Ahead of its September 4 launch, final hands-on previews for Capcom's Onimusha: Way of the Sword reveal a major pivot toward third-person hack-and-slash combat, hub-based exploration, and tech impressions across PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Capcom's long-awaited samurai series revival, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, is preparing for launch on September 4 across Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Final hands-on previews from major outlets have provided a clearer picture of how the title modernizes the 25-year-old franchise while departing from its PlayStation 2 roots. From Fixed Cameras to Third-Person Hack-and-Slash Shifting away from the tank controls and fixed camera angles inspired by early Resident Evil titles, Way of the Sword adopts a modern third-person hack-and-slash structure starring legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi. After a living Oni gauntlet attaches to his arm, Musashi gains the ability to absorb Genma demon souls to empower his abilities. The core combat loop centers around light and heavy slashes, blocking, guard-breaking, precise parries, and brutal execution finishers. Interactive environmental hazards play a prominent role, allowing players to shoot hanging boulders to crush foes, push stray handcarts into groups of enemies, or use wooden planks to block and throw as improvised projectiles. Hub Exploration and Deep Skill Trees While the game features linear story levels, previews showcased compact, hub-like open environments such as a demon-infested village and the streets of Kyoto. In these areas, players can tackle demonic rifts in non-linear sequences, rescue imperiled citizens, gather upgrade materials, and offer items at shrines. Capcom has also introduced an extensive RPG skill tree structure comparable to modern action-adventures. Absorbed souls and resources can be invested across numerous nodes to unlock enhanced parries, extended execution chains, new weapon arts (such as a double spear fire-tornado), and stat-boosting charms. Standout Boss Encounters Multi-phase boss duels serve as the central highlight of the experience, requiring tight parry timing and resource management. Featured bosses in the two-hour demo included: Daidara: A hulking, ogre-like Genma wielding a massive club across two distinct phases. Flower Demon: An agile, multi-armed demon draped in severed hands, engaging in intricate melee combinations. Rasho-gan: A swift, highly aggressive boss that strictly tests defensive parry windows and counter-attack timing. Nintendo Switch 2 Technical and Motion Control Impressions In addition to PlayStation 5 testing, hands-on impressions evaluated the Nintendo Switch 2 version running side-by-side. While visually compromised compared to home consoles—exhibiting a 30fps target, minor framerate dips during heavy action, and slightly washed-out handheld textures—the port was deemed impressive for running natively on a portable device. The Switch 2 release also features optional Joy-Con motion controls, allowing players to swing for sword strikes and aim the bow via gestures. However, due to the combat's strict timing demands, previews noted that standard button controls remain the optimal way to play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdYyvr7_nak
