When Capcom took the stage at ‘The Game Awards 2024’ to announce ‘Onimusha: Way of the Sword’, fans were shocked—and thrilled—to see the long-dormant series return. With the new title slated for a 2026 release, Capcom has smartly chosen to reintroduce the franchise by remastering ‘Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny’ for a modern audience.

Initially released in 2002, Onimusha 2 follows Jubei Yagyu on a quest for vengeance after his village is decimated. Along the way, he crosses paths with a colourful and often unpredictable band of allies, each with their own goals and grudges. Together, they face off against Oda Nobunaga and his demonic army in a stylised version of medieval Japan. The story walks a fine line—balancing serious themes with occasional bursts of humour—and somehow, it works.

A unique mechanic allows you to bond with your companions by gifting them items found throughout the world or purchased from merchants. These gifts determine your rewards—give Ekei a novel and he’ll scoff at you, but offer him fine vodka and you’ll earn his favour (and a much-needed healing item). It’s a charming system that adds personality and replayability.

Even the cast of foes can be quite silly. The overly serious but clumsy Ginghamphatts, the outrageous Jujudormah and the exuberant Gogandantess, are fascinating adversaries you’ll meet. Narratively, it all doesn’t take itself too seriously and tells a classic hero tale with some fun blockbuster action moments.

So, how does a 23-year-old stack up all these years later? Surprisingly well. As someone who missed the original release, I came in unsure of what to expect, but I walked away a new fan. The gameplay remains engaging and satisfying, with a wide array of melee and ranged weapons to dispatch an increasingly dangerous roster of enemies. Slain demons drop essence used for healing, upgrading gear, or triggering powerful Oni transformations, which can quickly turn the tide in battle.

Basic enemies evolve into tougher variants as you progress, culminating in boss fights that demand your full attention. Foes like Gingafatsu, a grotesque spider-demon wielding a massive axe, can end you in seconds if you’re not careful. Gogandantess is a perfect example of this, a fight you are not ready for, both mechanically and narratively, until late. Combat is tight, responsive, and true to its roots—enhanced slightly by the remaster’s smoother performance and visual clean-up. Modern controls really making a huge difference in improving the whole experience.

Visually, this is no full-blown remake, but the graphical touch-up is effective. Character models and environments are crisp, and the art direction remains striking. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, whether you’re slashing through a rain-soaked forest, unravelling puzzles in a haunted castle, or navigating hellish demonic realms. 

The puzzles you’ll come across while exploring these environments are fun and thought-provoking. Puzzle boxes are the common ones you will see, which require sliding the panels to create the image, but in most cases, you only have a couple of turns to do it. Sudoku-like puzzles await you elsewhere, and these force you to solve math-based riddles to unlock the treasures within.

That said, the audio design is a bit uneven. While the ambient audio holds up well and helps build classic Capcom tension, the voice acting and combat sound effects clearly show their age. It’s not game-breaking—in fact, and adds a certain retro charm, but it’s worth noting.

The fixed camera angles, a staple of early 2000s game design, haven’t been modernised either. Unlike Capcom’s recent Resident Evil remakes, Onimusha 2 sticks with its original perspective. This can sometimes hinder visibility and leave you vulnerable, which may frustrate new players, even if purists won’t mind.

After beating the game, a few new modes unlock, including ‘The Man in the Black Suit’, a mini game that dresses up Jubei in a nice black suit. In this mini-game, you are tasked with finding movie reels only equipped with a bat and facing a time limit. Finding all the movie reels allows you to rewatch the cutscenes from the game. Silly modes like this are something I miss from modern games.

In the end, I didn’t expect to enjoy this remaster as much as I did. Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny strikes a nostalgic chord while offering a surprisingly polished and playable experience. Some aging systems and technical constraints hold it back slightly, but this is still a strong reintroduction to the series, and has me genuinely excited for Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Capcom’s message is clear: Onimusha is back.

Written by: Dylan Kocins