Rebirth of the Onimusha series as Capcom employs modern technology robustly.
After a 20-year hiatus, Capcom is bringing back the legacy franchise Onimusha with a new project titled Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The reboot of the samurai action-horror series, initially conceived as a PlayStation 1 spin-off for the Resident Evil series, is set to be one of the most talked-about games from Summer Game Fest 2025.
The game's story centres around historical Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, who becomes an unwitting owner of the Oni gauntlet. Miyamoto navigates encounters with a resolve that's still being hardened, and attention has been paid to the wrinkles on the faces and emotive details of characters, particularly during combat encounters.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword's combat is more deliberate and methodical, with an emphasis on being efficient and cleaving foes in half with one or two strikes. Miyamoto can use grabs and contextual skills to counter enemies, and parrying enemy attacks will open up their defense, allowing for a counterattack. Using an Issen technique allows for an instant death blow.
The general flow of combat focuses heavily on engaging multiple enemies and anticipating their movements to expose their weaknesses. The combat is not inspired by Soulslike games like Dark Souls and Sekiro, but it shares the same strategic depth and requires careful planning and timing.
The RE Engine has been a crucial factor in the development of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, enabling Capcom to finally revive the series. According to producer Akihito Kadowaki, the convergence of the right development team and the maturation of the RE Engine around early 2020 made the new Onimusha title possible.
The RE Engine allows for "gorgeously realised" modern visuals while capturing the nostalgic feel of the PS2-era original games. This helps recover and do justice to older character and world designs with updated technology. The engine supports the game's signature dynamic sword combat by enabling enhanced mechanics like upgraded Issen system moves, new dismemberment effects, and boss-exclusive animations, which preserve and modernize the classic Onimusha gameplay feel.
Capcom experienced no major issues using the RE Engine, which accelerated the production timeline and allowed the team to focus on delivering a polished experience without being held back by technical limitations. Leveraging RE Engine’s capabilities helps appeal to both veteran fans and newcomers by balancing familiar gameplay elements with modern storytelling and presentation.
The game takes place in a crumbling village and a castle overrun, with the developers extensively recreating Feudal Japan. Real-world locations such as Kiyomizu-dera temple were crafted with input from local historians. The animation of combat and character expression was a major focus in the game's development, resulting in superbly designed animations, especially for Musashi's special demonic weapons that pierce the veil between realms.
In summary, the RE Engine’s advanced technology and robust toolset were pivotal in bringing Onimusha: Way of the Sword to life, enabling a blend of classic sword combat style with contemporary visuals and smooth gameplay that satisfies longtime fans while welcoming new players. Onimusha: Way of the Sword appears to be an worthy showcase for the RE Engine, which has powered recent games like Monster Hunter Wilds, Dragon's Dogma 2, and the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem.
The latest project from Capcom, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, utilizes advanced technology like the RE Engine to merge the classic sword combat style with contemporary visuals, making it a perfect showcase for this technology. Inside the game, players can interact with various gadgets and employ technology-enhanced techniques, such as the upgraded Issen system moves and dynamic dismemberment effects.
