Capcom's upcoming title, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, features a new interpretation of the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, drawing inspiration from historical accounts and even Capcom's own fighting game heritage. Hiroshi Yugen, animation team lead for Way of the Sword, explained the studio's creative process in crafting the game's protagonist during a visit to Capcom's Osaka headquarters.
Yugen stated that the fables, legends, and historical stories surrounding Musashi significantly informed the character's actions and abilities within the game. While Musashi is renowned for his dual-wielding technique, the game's narrative places him in his early twenties, a period before he had fully developed or discovered this signature style. Consequently, the focus in Way of the Sword is on one-sword combat, supplemented by the "Oni Armament" skills. These armaments offer different combat advantages, such as the "Two Celestials" for direct damage and the "Earth-Shaker" hammers for inflicting stagger damage, crucial for overcoming formidable enemies like the Chimera-inspired Nue.
Drawing from historical accounts of Musashi's pragmatic approach to combat, his in-game kit extends beyond a mere sword. Players can utilize environmental elements like parrying enemies into torches to set them ablaze or using tables as temporary shields before throwing them at opponents to create openings. These tactical options are directly inspired by stories of Musashi employing any means necessary to achieve victory.
The character's personality also reflects certain historical anecdotes, portraying Musashi as confident, perhaps even cocky. Unlike previous Onimusha protagonists who embraced their oni powers, this Musashi views his Oni Gauntlet as a form of cheating, actively seeking duels on his own terms. Yugen emphasized conveying this assertive attitude to the motion capture actors, ensuring Musashi's actions felt "a little rough around the edges" due to his early stage in his journey.
To further define Musashi's movements and combat approach, the development team looked to Capcom's Street Fighter series. This influence helped shape how Musashi initiates fights, his posture, and his overall swagger, with Yugen noting that even his walk cycle was designed to convey a sense of confidence rather than tension. Musashi's direct and blunt personality is also a key trait, with Yugen noting that he openly expresses frustration, such as calling something "a pain in the ass."
Elements of this unique characterization are already present in the playable demo of Way of the Sword, and were evident during extended hands-on sessions. Capcom is continuing its coverage of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, with further details and videos planned for release on the Game Informer YouTube channel.