Onimusha: Way of the Sword Could Be Capcom’s Best Nintendo Switch 2 Port Yet

Early reviews praise Onimusha: Way of the Sword for delivering smooth handheld gameplay despite visual downgrades and longer loading times.

Capcom has published several big games for the Nintendo Switch 2 this year. The publisher has shown hardware performance with Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, and Monster Hunter Stories 3. Early previews suggest Capcom may have pulled off one of the best Switch 2 ports with Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword has received positive acclaim on many platforms. There are almost 80 PlayStation 5 reviews, 23 PC reviews, eight XBOX Series X reviews, and seven Nintendo Switch 2 reviews published. Switch 2 has the greatest average score but also the fewest reviews, so that might change as more people weigh in. But the game is well into the mid-high 80s, which is a good sign.

Capcom avoided some of the mistakes previous demanding system launches did, and the game has received positive reviews. If you have a Switch 2, you can demo it before buying the game. Onimusha: The Way of the Sword gets harder as you go along. The stages appear simple when you begin the game, but they become increasingly challenging when additional enemies and bosses emerge.

Concerns that the campaign would be too easy have been put to rest by this slow rise, particularly as later meetings required more caution. The new hardware from Nintendo supports a variable refresh rate of 120Hz, giving developers the ability to smooth out frame rate changes during gameplay.

The Switch 2 port is very comfortable to hold in one hand but has a few minor visual glitches.

VRR is not supported in docked mode, so handheld mode may seem more fluid in some games depending on how they function. Onimusha: Way of the Sword runs nicely in portable mode, RPG Site reports. The reviewer wanted to compare Switch 2’s lighting, hair, lag, and performance to the others. The reviewer loved the port after some playing time, despite some minor concessions that went away.

The biggest graphical issue the game has seems to be with the hair rendering. This also affects the protagonist, Miyamoto Musashi, and other NPCs with complex hair. The biggest visual issue the reviewer noticed on the Switch 2 was the hair quality, which might break immersion at times. It doesn’t seem like the presentation is compromised. The lighting and esthetics seem to be doing well on the smaller screen.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is just the same game on a handheld, except with fewer visual possibilities. The game also takes the most of the HD Rumble 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2. Combat and cutscenes sound satisfying, and that makes the experience even better. The more developers use the technology, the more HD Rumble 2 is worth.

Port performance is also looking nice. The RPG site used mostly uncapped mode and had no performance difficulties. VRR worked well for portable play. The reviewer suggested you try capped and uncapped 30fps and see which feels better. The uncapped option is getting strong reviews in docked mode, even if it's not VRR compatible. The display is unlimited and, with the monitor being sensitive to frame rate, can look even more fluid than 30 fps.

Based on the positive reviews, Capcom has done a good job of balancing challenging Switch 2 titles.

This data is particularly handy for mobile users. Two players say cranking up the system brightness and using uncapped mode makes it more playable. The critic played the game in handheld mode for about ten hours and was impressed. Even when the game is on the Switch 2’s internal storage, load times are longer than planned. That may be fixed in future releases, but it’s one of the biggest technical issues with the version.

Despite its limitations, Capcom’s Switch 2 is a major upgrade from Nintendo’s hybrid console. Played mostly in handheld mode, post-docking evaluation. This excellent feedback is just another sign of Capcom’s Switch 2 approach. The publisher’s developers may produce a few games on the RE Engine, but they can’t use the same settings or methodologies.

The hardware requirements of any game depend on area, enemy count, graphic effects, and design. Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s limited structure and scale might be a selling point against Pragmata and Resident Evil Requiem. Its design could be better suited to the hardware, allowing Capcom to retain more of the original experience while making more deliberate choices.

Capcom might profit from information trade inside its development teams. The publisher has already launched a number of big games on Switch 2, so some tactics from Street Fighter, Pragmata, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and more could help with future ports. This may become more essential as Japanese developers adopt Nintendo Switch 2.

Onimusha comes 20 years later with a Switch 2 version that looks incredible.

The system’s horsepower enables publishers to deliver larger AAA titles on Nintendo hardware without the need for older ports or games designed for the first Switch. The critical reception of Onimusha: Way of the Sword backs up this impression. Universo Nintendo scored the game 9.5 out of 10, naming it one of the finest of the year and applauding it for being modernized without losing its roots.

Switch 2 graphics get great praise, smooth action, and challenge and fun. What’s It Like? rated the game 9.2/10 and applauded Capcom for another great multiplatform edition. The critic liked the game’s setting, battle mechanics, and the realistic surroundings on the RE Engine on Nintendo’s hybrid system. Nintendo Insider gave the game a 9 out of 10.

It hailed the return of the franchise from a long vacation as near faultless. The game felt more advanced than previous iterations but retained Onimusha’s identity, the person said. The Switch 2 version wasn’t perfect, but Nintendo Insider thought it was good. The other half of Capcom’s recent success was the ability to play a successful third-party product on a handheld without making big concessions.

Another reviewer gave Onimusha: Way of the Sword a 9/10, saying the franchise had returned with a vengeance. The 7.5 from Nintendo News PL was the lowest of the reviewed Switch 2 reviews. The review complimented the game’s outstanding graphics, great parry mechanics, the compelling protagonist, and Souls-like hack-and-slash gameplay but faulted the game’s length and pace.

What didn't work were the 20+ hours of repetitive bosses, linear scenery, dull side missions, and lousy story.

The review said the game provides a nice first impression, and the Switch 2 port is solid despite criticism. The biggest fear was that the game’s scope would be too demanding. The game’s length has garnered mixed reviews, which may be a priority for any potential purchasers. Some reviewers liked the first 10 hours, although the latter could lose its steam.

Capcom’s momentum on Switch 2 might mean a strong push from Japanese third-party support. Onimusha's reappearance after 20 years in the wilderness is a big deal. Capcom’s triumphant return, great reviews, and a possible Switch 2 edition make it another major release that can tap into Nintendo’s target audience, along with its other projects.

More than anything else, it shows how the Switch 2 potentially transforms how large third-party publishers approach Nintendo platforms. Previous releases, scaled-down versions, or system-specific large Capcom games for the original Switch. That’s a special case considering Monster Hunter Rise was built for the original Switch.

The Switch 2 packs additional muscle, allowing games like Onimusha: Way of the Sword to be launched without having to be designed for Nintendo hardware. Capcom and other Japanese companies might create larger AAA games on the platform. So, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is more than another popular port.

The critical assessment is positive overall. Capcom is learning to work with Switch 2, making the portable experience better, getting good feedback, and making the least visual sacrifices. Hair rendering and loading times may improve, and the latter tempo of the game may not appeal to everyone.

The widespread consensus is that Capcom has made another huge step toward bringing technically hard titles to Nintendo’s new platform. With the excellent reviews and the enthusiasm in the franchise’s return, Onimusha: Way of the Sword might be Capcom’s best Switch 2 game. It’s a good sign for the performance of larger third-party titles on Nintendo’s existing hardware.