Onimusha: Way of the Sword May Miss Day One

Capcom’s upcoming samurai action game has impressed with its stylish combat, but an extremely crowded release window could push some players toward waiting.

Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword is already making a big splash with gamers willing to give its demo a try, and that includes gamers who have never played the franchise before. Yet for all the hype surrounding its return, it could be one of many big releases some gamers decide to wait on rather than buy on day one.

The Way of the Sword franchise has been AWOL for over two decades, and is back for longstanding fans. And for novices, it’s a chance to experience the series for the first time. The combination of samurai combat, mystical undertones, and complex swordplay has made the upcoming title one of Capcom’s most interesting projects.

The game’s developer has also been building up quite a head of steam in recent years.

It appears Capcom is entering another very successful run with titles like PRAGMATA and Resident Evil Requiem garnering a lot of attention. Onimusha: Way of the Sword might keep that momentum going, especially after apparently pulling in more than two million wishlists before launch. The demo also gave gamers a good taste of what made the game tick.

The demo (which some claimed was too simple to defeat its enemies) has been widely praised for its slick core combat system. Capcom acknowledges the difficulty issues and says the monsters will be more aggressive throughout the game. The sword fighting is the primary draw. The physicality of blocking, parrying, and countering attacks gives every encounter real impact.

Combat is fluid, and successfully parrying foes can throw them off balance and leave them open to punishing follow-up assaults. That focus on responsive and realistic swordplay puts Onimusha: Way of the Sword in good company with several future action games that share a focus on fluid combat. This isn’t about showy animations, but rather about every motion seeming purposeful and connected to what’s happening on-screen.

By comparison, the story and characters seem to be a secondary appeal.

That doesn't mean the story will be bad, but the gameplay is certainly what has gotten people most excited. For newbies to the franchise, the battle might be enough to make a solid introduction to the series in the end. The main problem with the game may have nothing to do with its quality. Unfortunately, that release date places it right in the middle of a super packed time for big game releases.

Originally scheduled for release in late September, Onimusha: Way of the Sword was rescheduled to September 4. A sooner launch is usually a good thing, but in this case, the new date could put the game in a tougher position for players on a tight budget. 

The game's release calendar is jam-packed with other notable titles including The Blood of Dawnwalker, Wolverine, Fire Emblem, Trails in the Sky, Control and Silent Hill, among many more high-profile releases. There are so many games trying to get your attention and your money, even a highly-anticipated title can easily fall down a player’s list of priorities.

That’s the problem for Onimusha. The game doesn’t seem lackluster, and its $70 price point aligns with the current norm for major launches. But when gamers are potentially dropping hundreds of thousands in a few short weeks, something has got to go. Reviews could ultimately change that judgment for certain players.

If Way of the Sword gets good scores and reviews are positive about combat, story, and general design, it could be difficult to ignore. But for now, the game’s solid gameplay isn’t quite enough to make it a day-one buy for everyone.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword might end up lost in the backlog, but it’s a game to watch anyway. Its combat has already shown plenty of potential, and its reintroduction might bring a whole new generation of players to the long-running franchise. If you miss it at launch, a busy release calendar might just mean you’ll have to wait for a less busy time to ultimately pick up the sword.