If you haven’t played the earlier versions of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, its initial appearance might lead you to believe it’s an extremely challenging game centered around fighting tough enemies by mastering precise timings. However, upon trying it out (as I did during a brief preview session), you’ll discover that this isn’t the primary focus of the game.
In contrast, Onimusha delivers an exciting, thrilling combat experience that leaves you feeling stylish and powerful. It arms you with various tools for these high-speed battles. The game features the conventional block and parry mechanics, but it goes a step further by incorporating a deflect feature. By timing your block perfectly to dodge all damage, or by simultaneously holding block and pressing A/Cross at the right moment for a deflect, you can counter an attack, depleting a significant portion of your opponent’s stamina bar, albeit at the expense of your own stamina.
In a tight battle, it’s generally better to hold your ground and try parrying or deflecting rather than dodging, as dodging won’t provide an all-encompassing escape from danger. Instead, it’s just a swift move backwards, but its effectiveness heavily depends on the timing for a successful dodge.
This game excels in intense boss battles, particularly one where I engaged in combat with another samurai. The battle brilliantly depicted a clash between two warriors with remarkably similar fighting techniques. We’d exchange swift sequences of crossed swords, occasionally landing a strike or two before retreating to strategize for the next assault. At times, our attacks synchronized flawlessly, causing our blades to clash and momentarily leaving an opening for the swiftest responder. It was almost as if we were skilled dancers executing a tense routine, with movements so fluid and strikes so satisfyingly impactful.
I’m grateful it doesn’t require an incredibly demanding level of difficulty. While it did take multiple tries for me to grasp the patterns and devise a winning strategy against the boss, it won’t require flawlessness, as you might find yourself dying repeatedly for over an hour. Instead, it offers a well-balanced challenge that leaves me feeling challenged but not overwhelmed, allowing me to appreciate my samurai skills when I execute a successful deflection and launch a devastating attack on my opponent.
As a passionate gamer, let me tell you, the color contrast between health and stamina bars in Onimusha: Way of the Sword was a minor peeve, but beyond that, it was an absolute blast to play! After diving into this 20-minute sneak peek, I found myself eagerly yearning for more.
The game delivers the excitement and swift combat you’d expect from any action title, but what sets it apart is its balanced, weighty feel that keeps things engaging without ever veering into mindless hack-and-slash territory. The well-balanced mechanics have left me eager to explore further, and I can hardly wait to see what else this game has in store!
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to release in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
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2025-08-20 14:17