Miyamoto Musashi arrives at Kiyomizu-dera Temple to purify it of invading Genma demons, wielding an Oni gauntlet and a katana. The demo opens on a mountain trail with fleeing villagers and early combat encounters. Combat features light and heavy attacks, stamina meters for both player and enemies, and finishing Break Issen moves triggered by depleting enemy stamina. Auto-directional blocking allows defense from any side while parrying drains enemy stamina faster and delivers satisfying sword-clash animations. The combat evokes the melee sensibilities of the 2000s, takes cues from recent Capcom action titles, and presents manageable difficulty.
As someone who only admired the Onimusha series from a distance during its heyday, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an exciting prospect. It's a modernized entry point for newcomers like myself that takes combat cues from its contemporaries while still feeling distinctly of its era. I traveled to Capcom's San Francisco office to check out the first playable demo of the game, and though my time was short, I'm feeling good about this demonic romp.
The feel of Way of the Sword's light and heavy attacks reminds me of another recent Capcom title, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. It's not as crisp or fast-paced as some other action games; it's reminiscent of melee combat from the 2000s (ironically, Onimusha's prime), and that's a positive...I think. Most of the enemies I encounter in this section drop fast, however, and the difficulty is extremely manageable.
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