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Onimusha: Way of the Sword aims to bring the series’ samurai action to a new generation while holding on to the feel of its early-2000s roots. A playable preview follows protagonist Miyamoto Musashi through a demon-infested Kyoto temple, showcasing stamina-based combat, parries, supernatural exploration, and a boss duel. The early build suggests a deliberate alternative to the fast-paced or Soulslike action games that dominate the genre.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings Musashi to Kyoto
The demo begins with Musashi arriving at Kiyomizu-dera Temple to drive out the Genma, the demons invading the area. This fictionalized version of the historical swordsman bears the likeness of Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune. He carries a katana and an Oni Gauntlet, a powerful heirloom he would rather not have.
On the approach to the temple, fleeing villagers and Genma introduce the basic combat. Light and heavy attacks feel weighty and measured, with a pace reminiscent of action games from the era when the original Onimusha series was at its height. Enemies in this early section fall quickly, so the demo offers a relatively forgiving introduction. New players can use this stretch to learn attack timing before relying on the more demanding defensive options.
Stamina, parries, and Break Issen attacks
Both Musashi and his enemies have stamina meters. Sustained attacks drain an opponent’s stamina and can create an opening for a finishing move called a Break Issen. These executions can be dramatic, including a backstab followed by a strike that splits an enemy in two.
Musashi can also block attacks from different directions automatically, as long as he has enough stamina. Parrying, however, offers a more active way to control a fight: it drains enemy stamina faster and can reposition Musashi behind an opponent. A successful parry followed by X on PlayStation triggers a strong counterattack, including the ability to deflect arrows toward the archers who fired them.
- Blue meter: Builds through consecutive parries. When full, it coats Musashi’s sword in a blue aura and lets him execute multiple enemies in succession.
- Red meter: Builds through consecutive dodges and powers a damaging multi-hit attack when filled.
For practical combat, parrying is especially useful against enemies whose stamina needs to be worn down, while dodging can help avoid attacks that are difficult to deflect. Watching both Musashi’s stamina and the special meters helps make these choices more deliberate.
Souls and Oni Armaments
Defeated enemies leave colored souls that the Oni Gauntlet absorbs. Red souls act as currency for enhancements, yellow souls restore health, and blue souls charge the Oni Power Gauge. Once the gauge is full, Musashi can use an Oni Armament, a special weapon with a powerful attack.
The preview features the Two Celestials, a pair of daggers activated with R1 when the gauge is ready. Landing hits with an Oni Armament also draws out yellow souls, giving the weapons a useful role when Musashi needs to recover health. Plants called Hozuki can also be collected to fill his health pouch, so checking the surroundings after combat can help prepare for the next encounter.
Oni Vision adds supernatural exploration
At the temple, the Oni Gauntlet reacts to a mass of dark energy and shows Musashi a disturbing memory from the past. The gauntlet explains that the darkness is Malice, formed from cruel memories, and that purifying the location means finding its source. Musashi’s blunt exchanges with the talking gauntlet add a lighter note to the otherwise grim scene.
The vision unlocks Oni Vision, which reveals supernatural traces hidden from ordinary sight. In one example, a gateway is blocked by a force field. Using the left and right shoulder buttons sends out a gold pulse that exposes a spectral rope. Following it leads to a spider-like creature at the rope’s base; defeating the creature removes the obstacle. When a path is blocked, using Oni Vision can therefore reveal what needs to be investigated rather than simply searching for a conventional route.
A duel with Sasaki Ganryu
Near the temple’s high platform, another Malice vision depicts villagers being thrown from the building, including a father sacrificing his son. The sequence is interrupted by Sasaki Ganryu, a historically significant swordsman and Musashi’s longtime rival. Like Musashi, Sasaki wields an Oni Gauntlet, and the encounter becomes a focused sword duel.
The fight rewards parrying: deflecting Sasaki’s attacks creates openings to strike and rapidly depletes his stamina. Once he is worn down, a special Break Issen lets Musashi choose which body part to attack. The available targets are color-coded: red indicates extra damage, while purple provides extra souls. The duel evokes the parry-focused sword combat of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, though the preview encounter is less punishing. Paying attention to Sasaki’s attack timing is the key to making the most of each opening.
Early impressions of Onimusha: Way of the Sword
The preview presents a blend of old-school action and modern combat mechanics. Its measured swordplay recalls the series’ earlier era, while stamina management, parry counters, and Oni Vision give players more systems to master. The result looks suited to those who want a focused action adventure without relying entirely on Soulslike conventions.
This was a short look at an early portion of the game, so it cannot establish how the combat or exploration will develop across the full adventure. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is expected in 2026. Its mix of classic pacing and expressive defensive play gives the series a promising starting point for a potential revival.
