Capcom Reboots Onimusha as 'Way of the Sword' Action RPG

Capcom is reviving its dormant samurai franchise with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a total reboot of the series that originally ran from 2001 to 2006. The title marks a significant departure from the franchise's roots, trading traditional fixed-camera horror elements for a modern action RPG framework.

Scheduled for release on September 4 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2, the game casts the legendary Miyamoto Musashi as its protagonist. Musashi is modeled after actor Toshirō Mifune and voiced by Kenichiro Thomson. The gameplay structure centers on a hub village filled with side-quests that lead into linear levels, where players battle the Genma in Edo-era Kyoto. Combat has been redesigned to be parry-heavy, drawing direct comparisons to the challenging mechanics found in Dark Souls and the Star Wars Jedi series.

A Shift in Philosophy

The original Onimusha titles were often described as the "samurai cousins" of Resident Evil, characterized by puzzle-solving and restrictive camera angles. Way of the Sword moves the IP into the current era of high-difficulty boss gauntlets and character progression. However, this transition has not been without friction. According to a review by Polygon, the game suffers from a progression system that feels incremental, as enemies scale in power alongside the player, diminishing the perceived sense of growth.

The Cost of Length

While the combat and thematic integration of difficulty have received praise, the game's pacing is a primary point of contention. Polygon reviewer Giovanni Colantonio described the title as "an incredible 12-hour action game stretched into a 25-hour slog," citing the use of repurposed battles and recycled content to artificially extend the experience. Further frustrations stem from the user interface; the healing mechanics are reportedly cumbersome due to a tiny UI and overly sensitive button presses, which Colantonio noted are "practically a death sentence."

Industry Implications

This reboot represents Capcom's strategic attempt to modernize a legacy IP for a generation accustomed to the "Soulslike" genre. The mixed reception highlights a growing tension in modern game design: the balance between providing a rigorous challenge and avoiding artificial padding. If the franchise is to achieve a successful long-term revival, Capcom may need to address the gap between its high-quality combat and its repetitive structural design.

Looking Ahead

As the September 4 launch approaches, the industry will be watching to see if the prestige of the Miyamoto Musashi narrative and the refined combat can outweigh the criticisms of its length. Whether Way of the Sword serves as a blueprint for other legacy reboots or a cautionary tale of over-extension remains to be seen.