Onimusha: Way of the Sword will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on September 4. Recently, foreign media outlet IGN released a preview of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, revealing the game's combat mechanics, level design, boss features, and more.
Producer Akito Kadowaki confirmed in an interview that completing the main story takes approximately 20 hours. The early game features tight linear levels, while the mid-game unlocks wide linear areas in Kyoto, including random villager rescue events, hidden items, multiple unlockable outfits for Musashi, side quests, and hidden bosses. Exploration is moderately paced; the development team positions this as a pure action title with low puzzle complexity to avoid interrupting the combat flow.
The progression system has no forced branches; players can max out the entire skill tree in a single playthrough, freely combining sword techniques, Oni powers, and ranged bow skills without needing multiple playthroughs to unlock key moves. Scenes are divided into two styles: realistic Kyoto towns and fantastical floating Oni realms. The Oni Refuge features Japanese fantasy aesthetics like kintsugi and floating debris, offering high visual distinctiveness.
To accommodate players of different skill levels, the game includes two preset difficulty modes, with all assist features freely toggleable: Drama Mode (beginner-friendly): Operation hints are enabled by default, parry and Issen timing windows are widened, enemy attack damage is reduced, allowing steady progress through basic parries and combos. Kengeki Mode (hardcore): No button prompts, enemies are more aggressive, boss move tolerance is extremely low, suitable for veteran action players seeking precise Issen strikes and perfect parries.
Director Ken Nihei stated that even on easy difficulty, mindless button-mashing won't clear the game; players still need to master basic parry logic. Additionally, the Nintendo Switch 2 version features optimized motion controls for drawing swords in handheld mode, while console and PC versions offer comparable visual performance.