Onimusha: Way of the Sword review
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Eurogamer's review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword expands on its earlier verdict, detailing how Capcom's combat design deliberately channels swordsman Miyamoto Musashi's own philosophy of patience and observation from his treatise The Book of Five Rings. The reviewer argues this produces a demanding, deliberately old-fashioned action system that prizes reading and countering enemies over aggressive combos, setting it apart from genre peers such as Nioh, Wo Long and even Sekiro.
The review highlights the "issen" counterstrike as the core mechanic, alongside clear visual cues distinguishing deflectable, undodgeable and dodge-only attacks, which the reviewer likens to a "Simon Says" system rewarding split-second decisions. It notes the game is punishingly hard and could frustrate players used to more forgiving action titles, but praises the unusually detailed enemy telegraphing, even for basic foes, as exceeding rivals like FromSoftware's titles, calling the result a "tightly-constructed power fantasy" for skilled players.
- Eurogamer review praises Onimusha: Way of the Sword's Musashi-inspired combat design.
- Core "issen" counterstrike rewards patient, precise reading of enemies over combos.
- Reviewer warns the demanding, hard difficulty may frustrate some players.
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Onimusha is a Capcom action-adventure series that began in 2001, originally built around a real-life historical figure reimagined as a demon-slaying samurai. Way of the Sword is the latest instalment, and the review under discussion focuses on its combat system, which draws heavily on the writings of Miyamoto Musashi, a famous 17th-century Japanese swordsman whose treatise The Book of Five Rings is a well-known text on strategy and combat philosophy.
The game sits within a crowded field of tough, sword-based action titles, often nicknamed "soulslikes" after the influential Dark Souls series, which includes games like Nioh, Wo Long and Sekiro. These games typically demand precise timing, careful observation of enemies and harsh punishment for mistakes, rather than button-mashing.
This matters because reviews of games in this genre are often judged on how well they balance difficulty with fairness, and on whether their combat feels distinctive rather than a copy of established rivals. The discussion here centres on specific mechanics, such as a well-timed counterattack move and visual signals that help players react to different enemy attacks correctly.
More coverage
- GamesRadar+ — Onimusha: Way of the Sword review: "It's no Sekiro, but goofiness, accessibility, and tight combat help this rough diamond shine"
- GameSpot — Onimusha: Way Of The Sword Review