Now that Onimusha is finally getting a revival, many long-time fans are eager to see how Capcom will revitalize the series.
While the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword features the iconic Oni Gauntlet, it boasts much more robust gameplay that is perfect for current and next-gen consoles.
Since the release of the first game in 2001, the Onimusha series has struggled with newer titles. Its latest mainline game was released in 2006, followed by a remaster and a VR game. Capcom and the franchise's fans hope the new game will bring Onimusha back into mainstream gaming popularity.
If you are new to Onimusha and unfamiliar with its story and lore, Netflix's Onimusha series can help you learn the game's story and lore.
Onimusha Animated Series
The Onimusha animated series is only available on Netflix and focuses on a protagonist based on the real Musashi Miyamoto. Also named Musashi, he embarks on a quest to quell every existing demon with the help of the Oni Gauntlet.
In the games, the Oni Gauntlet is a key mechanic that allows players to absorb the Genma souls of enemies, strengthening your character's abilities. Netflix took on a different approach to this series and focused on Musashi's story, which is only complimented by the Oni Gauntlet's lore.
The series also did a good job of portraying some of the enemies in the franchise. Aside from the mutating monsters in the Onimusha animated series, the games also have full-on monsters similar to the boss-like figure in the Onimusha: Way of the Sword trailer shown at the 2024 Game Awards.
While the animated series features a well-known samurai in pop culture, the Onimusha games have main characters who are loosely based on popular samurais of Japan. For example, in the first game Onimusha: Warlords, the protagonist Samanosuke Akechi is roughly based on the real Akechi Hidemitsu, a retainer of one of Nobunaga Oda's vassals.
However, the games mostly always had Nobunaga Oda as their main antagonist, adding more to his lore of how he used unconventional methods to achieve his goals. He is seen to be siding with the demons called Genma in the games, with the ultimate goal of conquering Japan.
Additionally, samurai and feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi is also depicted as one of the main enemies in the game franchise.
Netflix's adaptation of Onimusha apparently turns the tables and portrays a real-world samurai as a protagonist this time around.
The show also depicts what kind of sword-fighting action and gameplay you can expect from the games. It brilliantly created battles that you can also experience in the games. The pressure of defeating these mutated monsters before they can kill you is something similar to what the game offers.
While Netflix's version of Onimusha is quite far from the lore of the original games, it did a good job of showing the premise of the games to new fans.
Veteran fans of the games may have differing opinions about the series but Netflix's Onimusha is a great starting point for those wanting to know more about the lore before diving into the upcoming game.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be released on current-gen platforms such as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Whether the game will be released on the upcoming Nintendo console is still unknown.
Whether you plan on binge-watching the Onimusha series on Netflix or playing the older games, be sure to stay updated on the latest gaming news and stories by following Gfinity Esports.