Onimusha: Way of the Sword Revives a Legendary Actor’s Legacy After 28 Years

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Onimusha: Way of the Sword reintroduces the series with a tribute to a renowned figure in Japanese film history.

The main character, Miyamoto Musashi, finds inspiration in Toshiro Mifune, who was an iconic figure in samurai movies. Mifune, known for films like “Seven Samurai,” “Yojimbo,” and “Rashomon,” played a significant role in creating the image of the weary, solitary swordsman better than anyone else. Even 30 years after his death, Mifune’s likeness is providing a fresh perspective on Musashi in the game Onimusha.

At PlayStation’s recent State of Play event, Capcom revealed that the game features intense sword combat and a distinctive protagonist who bears a resemblance to Musashi, but is also influenced by Toshiro Mifune’s portrayal in Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai Trilogy from the 1950s.

Mifune’s influence on both Japanese and international media is profound and difficult to overestimate. His distinctive portrayal in Akira Kurosawa’s films significantly molded samurai narratives in anime, movies, and even Spaghetti Westerns. The iconic figure of the solitary, roaming swordsman? A significant portion of that persona can be attributed to him.

Capcom often draws inspiration from real-life figures like Mifune, and this tradition is evident in the Onimusha series, where they’ve used actors such as Yusaku Matsuda in “Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny” and Jean Reno in “Onimusha 3: Demon Siege”. But this time around, they might be paying the most substantial tribute ever—bringing back an actor who passed away in 1997 to carry on his legacy in a way that only modern technology can facilitate.

This action ties into Capcom’s 2023 Onimusha anime, featuring a character modeled after Mifune. Despite not gaining widespread popularity, this anime served as an early indication of Capcom’s vision for the series. Disregarding historical and cinematic aspects, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is poised to be a significant leap forward for the franchise.

In this new installment, the battles seem slower and more thoughtful, reminiscent of “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” and “Ghost of Tsushima”. Unlike the rapid-fire action of previous Onimusha games, it seems that this time around, the emphasis is on one-on-one engagements, strategic strikes, and a sense of heft in combat. The supernatural aspect is quite prominent as Musashi utilizes the Oni Gauntlet to duel with the Genma.

The complete narrative is still unfolding, but Way of the Sword is poised to blend historical facts with Onimusha’s distinctive supernatural elements. Capcom has confirmed a 2026 launch window for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. Additionally, Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei are approaching, which means samurai enthusiasts have much to anticipate in the near future.

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2025-02-14 06:12