Capcom is pleased with the current difficulty level of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, according to game director Satoru Nihei. Data gathered from players indicates that the game's challenge strikes a balance between accessibility and providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
"We've been looking at the data that comes back from people playing, so we can see where people are struggling and how they're progressing through the game. What we've seen in the trends in the data is that it's close to what we set out to achieve, in terms of difficulty," Nihei stated in an interview with PC Gamer. He elaborated that while players are able to progress through the story, they do encounter obstacles and defeats, which ultimately leads to overcoming challenges and a greater sense of satisfaction.
Nihei clarified that the intention was never for Onimusha: Way of the Sword to be exceptionally difficult, comparing it to titles like Sekiro or Nioh. The team aimed for a level of challenge that would allow players to complete the story while still experiencing a meaningful struggle. "We think it's hit the right spot in terms of the difficulty, in terms of where we wanted to place it," he added.
Despite the director's confidence in the game's balance, some players have sought to increase the challenge. The harder difficulty option being locked behind a completed campaign led to mods that amplify enemy aggression becoming popular downloads on Nexusmods.
The game's length was also a point of feedback, with some players finding it too short. Nihei acknowledged this sentiment, explaining that the development team prioritized a specific playtime of around 20 hours. The goal was to avoid a game that felt too brief while also steering clear of the extended playtimes of open-world titles, aiming instead for a mostly linear experience with optional exploration elements.
Regarding the repetition of certain boss fights, Nihei admitted that while it would have been ideal to create a wider variety of bosses, Capcom's focus was on making each encounter engaging and enjoyable for repeated playthroughs. The team has taken note of player feedback on this aspect as well.