Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Preview – Nobunaga Strikes Back
You have to hand it to Capcom. For a company that gets derision for constantly remaking/master Resident Evil, they’re also the kings of drip-feeding lesser known – but still fondly remembered – classics. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the various fighting compilations… yet still no Dino Crisis. Now, to accompany the first one, we’re getting Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny.
Initially released a year after the first Onimusha in 2002, Samurai’s Destiny was a continuation of the heroes-against-demons action that received positive acclaim. The formula was mixed up slightly, with a different main hero and more playable characters interspersed into the story, but the broad strokes were largely the same.
Now, twenty threes after its initial release, and hot off the back of a new Onimusha game being announced, Capcom are bringing Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny back. Yours truly was fortunate enough to get a preview copy, so let’s see if it’s worth revisiting,
Demons May Cry
I’m mostly going to be tackling this preview on the assumption that you, dear reader, have played or at least heard of Onimusha over the years. Yet, I accept that there as some that haven’t, be it down to general ignorance years ago or being too young now. Damn pesky kids, not respecting heritage and all that old man grumbling, etc.
Anyway, the general gist of Onimusha is essentially feudal Japanese Resident Evil with demons instead of zombies. As they didn’t have many readily available guns back then, we’re looking at varying flavours of swordsand staves. There weren’t obtuse key-and-lock puzzles, more a basic sense of pathfinding and the occasional bit of backtrack when certain areas became unlocked.
If you can imagine Capcom’s output at the turn of the century, it could almost seem homogenised. Resident Evil was declining before Leon’s return in RE4, but Devil May Cry and Dino Crisis were flying the “Like Resident Evil but…” flag. Onimusha slot into that bracket nicely, or generically, depending on one’s point of view/cynicism. I was in camp Resident Evil Derivatives Forever, for context.
Never Out Of Style
One thing that can be said, regardless of how you feel about the gameplay, is that Capcom do look after their IP’s. Onimusha looked good back in the day, as the market was flooded with a lot of fixed-perspective imitators. Now, they’ve done a decent job of jazzing it up with some modern flair.
That is to say, they’ve done their best with a game that originally debuted on the PlayStation 2. Remember, this is a remaster after all. But that being said, if you can accept the limitations of an almost-thirty year old console, it does look pretty shiny indeed. New aspects ratios for bigger TV’s are avaialable, and can be switched between the original on the fly for a more nostalgic feel.
All the textures have been HD-ified (not a real word, but go with it), including locales and characters. Villages and dungeons all have that nice little upscaled look to them, so one can see the glossy enemies that lurk around corners. Both tank and 360° movement controls are dual-integrated, again for new and returning players.
Jubei and his fellow warriors have all been given a makeover too, so now we can see more emotion in them during cutscenes. Granted, we can’t escape the hand gesturing that was so prevalent back then, but it’s a step up from looking like Gerry Anderson marionettes. As is being able to skip them if you’ve died and seen it umpteen times before, thank god.
Slicin’ Samurais
Whilst I get that this is a retrospective/preview, I’m aware that some of you may not know how Onimusha 2 plays. Well, from what I’ve written about its source company, it plays exactly like… Kurushi: Final. Nah I’m kidding, it’s very obviously Resident-Feudal-Evil style.
So if readers are familiar with tank-based controls, fixed camera perspectives and enemies occasionally taking advantage of that, then nothing has changed. The action is still pretty flash, the parry timing is pretty responsive and overall, it’s still fun.
Granted, players won’t be performing vertical leaps or vaults over foes, a la Sekiro or Stellar Blade, but think of it as a precursor. As in said in my Darksiders Remaster review, it’s odd having a lock-on button that’s not clicking in the right thumbstick, but it’s not the end of the world.
Onimusha has always been a showcase of different weapons, special moves and the occasional challenge. In that regard, Capcom haven’t touched anything in Onimusha 2, which we like.
A Slice Of Yagyu
The problem with doing a preview is that whilst I’d love to discuss more about it, it’s not a game review to tell you how I felt about it. That, and Capcom slapped some restrictions on what I can mention anyway. But we’re not here to march into the plot, just to give people a glimpse of what to expect. Well, in that regard, Onimusha 2 still delivers.
As mentioned above, the weapon variety and associated progress doors are still here. As is the rest of the gang that accompanies Jubei, one way or the other. From the oafish Eikei, the stoic gun-toting Magoichi, right down to the kunimitsu Oyu. Nobunaga’s side has an equal colourful ensemble, but to go into that wouldn’t be fair. But yes, Gogandatess still has that Batman-like weird nipple armour, if you’re wondering. It was a new one on me, that’s for sure.
What Capcom are promising as a new feature though, is Hell mode. Cribbed from stablemate Devil May Cry, Hell mode is a one-hit death mode that will test the steeliest of samurai’s resolve. Conversely, there’s a story mode for the story-driven types, as well as other quality of life additions. The ability to swap weapons on the fly and skip cutscenes may not sound like much, but to us older types it’s music to our ears. So is the added music gallery, funnily enough.
Once Upon A Time In The East
To summarise then, as this still isn’t a review, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is shaping up to be another remaster for the collection. Limitations aside in what I can tell you, I’ve had fun with it. As I said, I didn’t play this one (or if I did, it was briefly via Toby), so I didn’t have as much nostalgia for it. But this has swayed me as for one, I love the series as a whole and two, I am a sucker for a good remaster.
I didn’t experience any technical issues, and as Capcom are usually pretty careful with their ports, remasters and remakes, I couldn’t see why there would be. It’s hard to preview a remaster, because as I’m bound and not scoring it, I can’t really yay/nay it for you.
It’d be remiss to say “If you like Onimusha…” and call it a day, so I won’t insult you. Yet if you are a fan, you should already be excited for this. If you’re not, it’s a cracking series to get into if you’re a fan of older Capcom survival-horror/action IP’s.
Also, as it goes without saying, if more people support this kind of thing we’ll get a remaster of the best one: Onimusha 3. Seriously, a demon-slaying, whip-wielding Jean Reno alongside Samonosuke in glorious HD? Come on people, do the right thing.
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is available from 23rd May 2025 on PlayStation 4 (preview platform), Xbox One and their respective later iterations, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: In order to complete this preview, we were provided with a promotional copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.
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