Capcom currently has a solid track record for long-running, quality titles that infuse a variety of themes, which begs the question of why its Onimusha franchise has yet to return. Set during a mythical period of Japanese history, players assume the role of samurai who uncover demonic plots against the nation's clans. Onimusha was last seen in a 2018 remaster of its first entry, Onimusha: Warlords, and its supernatural elements might be appreciated in a new release that truly captures the horror and drama of its thrilling setting.

With critically acclaimed releases like FromSoft's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Ghost of Tsushima from Sucker Punch Productions, it's clear that the medium has an opening for even more imaginative quests inspired by feudal Japan. Onimusha is among the best samurai games, and like Capcom's Resident Evil series, it has a unique take that emphasizes tense gameplay. Many years have passed since the games were in their prime, which could be an opportunity for a surprising, modern reboot in the vein of the 2023 Resident Evil 4 remake.

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The Significance of Capcom's Onimusha Series

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In Onimusha: Warlords, Capcom presented a strong story pairing heroes with strange Oni powers; enabling item upgrades, puzzle-solving across treacherous passageways, and cutscenes that revealed mysterious, evil forces lurking within those shadowy environments. Subsequent entries honed in on these themes, developing a dangerous atmosphere empowered by fantasy. While now considered one of the PS2's forgotten hack-and-slash classics, the series is still revered for how it built upon Capcom's hallmarks in survival horror and adventure gaming.

Often characterized as an action game first, Onimusha also combined cinematic exploration alongside duels against demons and intimidating bosses. It all makes for a streamlined yet smooth formula, something that could work in its favor, especially in a genre that is prone to unnecessary padding. Historically, Onimusha was considered the hack-and-slash counterpart to classic Resident Evil games, partially because of their shared, fixed camera perspective and knack for enemy ambushes. Not that the franchise can't return on its own terms, but Resident Evil has been undergoing a renaissance lately, so that connection might be critical in bringing Capcom's samurai IP back from obscurity.

A New Onimusha Could Match the Quality of the Resident Evil Remakes

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The positive reception toward the Resident Evil 4 remake demonstrates Capcom will probably not stop investing in its legacy IPs any time soon. The company has rightfully improved its reputation by respecting its most seminal titles - faithful recreations and innovative sequels both being factors in that larger endeavor. Given its recent trend of success, it's time for Onimusha to be a part of the equation before it's too late. A new entry has the potential to reinvigorate the IP after a long hiatus, introducing gamers to the supernatural swordplay of the original games with modernizations similar to Resident Evil remakes.

Indeed, Onimusha exists in a different genre from Resident Evil, but they do overlap in a couple of important ways. Like the first Resident Evil's mansion, Onimusha: Warlords traps players inside branching rooms in the form of a sprawling castle. Another similarity is that they must also manage resources whilst exploring colorful, pre-rendered backgrounds that help tell a story veiled in mystery. Nevertheless, it's fair to believe that some updates are overdue too. To match the quality of modern releases, Onimusha can take cues from Sekiro or the immersive, third-person view of newer Resident Evil games to let players position themselves more precisely.

Melee is a focal point of the experience, although a few magical features may make its combat distinct as well. One example is the Oni Gauntlet which can be wielded to fuel powerful counterattacks or absorb the souls of defeated Genma demons. On the whole, if Capcom has an interest in broadening its action-adventure efforts, an Onimusha revival would likely be appreciated by fans of the originals and samurai stories in general.

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