The Onimusha franchise has certainly seen a resurgence of late. With the recent release of the Onimusha 2 Remaster, all eyes are on this new entry after such a long time.

During Summer Game Fest, a live demo of Onimusha: Way of the Sword was presented to us with Capcom staff playing the game, taking us through some gameplay mechanics and a couple of boss fights that highlight the game’s combat system, and a look at what’s to come.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Preview

If it wasn’t apparent from the get-go, Onimusha: Way of the Sword impresses with its stunning visuals, detailed character models, and intricately designed enemies. The particle effects elevate every sword clash and parry, replacing standard deflections with superb animations. Some parries even trigger slow-motion-like sequences, creating dramatic moments as weapons slide against each other, sending sparks flying.

The environments are equally impressive, with Capcom collaborating closely with Japanese counterparts to ensure historical authenticity in temple and area designs. The demo takes place in Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, now run-down and dilapidated due to the corruption of the Genma.

Players take on the role of Miyamoto Musashi, face modeled from the legendary actor Toshiro Mifune. A prideful samurai-in-training, Miyamoto has mysteriously acquired a gauntlet and is on a quest to remove it. Drawn by a swirling red cloud in the distance, a sign of a concentration of Genma, he sets off to investigate.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword delivers a fast yet measured combat system, where Miyamoto can guard in any direction as Genma enemies attempt to surround and break his posture. Unlike previous entries, combat rarely involves one-on-one encounters, requiring players to anticipate multiple attacks at once.

Thankfully, environmental hazards offer creative solutions in battle. Fire braziers can be used to burn reckless enemies, while walls and obstacles provide opportunities for devastating counterattacks using redirection. Enemies are equipped with a guard meter, and while it won’t matter too much for fodder, bigger foes will be harder to take down without breaking their guard.

Parrying is an essential mechanic, and mastering it early is key to success. Deflection proves useful against ranged attacks, quickly depleting an enemy’s block gauge. Certain areas also introduce tactical elements, such as tatami mats that serve as shields against incoming archer fire, encouraging players to time their attacks accordingly.

Parrying isn’t just defensive because it also plays an integral role in offense. By executing an Issen technique, players can parry with the attack button at the precise moment of an enemy’s strike, causing Miyamoto to evade briefly before lunging forward with a powerful counterattack.

Against multiple foes, the Chain Issen mechanic allows Miyamoto to dispatch multiple Genma in one swift motion, emphasizing aggressive, stylish combat.

During the demo, we got to see a few Genma, and while most are fodder enemies that cover both melee and ranged attacks, some are a bit trickier, using ninja-like illusions to trick the player. We can’t say yet how much the enemy variety will be as the levels go on, but at least during this demo, we’ve seen enough in a short period to change up approaches to combat.

Once defeated, Genma drops familiar orbs: blue for skills, yellow for health, and red for XP. However, players must act quickly, as enemies can absorb these orbs to strengthen themselves. Winged Genma, for instance, can collect these orbs and use them as projectiles.

Miyamoto also encounters Dark Masses, manifestations of lingering resentment and negative energy from past victims. Interacting with these triggers short cutscenes detailing the tragic events that led to the current state of the area.

Despite the game’s dark and violent tone, its writing incorporates lighthearted moments, particularly through playful banter between Miyamoto and his gauntlet.

Miyamoto also has a special ability in Onimusha: Way of the Sword called the Oni Vision that allows him to see obstacles and shows relevant points of interest, which is basically a sense ability from other similar titles.

Boss battles are a highlight in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and we got to see two of these fights during the demo.

The first battle introduces Ganryu, an already-revealed character who wields his own gauntlet, positioning him as Miyamoto’s rival. Parrying takes center stage in these fights, leading to the Break Issen mechanic, where players select which part of Ganryu’s body to target (Square for Head, X for Legs, etc.), giving Miyamoto the ability to deplete either Health or Guard meters.

Ganryu himself is an agile and formidable opponent, delivering sweeping attacks that demonstrate the power of his gauntlet. As a key figure in the story, Onimusha: Way of the Sword will see Miyamoto face off against him multiple times.

The second boss showcased was a Byakue Axe-wielding Genma, which is a towering, heavy-hitting enemy uniquely designed as a massive creature composed of what looks to be like layered Japanese paper talismans.

Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is shaping up to be a fantastic installment for this beloved franchise. The visuals are a definite step up from the last, and the combat mechanics seem to have been improved and polished greatly, with Capcom learning from the past years from their many outings. We can’t wait to see more of the game in the coming months

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam in 2026.