaze and dealing massive damage as they screamed and collapsed. Ranged projectiles can be sent back at foes with perfect timing, and some melee strikes appear to be deflectable as well, functioning similarly to a traditional parry. The death animations are gruesomely detailed, matching the overall high-fidelity visuals of the demo.

Harnessing The Power of the Oni

True to series tradition, fallen enemies release souls in three distinct colors: blue for skill energy, yellow for health, and red for experience. Certain special moves generate specific soul types—for example, a dual-wield flurry technique left behind a trail of yellow souls. A powered-up state, triggered by successfully parrying or blocking repeated attacks, enhances Musashi’s damage output and produces a surge of blue souls with each strike.

The visual fidelity and enemy death animations remain consistently brutal and lifelike throughout the demo, reinforcing the game’s dark, mature tone.

At the temple gates, a lone warrior stands before a group of enemies, offering a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the game’s reimagined "Issen" mechanic. With a well-timed input, Musashi delivers a devastating single strike that obliterates the warrior. Impressively, the Issen can be chained into nearby enemies through successive well-timed button presses, enabling players to eliminate entire groups in a fluid, cinematic sequence.

Inside the temple grounds, Musashi faces off against Sasaki Ganryu—a brash, fast-talking former rival who now wields powers akin to his own. The boss battle is a high-speed duel filled with flashy techniques and narrow counters, with Musashi barely holding his ground. After an intense exchange, Sasaki is defeated—but not before hinting that his story isn’t over, teasing future encounters.

The revival of the beloved PlayStation 2-era series delivers a sleek, contemporary evolution of the original formula, seamlessly integrating classic elements with modern gameplay sensibilities. Boasting stunning animation, deep combat variety, environmental puzzles, and cinematic storytelling, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is poised to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers when it launches in 2026.

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