Capcom's samurai action series Onimusha is set to return after a two-decade absence with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, slated for release in September. While the upcoming title does not feature direct narrative connections to its predecessors, director Satoru Nihei stated that the development team has incorporated numerous homages to the earlier games.
Nihei explained that while the game world of Way of the Sword is self-contained, elements from past Onimusha titles have been referenced. "So some of the enemies you’ll see, for instance, are based on some older enemies; that’s so fans of the series have something they can touch base with," he said. These nods are intended to provide familiar touchstones for long-time fans of the series.
One such homage is the Chijiko enemy in Way of the Sword, which shares design and attack patterns with the Reynaldo Genma from Onimusha: Warlords. Both enemies utilize tentacles that can attack from below, and they split into multiple foes when struck, unless defeated with a specific move that prevents this mutation. Another example is an enemy in Way of the Sword that closely resembles the Bazuu from Onimusha: Warlords, featuring a similar armadillo-like appearance and a rolling attack. A visual similarity can also be observed between the Gyaran from Onimusha: Warlords, known for its soul-sucking ability, and its counterpart in Way of the Sword, which fires projectiles.
Nihei clarified that all enemies in the new game are newly designed, with inspirations drawn from older designs. "All of the enemies in this game are brand new, so while we do pay homage to some of the older games, we’ve kind of taken elements from them and remixed them for the new Genma in this title," he stated.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC on September 4. Further coverage, including gameplay and behind-the-scenes videos, is expected as part of Game Informer's month-long focus on the title.