Pulling off an Issen counterattack in Onimusha: Way of the Sword can be incredibly satisfying, but mastering its advanced form, the Chain Issen, offers an even greater reward. Both techniques demand precise timing, functioning similarly to a parry or deflect but without the defensive safety net.
Successfully executing an Issen attack results in an instant kill for most standard enemies and deals significant damage to more resilient foes, making it a valuable tool for swift victories that also looks stylish.
Players will not have immediate access to the standard Issen moves, as they are locked behind the game's skill tree. An additional type of Issen, the Break Issen, is available only when an enemy is in an exhausted state.
Unlocking and Performing the Issen
The standard Issen skill becomes available after approximately three hours of gameplay, typically after clearing the Malice blooms in Eastern Kyoto and unlocking it from the skill tree. To perform an Issen, players must press either the light attack or heavy attack button just before an incoming enemy attack lands. Success results in an instant kill against standard Genma enemies. Mishiming the timing will lead to a regular attack or, if the input is too late, the player will simply take damage without a chance to counter or defend.
Executing the Chain Issen
Chain Issen allows for a series of consecutive Issen strikes. This advanced technique also requires unlocking from the skill tree and is more challenging to execute than the standard Issen. To initiate a chain, players must press the light or heavy attack button precisely as a successful Issen strike connects. During a chain, the camera often zooms in, which can be disorienting, making it important to focus on the rhythm of the button presses rather than the on-screen action.
With practice, it is possible to chain Issens to defeat multiple enemies in quick succession. Players struggling to master this technique may find benefit in completing Takamura's practice drills to build confidence and refine timing.
The Break Issen
The Break Issen is a special move that can only be performed when an enemy's stamina has been depleted, leaving them exhausted. This state can be achieved by hitting enemies with environmental objects, such as boards, or by parrying an enemy into a group of others. Break Issens can also be chained if multiple enemies are in an exhausted state. Unlike the standard and Chain Issen, the Break Issen cannot be reliably initiated in every engagement and depends on specific enemy conditions.
While Issen techniques offer powerful offensive options, they are not strictly essential for progression. Players who find them too difficult can reallocate skill points to alternative branches like Reflex or Blaze, or rely on more traditional parry and deflect mechanics. Knowledge of these Issen techniques can be particularly useful when facing the game's larger boss encounters.