One of the biggest booths at NYCC 2025 was the Capcom booth, featuring the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword as a playable demo. The series is one of Capcom’s most iconic and is finally receiving a new mainline installment following remasters of older releases from the PS2 era.
Taking the best elements of action games, new and old, my hands-on with the Way of the Sword demo steeled my will to take down more demonic threats.
Dawning of Dreams – Demo Impressions
The demo began with Musashi traveling toward an abandoned village. Starting in the forest, the path ahead wasn’t hard to make out. Walking through the linear path, I came face-to-face with the evil Genma creatures. They took on humanoid forms, firing arrows and swinging their blades against Musashi.
Eventually, I found the village. After fighting through a few more Gemna creatures, Musashi’s cursed arm activated, and what he dubbed ‘Oni Lady’ spoke to him and unlocked a new ability to find his way through the village. The most striking aspect of the demo’s narrative is that key backstory elements happen around Musashi.
He can ‘see’ the past, seeing what caused the horrific state Kyoto is in currently. The demo ended with an intense boss encounter against a familiar face.
Soulful Encounters – Combat System in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
The combat system of Onimusha: Way of the Sword is well-balanced. Having a mixture of light and heavy sword attacks, Musashi can easily make work when fighting up close. When fighting foes from a distance, parrying is encouraged. Through parrying, Musashi can reflect projectiles at archers and other long-distance threats.
Pulling off enough blocks and parries powers up Musashi, allowing him to pull off more powerful attacks. It’s a strong risk and reward system, while not punishing players who prefer an aggressive play style.
In addition, leveraging the environment around you can turn the tide of battle. A few times during my demo session, I used a wooden cart or the wall next to me to help take down Gemna creatures. It helped maintain the combat flow and ensured I paid attention to my surroundings.
The boss encounter at the demo’s conclusion tested all these abilities, highlighting how engaging the combat system can become during heated one-on-one encounters.
Demonic Surge – Presentation/Performance
As another major Capcom title leveraging the RE Engine, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a stunning-looking experience. The game’s animation work is fantastic, as every attack looks impactful.
In addition, smart use of effects like fire and smoke creates a unique visual identity, helping Way of the Sword stand out among the other RE Engine games. Similar to other Capcom games leveraging the engine, many elements have a strong sheen of polish to them.
Impressive hair textures and detailed expressions from the human cast, alongside a rock-solid 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, offer a visually striking experience.
Closing Thoughts on Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Following a successful string of franchise reveals under the publisher, seeing Onimusha: Way of the Sword not only honors the legacy of what came before it, but also evolves the series through combat innovations and striking presentation that utilizes modern technology.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2026. You can check out our other NYCC 2025 coverage here, at Lords of Gaming!
