The time has come for a new generation of samurai. Two decades after its release in 2002,Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyhas escaped from being confined to the PlayStation 2 as an exclusive and can now be enjoyed across multiple platforms for modern players. Though it’s not a complete remake like Capcom’s other properties, the remaster retains what made the original so appealing and fun. Except now, new and returning fans have a chance to experience it. Just don’t expect it to be easy. Like theDevil May Cryseries, when Capcom promises action and challenge, they always deliver.
Classic Capcom Charm
AlthoughOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyis a sequel, it’s a standalone adventure that focuses on a new protagonist, so no need to fret about doing your homework for the first entry. From the beginning, the story holds nothing back as the game opens with an entire village being slaughtered by demonic soldiers. Here you’re introduced to the main villain, Nobunaga Oda, a resurrected warlord who’s returned with an army of demons. As the only survivor, Jubei Yagyu sets out on a quest to avenge his clan by hunting the one responsible. If he’s to have any chance, he’ll have to locate five Oni orbs that will grant him the power to destroy Nobunaga and his demons. Along the way, Jubei will encounter a range of hostile monsters and intriguing characters on his journey through medieval Japan.
On paper, the plot reads like any early 2000s game, a young warrior versus evil, with corny dialogue and oddball characters, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s like going back and watching an old samurai film – sure, some features haven’t aged well, but if you can look past the minor faults, there’s plenty of fun to be found for everyone.Onimusha 2has something so many modern games have been lacking in recent years, and that’s Charm, an important quality that’s often lost in a game that gets remade from the ground up. As a remaster, everything that made the original fantastic is still there, but now the cutscenes, graphics and environments have all received a much-needed improvement to run on modern hardware. The frame rate has also been given a smooth and crisp boost as you engage multiple enemies in battle. Even the roster of monsters, from the demonic samurai to the drooling alligator fiends, have never looked more hideous, and that’s intended as a compliment.
It’s like going back and watching an old samurai film – sure, some features haven’t aged well, but if you can look past the minor faults, there’s plenty of fun to be found for everyone.
The Combat Still Holds Up After 20 Years
It might be over two decades old, but after all these years, the combat ofOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinystill feels good. Starting with a samurai sword, Jubei acquires new weapons as he progresses from each level, and there are even ranged weapons, though they’re only useful against flying enemies or demons that are just out of reach. The melee weapons are the real focus of the game, and each feels like they have varying weight and strength. Some are more about power and speed against an individual opponent, while another has greater length for crowd control. Yet the weapons only get better once you start using magic with them. Wielding the power of the elements – such as lightning, ice, wind, and earth – your attacks will have a more satisfying punch to them as the ugly demons fall against your magic.
To charge your power bar, however, you’ll need souls. When you defeat enemies, they’ll drop orbs of light that you can absorb with the press of a button, which can get tricky when you’re in the heat of combat. Most orbs replenish health and magic, but some have other purposes too. Red orbs can enhance your weapons and armor, whereas purple orbs are used to power Jubei’s Onimusha form. Similar to the Devil Trigger of theDevil May Crygames, Jubei transforms and becomes invulnerable to damage as his speed and attack power increase. In the original game, the transformation was automatic, but thanks to the remaster, players have more control and can now manually trigger it whenever they choose.
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You won’t have to face these demons alone as Jubei will find help along his adventure in the form of four companions, though these aren’t the RPG kind that’ll drop everything they’re doing and just follow you into certain death. Each character has their own reasons and agenda for why they’re here, and if you want their help or to better understand their story, you’ll have to start giving gifts to increase your friendship level. Gifts can be found in chests scattered across levels or purchased in the village market using the gold you earn from defeated enemies. The Gift System is easy to understand as you get to know the characters, and the more positive the reaction, the more points you earn. Even better, each time you give a gift, your companion will reward you with something in return, be it another gift, healing items or jewels that’ll permanently buff your magic or health bar.
Newcomers Should Be Aware
Players who are new to theOnimushagames should be mindful that the remaster is not without its challenges, and it’s not just the combat. You’ll soon discover that the biggest enemy in the game is not man or demon, but the dreaded camera.Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyrelies on fixed camera angles, meaning players have no control over it. Sure, from an artistic viewpoint, it works for the presentation in showing off interesting angles around the environment. From a combat viewpoint, it becomes a frustrating hindrance to the player, especially when fighting in tight, confining spaces. You’ll be battling a swarm of enemies or a tough boss, and if you move out of the camera’s focus, it’ll shift to another angle, cutting off your view of your opponent and leaving you vulnerable to attacks.
This is also one of those games that’ll require a lot of backtracking. Each time you reach a significant point, you’re sent back to Imasho, a village that serves as the hub area to gather items and information. You’ll be seeing it a lot as you’re forced to retrace your steps down the same route, past enemies that respawn every time you reenter an area, just to return to the point you left off in order to reach a spot or item you couldn’t access earlier. This may get tedious for certain players, but those who don’t mind the grind will find this to be a useful method for farming gold, experience or locating secrets you may have missed. Besides, you’ll need gold if you want to increase your friendship with other characters and unlock their scenes. Because another truth new players should be aware of is that you won’t be able to experience all scenarios in one playthrough.
Depending on the character you’re more invested in befriending, that’ll most likely be the one you’ll encounter more often as you experience their scenarios. If you’re a player who intends to get the most out ofOnimusha 2and wants to see every scenario with Jubei’s friends, be prepared for multiple playthroughs. It might sound unfair by modern standards, but in 2002 the idea of a non-RPG adventure having branching paths with other characters was unthinkable. Though if you’re worried about the game becoming too easy after several playthroughs, it might interest you to know that the remaster comes with a whole other difficulty setting known as Hell Mode. In this setting, enemies can kill you in a single hit, so you’ll probably want to avoid this difficulty until you’ve mastered the combat.
Closing Comments:
After so many Capcom properties were hogging the spotlight over the years, it’s terrific thatOnimushais finally making a comeback. The enhancements to the resolution and performance succeed in remastering the original, without losing the style, charm or difficulty that players remember so vividly. With the number of fantasy games that focus on demons and medieval times, it’s refreshing to play one set in a feudal Japan as well. If you’re a longtime fan of the original, it’ll be like picking up an old bike that’s gotten a good cleaning with some small changes here and there. If you’re new and love challenging hack-and-slash adventures,Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyis worth a look – it’ll just take time to acclimate to the controls and combat. With a little luck, players might be seeing more from theOnimushaseries soon.
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny (2025)
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Reclaim your destiny.Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny returns with HD graphics and improved controls on the original game’s intense swordplay and dramatic revenge story. Play as Jubei Yagyu and make your way through feudal Japan with your allies. This game has additional language support adapted from the original script.Additional features include:- New Gallery mode where you can view over 100 sketches by the game’s character designer, Keita Amemiya.- New digital soundtrack selection with all 43 tracks from the original soundtrack of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny.- Hell mode difficulty (game over after taking one strike).- The Man in Black, Team Oni, and Puzzle Phantom Realm mini games will be available to play at the very beginning.- Auto-save feature and easy weapon switch for improved playability.
