Capcom’s Onimusha Franchise is Making a Major Comeback

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Summary

  • Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to release in 2026, bringing back the dark and gritty qualities of the original games.
  • The new Onimusha game trailer shows intense combat and abilities, potentially placing it among recent popular Samurai action games.
  • Capcom is showing interest in reviving its classic games like Onimusha, hinting at a potential revitalization trend among old titles.

As a veteran gamer who’s journeyed through countless realms and timelines, I can’t help but feel a surge of nostalgia when I hear about the return of Onimusha: Way of the Sword! Back in the days of yore, when the PlayStation 2 was still king, I remember battling demons and monsters in the dark, gritty world of Onimusha. To see it making a comeback after all these years is like stumbling upon an old friend you thought had long since vanished.

The classic series, Onimusha, is set to return with a fresh new game unveiled at The Game Awards. This upcoming title, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, marks the debut of a brand-new main installment in the Onimusha series after more than a decade.

The Onimusha series originated on the PlayStation 2, initially conceived as a Resident Evil set in Sengoku-era Japan. In this game, players battled terrifying demons and monsters, gaining their powers while simultaneously overcoming dangerous and lethal puzzles. Although it was a well-known franchise for Capcom, Onimusha slipped into obscurity with the arrival of the PlayStation 3. However, it appears that this trend is now reversing.

At The Game Awards 2024, Geoff Keighley unveiled a new trailer for an upcoming Onimusha game titled “Onimusha: Way of the Sword”. This highly anticipated title is slated for release in 2026 and seems to be drawing more from the ominous and intense atmosphere of the initial series. Although the teaser didn’t reveal much, the main character can be seen demonstrating the classic Oni abilities, such as absorbing spectral orbs that resemble Genma from the original Onimusha games. This beloved feature has been a fan favorite, so it’s heartening to see it making a comeback in this new installment.

Onimusha Could Rival Soulslikes and Samurai Games

Beyond this, the latest trailer for Onimusha showcases brief glimpses of combat, featuring a sword-wielding hero squaring off against a variety of enemies ranging from reanimated corpses to towering monsters. The protagonist is shown skillfully dodging attacks by kicking behind him, parrying blows with his head, and even climbing up the back of an adversary to deliver the final blow. Whether this is actual gameplay footage or not remains to be seen; however, the fast-paced, brutal action suggests that Onimusha might compete with the popular Soulslike and Samurai games that have dominated the scene recently.

It appears that Capcom has been dipping their toes in the water first, as they released the remaster of Onimusha: Warlords in 2018. More recently, Onimusha VR: Shadow Team was unveiled, although it hasn’t gained much attention so far beyond some live demonstrations. Generally speaking, Capcom seems to be turning to their old games for revitalization using the RE Engine, which is well-known for powering recent Resident Evil games and remakes. With gamers eagerly awaiting remakes or reboots of titles like Dino Crisis, it will be intriguing to observe if another Capcom classic can resonate with a new crop of players.

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2024-12-13 06:54