{"rewrite":{"id":"r_7ccfb319363857ff8d49ab9c","clusterId":"c_bf994c8880faa053d4027a19","slug":"onimusha-way-of-the-sword-reviewers-hail-a-series-high-metascore-of-85","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Onimusha: Way of the Sword Reviewers Hail a Series-High Metascore of 85","summary":"Capcom's Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the first fully new console entry in the series in roughly 20 years, is drawing strong early reviews ahead of its September 4 release. The game, which launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store, holds an average Metascore of 85 on Metacritic based on over 80 PS5 reviews, a figure that matches the series' previous high mark set by 2004's Onimusha 3. Reviewers widely praise the sword-fighting combat, which centers on timing-based actions like the parry-like Ukenagashi, the deflect, and the signature Issen counter. IGN awarded a perfect 100, while Forbes gave 90 and Eurogamer 80, with the latter noting the game's deliberate departure from common Soulslike design. The game stars a young Miyamoto Musashi, modeled on the late actor Toshiro Mifune and voiced by Yoshimasa Hosono, who is forced to wield the Oni Gauntlet after being killed by demons called Genma. The demo has surpassed 2 million downloads, with over 10 million Issen executions recorded.","whyItMatters":"The Metascore matching Onimusha 3 signals that Capcom's gamble on a wide-linear, story-driven reboot of a dormant franchise has paid off with critics, and the 2 million demo downloads show strong player interest before launch.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe parry-like Ukenagashi was the combat element director Ken Niibei said modern technology finally made possible, according to an Automaton interview. The game runs on Capcom\u0026#39;s RE Engine, which reviewers cited as a graphical highlight. A special video narrated by Akio Otsuka, a series voice veteran, debuted September 1 to showcase the sword-fighting action.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe opening plays out in a duel against Kiyokazu Yoshioka of the Yoshida dojo, where Musashi shows a comedic side by fleeing from a swarm of students before being killed alongside rival Sasaki Kojirō. The gauntlet\u0026#39;s resident spirit, a woman called the Oni no Kajin, corrects Musashi\u0026#39;s crude speech with polite phrasing, and the pair clash with Izumo no Okuni early on before warming to each other. Bosses include the giant Daitara, sake-drinking Shuten Dōji, and Raishōgan, who occupies Yasui Konpiragū.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGame*Spark praised the Issen timing as a rare sweet spot, landing 7 to 8 out of 10 attempts, but found the controller vibration too quiet during normal slashes and noted a mid-boss that reappears often. Automaton said the story takes a while to ignite, and that both the Hyakue and Nuten bosses repeat frequently. A photo mode ships with filters, and a black-and-white setting produces period-drama shots. The demo\u0026#39;s free expansion added the Oni no Kakurezato area and the Daitara fight, plus the hidden boss Hyakue after landing ten Issen counters.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Onimusha: Way of the Sword's 85 Metascore matches Onimusha 3, but the demo's 10 million Issen executions show the parry is the hook Capcom built the marketing around.","twitterPost":"Onimusha: Way of the Sword's Metascore ties Onimusha 3, yet the demo's 10 million Issen executions show the counter is the real selling point.","threadsPost":"Onimusha: Way of the Sword hits an 85 Metascore, matching Onimusha 3's series high. But the demo's 10 million Issen executions reveal the counter, not the story or visuals, is what Capcom is betting the appeal on.","newsletterBlurb":"Capcom's long-dormant Onimusha series returns with Way of the Sword, and critics are calling it a hit. The game holds an 85 Metascore, with praise for its timing-based sword combat and a young Musashi modeled on Toshiro Mifune. Launch is September 4.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"GAME Watch (Impress)\",\"url\":\"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/rev1/2136942.html\",\"title\":\"これは傑作！「鬼武者 Way of the Sword」レビュー\"},{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/865/G086595/20260901003/\",\"title\":\"［プレイレポ］「鬼武者 Way of the Sword」，多彩な技を駆使して強大なボスと真っ向勝負。スリリングな駆け引きが熱い剣戟アクション\"},{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/865/G086595/20260901005/\",\"title\":\"'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' Special Video Introducing Sword-Fighting Action Released, Narrated by Akio Otsuka\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2609012g\",\"title\":\"Highly Rated: 'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' Earns Average Metascore of 85/100 in Overseas Reviews\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260901-464348/\",\"title\":\"『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』、\\\"シリーズトップ級メタスコア\\\"で前評判上々。現代の技術だから作れた新生鬼武者、発売前から勢いに乗る\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/impressionjp/20260901-464457/\",\"title\":\"『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』レビュー。武蔵の奇譚時代劇は\\\"火が付く\\\"のがちょっと遅い。圧倒的作り込みの剣戟で魅せる、「令和のカプコン」流バッサリ感\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/01/171556.html\",\"title\":\"Game*Sparkレビュー：『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』は剣戟ゲーの歴史に鋭く斬り込む傑作！初見も古参も幻魔と楽しく踊ろう\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":55624,"outputTokens":1882,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1788265657,"createdAt":"2026-09-01T12:18:06.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-09-01T12:22:27.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-01T12:22:27.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_bf994c8880faa053d4027a19","canonicalTitle":"Game*Sparkレビュー：『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』は剣戟ゲーの歴史に鋭く斬り込む傑作！初見も古参も幻魔と楽しく踊ろう","representativeArticleId":"a_be4b1d9cb627181d9ef9c182","sourceCount":5,"writtenSourceCount":5,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Onimusha: Way of the Sword\"],\"studios\":[\"Capcom\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"review\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-31T15:00:03.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-09-01T11:32:56.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-01T12:22:27.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/865/G086595/20260901005/","title":"「鬼武者 Way of the Sword」，剣戟アクションを紹介する特別映像を公開。大塚明夫さんがナレーションを担当"},{"source":"GAME Watch (Impress)","url":"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/rev1/2136942.html","title":"これは傑作！「鬼武者 Way of the Sword」レビュー"},{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/impressionjp/20260901-464457/","title":"『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』レビュー。武蔵の奇譚時代劇は“火が付く”のがちょっと遅い。圧倒的作り込みの剣戟で魅せる、「令和のカプコン」流バッサリ感"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2609012g","title":"【高評価】『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』海外レビューでメタスコア平均「85/100」を獲得。「一閃が決まると最高の気分になれる」「武蔵のクールさと、登場人物との関係性が魅力」などレビュー集まる"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/01/171556.html","title":"Game*Sparkレビュー：『鬼武者 Way of the Sword』は剣戟ゲーの歴史に鋭く斬り込む傑作！初見も古参も幻魔と楽しく踊ろう"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Onimusha: Way of the Sword"],"studios":["Capcom"],"people":[],"type":"review","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches on September 4, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store.","The game holds an average Metascore of 85 on Metacritic based on more than 80 PS5 reviews, matching the series high set by Onimusha 3.","The demo has surpassed 2 million downloads, and players have executed Issen over 10 million times.","The protagonist Miyamoto Musashi is modeled on actor Toshiro Mifune and voiced by Yoshimasa Hosono.","A special video introducing the sword-fighting action is narrated by Akio Otsuka."]}