As Capcom counts the days until Onimusha Way of the Sword’s release, the game quickly returns with a new trailer. At Sony’s February 2025 State of Play, the devs finally revealed the new protagonist, the legendary Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi.
The Legend of Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi was a swordsman, battle strategist, and artist from the 1580s to the 1640s. Onimusha Way of the Sword producer Akihito Kadowaki informed gamers at Capcom Spotlight that the characters will be based on historical figures. The story takes inspiration from his travels to Kyoto for he faced three duels in this area.
While he is imagined as a respectable warrior, Capcom took inspiration from Musashi’s young adulthood. During this time, Musashi was considered rude, dishonorable, and mischievous. He discovered a new technique such as infuriating his opponents. He was late for both Kenpo Brothers’ duels by oversleeping. Until Matashichiro Kenpo became aware of his tactic, Musashi decided to arrive at his duel early and hid in his environment. Now with Genma and the Oni-Gauntlet, Musashi’s life becomes daily survival.
Adapting Miyamoto Musashi’s Style
Capcom made a brave move to show off Musashi’s fighting style. He switches between single-weapon and dual-wielding combat. The samurai invented his two-sword technique and called it “Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu” or “two guardians of Buddha.” It’s perfect for players who enjoy a faster combat style, especially against slow enemies. As for Musashi’s single-swordplay, he strives to time his blows before striking.
In Onimusha Way of the Sword, Musashi’s attacks become more deadly with the Oni-Gauntlet. Slaying and absorbing Genma souls grants him the power to defeat monsters roaming Kyoto. The trailer shows the samurai’s twin blades are charged with radiant light and his katana bursts a blue flame. Like his duel against Matashichiro, Musashi uses anything in his environment to attack enemies or hide. Viewers see him lift a mat and use clothing to defend against Genma.
Could Be An Excellent Protagonist
While Musashi is not new to entering the gaming world, Capcom picked the best age to show Musashi’s growth. It was really funny to see this 21-year-old confronted by men wielding guns, bows, and swords. He immediately runs after realizing he is outnumbered. So far, we do not know which historical figures he will meet during the journey.
His English voice actor Kenichiro Thomson gives does a nice job of capturing Musashi’s cockiness. But Capcom’s lip-sync could use fixing as the trailer showed his words didn’t match the mouth motion. We hope to see more of Onimusha Way of the Sword’s progress in future presentations.
