Onimusha: Way of the Sword is shaping up to be a triumphant return for Capcom’s classic franchise, with reviewers overwhelmingly praising its demanding swordplay, memorable characters, and spectacular boss battles, while criticizing its pacing and repetitive side content.
8.5
Average Score (adjusted)
Confidence: High
Some disagreement
Reviews: 6
Top Review: IGN (10.0)
Spread: 2.0
⭐ 10 / 10
IGN concludes that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a
testament to its combat, which leaves room for you to truly understand
its action through sheer determination, and that the best part of the
experience is learning to love the fight. The main pros include
charismatic and well-acted characters, with Musashi being one of the
coolest and most interesting protagonists in any game, and creative
fights against dozens of impressive bosses. The main cons are not
explicitly detailed in the provided video review text, but the reviewer
notes that the game can be beaten without using some of the systems
designed to help you progress, implying that the challenge is a core
element.
⭐ 9 / 10
Wccfetch concludes that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a
triumphant comeback for the dormant franchise. The main pros include an
excellent and satisfying combat system centered on countermoves, solid
linear level design that balances classic series gameplay with
modernization, varied enemy design with challenging bosses, a charming
main character, and great difficulty balance that encourages using all
mechanics. The main cons are a story that never truly takes off until
the end, a semi-open world Kyoto that isn't particularly well realized,
and visuals that aren't particularly advanced.
⭐ 83 / 100
PC Gamer concludes that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a sublime
mix of classic Capcom action and weighty physical swordfighting, with
ferociously good combat that stands among the best Capcom has ever made.
The main pros include a charming and expressive protagonist based on
Toshiro Mifune, excellent boss fights that demand patience and
precision, fantastic performance with high frame rates, and engaging
mythological side stories (Curious Cases) that enrich the setting. The
main cons are poor pacing due to modern video game bloat, a dull and
muddy semi-open world Kyoto hub with grindy crafting and repetitive
sidequests, and a story that takes too long to get going, making the
35-hour experience feel overly long. The verdict is that the game is a
strong contender for best combat of the year, but its own pacing is the
only enemy it cannot overcome.
⭐ 8 / 10
Gamespot concludes that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a
fantastic and welcome return for the series, led by outstanding combat
that firmly places it in the upper echelon of modern action games. The
main pros include an entertaining protagonist in Miyamoto Musashi,
incredibly satisfying and rewarding combat with hard-hitting and layered
battles, excellent animations that bring swordplay to life, and
phenomenal boss fights. The main cons are a story that suffers from some
pacing issues early on and dull, formulaic side quests that fail to
justify the semi-open-world structure.
⭐ 8 / 10
Game Informer concludes that Onimusha: Way of the Sword
is the most satisfying and enjoyable entry in the series, thanks to
intricate and demanding combat that requires mastery of all mechanics,
with white-knuckle boss fights that deliver cresting euphoria. The main
pros include excellent action with a deep kit that grows throughout the
game, larger-than-life characters that elevate the standard story, and
postcard-worthy stage environments. The main cons are aging design
elements such as repetitive rift combat arenas and reused bosses that
pad the journey, a dragging initial pace due to extended tutorials, and
overly simple side content like sealing rifts and clearing malice
flowers.
⭐ 4 / 5
Eurogamer concludes that there is no game out there that
makes you feel more like a swordsman of legend than Onimusha: Way of the
Sword, as Capcom has created a fascinating combat system that relies on
momentum and keen observation, forcing you to play honestly and embody
Musashi's philosophies. The main pros include an incredibly satisfying
and hard combat system that excels in boss fights, superb cutscene
direction and pitch-perfect characterisation of Musashi (using Toshiro
Mifune's likeness), and a perfect length of around 20-30 hours that
respects the player's time. The main cons are that some connective
tissue and pacing feel weak, with repetitive side missions and busywork
in the semi-open Kyoto areas that are less impressive than the linear
setpieces, and the combat system may become aggravating or off-putting
for some players.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to officially launch on September 4, 2026. The reviews featured above are therefore based on pre-release copies, giving players an early look at what critics think of Capcom’s long-awaited return to the classic action series.