Capcom surprised fans with the reveal of a brand new Onimusha game at The Game Awards 2024 today. Onimusha: Way of the Sword marks a return to the cult classic series after nearly two decades.
The franchise debuted in 2001 with Onimusha: Warlords, a dark fantasy action-adventure game set in the Sengoku period, offering gamers with sword-based combat and intense “Issen” counterattack mechanics. It later spawned three sequels, featuring Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro as its protagonist (but played a supporting role in the fourth iteration).
Onimusha: Way of the Sword seems to move away from the Sengoku period and into an entirely different era. The official announcement trailer for the game opens with an atmospheric view of Kyoto during the early Edo period. The ancient city has been warped into an eerie and unsettling place as the telltale floating souls drift across the landscape. The rest of the trailer shows a lone samurai armed with the Oni Gauntlet engaged in brutal and bloody fights with the hellish Genma.
However, the trailer does not offer many details and raises many questions, such as its connection to the previous instalments of the franchise. And in case you’re wondering, quick glimpses of the new protagonist reveal that Takeshi Kaneshiro may not be involved in the project.
Nonetheless, players can expect captivating visuals that are likely running on Capcom’s RE Engine, which previously powered its Resident Evil 2 – 4 remakes and even Monster Hunter: Rise. Based on what’s shown, it also appears that the game could introduce new combat mechanics, while at the same time retaining the series’ signature soul collection mechanic.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam in 2026.
(Source: Onimusha Official Website)
Nurul Kamil contributed to this article.
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