Review: Onimusha: Way of the Sword (Nintendo Switch 2)

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Switch 2. Earlier this year, I was so impressed by the excellent Resident Evil: Requiem and Pragmata that I couldn’t help but wonder what was next for this studio. I didn’t imagine something as splendid as Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

For anyone not familiar with the franchise, the idea for the Onimusha series began as a ninja-based spin-off to Capcom’s own Resident Evil series. It morphed into something different, namely 2001’s Onimusha: Warlords. Several sequels followed, with the latest entry being 2006’s Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams. Apart from a few spin-offs and remasters, Way of the Sword marks the first mainline release in 20 years. And oh boy is it a worthy return.

The game follows the adventures of Miyamoto Musashi. He’s a man’s man, a loveable rogue who lives and dies by the sword, seeking out the best of the best to challenge and defeat them. His latest encounter is with a formidable samurai sensei. Unfortunately, the school’s students don’t take too kindly to his defeat, pursuing him in great numbers. Eventually, Musashi escapes, only to find himself overrun by a group of ugly, demonic creatures. This is where things get interesting.

Musashi is defeated, a first for him. What transpires next morphs into the fantastical side of things, taking Musashi on a journey outside the living realm. He’s offered a chance to return to the surface world by a strange man dressed in white. Musashi sees through his tricks, but ultimately is forced to return by wielding a magical gauntlet. It provides immortality and great strength, but at what cost?

Everything happens very early in the game, but it’s a testament to the writers that the character of Musashi is immediately complex. Sure, he’s a sharp-tongued warrior brat somewhat akin to Thor’s early characterization in the Marvel movies. But, like Thor, he has a heart and a conscience, reluctantly signing on to assist with clearing Kyoto and the surrounding areas of a demonic invasion. He’s very likeable, with some fun dialogue between the characters that helps balance the game’s darker tone.

You can choose between two modes: an easier story-based approach or a more difficult action-oriented one. Both modes thrust you into combat; however, the easier mode increases damage dealt while reducing damage taken. You can also use button prompts to assist with combo timings. A third, even more challenging mode is unlockable after completing the game.

Combat is central to the gameplay. Onimusha: Way of the Sword excels at easing you in, delivering straightforward advice as you progress, with more unlocked along the way. The combat itself is super satisfying, with each clash of the blade making you feel like a true samurai. Musashi can parry, block, dodge, and attack. When these moves are pulled off with agile deftness, it’s a thing of beauty. And Musashi always has a quip ready to dish out to his defeated enemies.

Boss fights are also a highlight. These creative monstrosities often feature several rounds of health; just when you think you’ve won the battle, another round begins. It certainly keeps you on your toes. Thankfully, Musashi has access to healing items like berries collected during his adventure. A targeting system also helps keep you on track. 

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is built using the RE Engine, the tech behind modern Resident Evil games. It’s obvious on occasion, with elements like the map and save system reminiscent of that classic series. Even some of the enemy design and general horror elements, while unique, could easily fit within the confines of the cursed Raccoon City. It never comes across as a clone, though. Instead, it successfully balances familiarity with its own unique style. Given Onimusha’s origins, it feels like a natural homage.

Graphically, things look sublime. There’s a free demo available; I suggest you play it to see what I mean. This is now (in my opinion) one of the best-looking games on the Switch 2. The backdrops often look stunning enough to stop and take a screenshot; there’s even a rather handy camera mode available for those very occasions. The framerate is also wonderfully smooth; I didn’t notice any hiccups or loading issues of any kind.

The environment particularly stands out when Musashi wanders into a spirit realm. There’s something about the design and lighting that just works. Other areas are darker by contrast, but everything looks terrific. The soundtrack is also worth noting, along with the excellent work from the voice actors.

Speaking of the demo, fair warning: your progress doesn’t carry over to the full game. While that is disappointing, the reason is that the full game includes content before the demo. It makes replaying a little more palatable (and the demo is only an hour or two long anyway), but my tip is to try the demo, then stop and buy the full game if you like it.

At the end of the day, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an absolute triumph. The fast-paced action, engaging characters and story, and sublime visuals combine to create one of my favorite games of the year so far. 

Yes, Capcom is on a roll.