Onimusha: Way of the Sword Preview: Combat Mastery Awaits

Twenty minutes in, I'm still figuring it out. Onimusha: Way of the Sword isn't like Devil May Cry - it's slower, more methodical. That's a good thing, because the payoff is huge when you finally nail a tough combo, and it's clear the developers are going for a unique blend of action and strategy that sets it apart from other contemporaries, with a more deliberate approach to combat that demands mastery of both offense and defense, making for a truly engaging experience. Not easy.

You're in the Yasui Konpiragu Shrine. It's overrun. Malice is everywhere. They've twisted the wishes of visitors in weird ways. Musashi, the main guy, is voiced by a legend - think Toshiro Mifune. He's got a job to do, with Shizuka guiding him via his gauntlet, as he navigates this messed-up place to gather the Eight Stout Pillars. The shrine's design is pretty cool, it adds a lot of depth to the story, making the combat feel like it actually matters, you'll see the impact of Musashi's actions as he tries to fix the Genma's twisted wishes, which is key to the whole experience.

Combat: Where Onimusha Shines

The combat system is where it's at. You'll master it. It's got depth, mainly in the defensive side of things. They've got parry, deflect, dodge, and that crazy Issen counter. Each one defends, then sets you up for a counterattack - that's key. For instance, a perfect parry leads straight into a Reflex Combo, which is really cool. A deflect can leave enemies staggered, making them easy targets for those powerful Oni Armaments, it's the real feel of combat mastery.

You'll fill a meter by chaining parries. It's fast. The Blazing State kicks in, enhancing Musashi's blade. We've seen this before, for better or worse. With Blazing State active, the drop rate of blue souls increases, which is key for powering Oni Armaments. The Oni Armaments are worth mentioning, as they can clear rooms or deal massive damage to a single target, it's that powerful. In the game, features like Reflex Combos, Blade Barrages - think choreographed blade sequences - and Blade Locks, which are basically tests of strength against foes, make the combat experience more interesting, giving players a lot to master, with many strategies to try out, you'll need time to get it just right.

Brutal Samurai Clash: Rasho-gan Drops

You'll face Rasho-gan in the demo's final fight. It's tough. The combat feels right. We've seen this before - a tough enemy, the Genma, at the shrine. The real challenge is finding a balance. You need to defend, then attack at the right time. At first, it's okay. Then Rasho-gan gets a second health bar, and things get harder. New attacks show up, and you'll need to be precise, think it through, to win.

You'll face Rasho-gan. It's tough. The fight tests you. With parries and deflects, you outmaneuver him. Throw in an Issen, it's key. You feel good when you win, especially on hard mode. The real feel of beating him is satisfying. It's a 1v1 fight, you versus the boss, with Musashi's skills on full display, for a truly honest experience in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Samurai Mastery at a Price?

It's easy. The demo feels that way. You'll want more. The game needs a harder mode, for sure. With Onimusha: Way of the Sword, we've got a solid foundation, it's the real feel of combat that's key. They've nailed the depth, you'll spend hours mastering it, we've got a game that's worth mentioning, with a lot to offer, for fans of action games like this one.

It's fun. Will Borger, an IGN freelancer, played the demo. He said, "Yeah, I could keep going." That pretty much sums it up. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the real feel, you'll get hooked. The combat system is key, it's what makes you want to keep playing, to master it. For Capcom, the next step is to keep this quality going, fix the issues with difficulty, and they've got a winner, we've seen it before, it's a formula that works, with the right tweaks, Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be worth mentioning.

You'll get a lot out of Onimusha: Way of the Sword. It's fun. The combat is key. With a mix of combat mechanics, it's the real feel that we've all been waiting for, and they've definitely nailed it, making for a great experience, especially with a rich narrative that's worth mentioning, which will likely make it stand out when it's released, and we've got high hopes that the final version will have a difficulty level to test even the most experienced players, for a truly immersive experience.