Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Review: Onimusha: Way of the Sword (PS5) – Capcom Delivers a Masterclass in Samurai Action
Developed over time first seen 3 months ago
Push Square's review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword for PS5 concludes that Capcom has delivered a triumphant revival of its long-dormant demon-slaying series, calling it one of the best combat-focused games in years. The review credits the studio with building the entire experience around a refined, sword-centred combat system, arguing this singular focus produces a standout action title whose cinematic set pieces and boss encounters exceed what pre-release marketing had suggested.
Set in a demon-infested Kyoto, the story follows the resurrected swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who is fused with a magical gauntlet to battle invading Genma creatures despite his conflicted feelings about relying on such power rather than pure swordsmanship. The review praises strong characterisation, particularly Musashi's rapport with the spirit Shizuka and a memorably villainous antagonist, alongside high-quality cutscenes, while singling out the game's numerous boss fights as some of the finest combat encounters in modern gaming, underpinned by a polished system of light and heavy attacks, dodges, blocks and parries.
- Sources
- 2
- Outlets
- 2
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 0
In short
- Push Square's review praises Onimusha: Way of the Sword as a triumphant series revival
- Reviewer highlights its refined, sword-focused combat system as a standout
- Boss battles and cinematic set pieces named among the game's best features
How this story developed
- 2 months ago Push Square's review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword for PS5 hails Capcom's revival of its samurai-versus-demons series as a triumph, calling it one of the best combat-focused games in years.
- 3 months ago Push Square's review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword for PS5 declares Capcom's revival of its samurai-versus-demons series a triumph, calling it one of the best combat-focused games in years.
- 3 months ago Push Square's review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword for PS5 concludes that Capcom has delivered a triumphant revival of its long-dormant demon-slaying series, calling it one of the best combat-focused games in years.
Explained simply
Kyoto has never fallen to demons before, but the Genma horde now overrunning it forms the backdrop for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the newest entry in Capcom's long-running samurai-versus-demons game series. The series began in 2001 and blends historical Japanese settings with supernatural horror, and this instalment marks its return after a lengthy gap without a new mainline game.
The game centres on Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary real-life swordsman reimagined here as a resurrected warrior bound to a magical gauntlet that gives him demon-fighting powers. He is reluctant to depend on this borrowed strength, preferring his own swordsmanship, and this tension runs through his story alongside his relationship with a spirit companion named Shizuka and his conflict with the invading demons' leader.
Capcom is a major Japanese video game publisher also known for franchises such as Resident Evil and Street Fighter, and reviving a dormant series like Onimusha carries commercial and creative risk. The review in question, from the gaming outlet Push Square, assesses how well the studio has executed that comeback on PlayStation 5, focusing on the game's combat, storytelling and production quality.