Capcom’s beloved samurai action series has finally swung its way back, and early impressions of Onimusha: Way of the Sword suggest a game happily at war with itself. According to Rock Paper Shotgun’s write-up, the long-awaited Onimusha revival is a tale of two experiences: a brash, laugh-out-loud swordsman romp on one side, and a dour, muddy open world slog on the other. The good news? When the game remembers to be silly, it’s genuinely brilliant.
A Gloriously Shambolic Opening
Rock Paper Shotgun wastes no time declaring the game’s opening minutes “glorious, in the sense that they’re utterly shambolic” — and it’s easy to see why. Wandering ronin Musashi wakes up under a bridge, catches a gang of starving urchins eyeing up his rice ball, and responds with a wrong-footingly British “WOT?!” that sets the tone perfectly. From there, he’s chased around a muddy village by what the review describes as what feels like two thousand martial arts students.
Planks, Puppies, and Physical Comedy
What elevates the chase from chaotic to comedic is Musashi’s commitment to the bit. Even while fleeing an entire dojo’s worth of pursuers, he finds time to boot a wooden plank squarely into an attacker’s face and scoop up an imperilled dog mid-sprint. It’s goofy, brash, and — per the review — genuinely funny. This is slapstick swagger the Onimusha franchise has flirted with before, but rarely with this much confidence.
The Open World Slogging Problem
Unfortunately, the review’s title pulls few punches about the other half of the experience: “gloomy open world slogging.” Once the opening theatrics fade, Onimusha: Way of the Sword apparently settles into dreary stretches of open world traversal that drain the energy from its most charming moments. The criticism echoes a familiar complaint in modern action games — expansive maps padded with forgettable busywork, where a tighter, more linear structure might have preserved the momentum of that hilarious opening.
Tonal Whiplash in Edo-Period Japan
The tension here is tonal as much as structural. A game that can make you laugh out loud with a rice-ball standoff one minute probably shouldn’t be asking you to trudge glumly through fog-soaked fields the next. The review suggests the strongest moments come when Capcom leans into absurdity — and the hope is the full game remembers that lesson more often than it forgets it.
Why This Revival Matters
Context is worth remembering here. Onimusha: Warlords debuted on the Playstation 2 back in 2001, blending Resident Evil-style atmosphere with kinetic samurai swordplay and selling millions of copies in the process. After 2006’s Dawn of Dreams, the franchise went dormant, surviving only through a 2019 remaster. For longtime fans, Way of the Sword represents Capcom’s first proper stab at reclaiming its demon-slaying crown in nearly two decades — which makes the mixed open world reception sting a little more, but also makes the comedic highs feel like a welcome signal that the series’ soul is intact.
Final Thoughts: Silly Is the Way
The takeaway from Rock Paper Shotgun’s impressions is refreshingly simple: Onimusha: Way of the Sword doesn’t need a bigger map or a grimmer tone — it needs more of Musashi being a charming disaster. If Capcom can balance the shambolic humor with its dark, Genma-infested world, this could be one of the most memorable action revivals in years. Sometimes, the best way to honor a samurai legend is to let him yell “WOT?!” at hungry children and punt lumber at his enemies.
Planning to jump in yourself? You can pick up Steam Wallet gift cards and game codes at TURGAME.com, making it easy to grab Onimusha: Way of the Sword and top up your balance for all your gaming needs.
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun