Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny brings a long-forgotten chapter of the series back to modern platforms. Like the first game, it has been given a proper remaster, but it is more than just a visual upgrade. There is also new content to explore, including special mini-game modes, new difficulty options, and several quality-of-life improvements. While the core gameplay stays true to the original release from nearly two decades ago, these changes help make the experience feel more accessible today.
The game stars Jubei Yagyu, a member of the Yagyu clan. The story is another tale of revenge, a theme that is common in both games and movies. Jubei is on a mission to hunt down Nobunaga Oda, the man responsible for wiping out his clan. While Nobunaga Oda is a real historical figure, in the Onimusha series, he is portrayed as a dark warlord leading an army of demons. Jubei takes it upon himself to stop Nobunaga and uses his oni powers to absorb the souls of defeated demons with his oni gauntlet. These souls are then used to upgrade his gear, including weapons, armor, and the gauntlet itself.
Despite all the improvements, the game still sticks to its fixed camera angles, which now feel outdated for an action game. That is one of the reasons why, even with the upgrades, it can still feel a bit clunky. I understand that most of the series followed this design choice, so it makes sense to keep it for consistency. Still, it can be frustrating when the camera gets in the way during boss fights, making it harder to dodge attacks. I have even been hit by enemies standing just offscreen, and because of the angle, I had no way to see them coming.
While the first and third games share a common protagonist, that’s not the case with Onimusha 2. Jubei is still a solid main character, but he doesn’t quite match the charm of Samanosuke Akechi. The third game is often seen as the high point of the series, but Onimusha 2 brings some unique elements of its own. The combat has been tweaked since the PS2 days. From what we saw in the preview, the new controls seem better suited to the fixed camera angles, but they still fall short, especially when enemies or attacks happen offscreen.
The game doesn’t guide you much, which makes it feel a bit outdated. The fixed camera and lack of clear objectives can be confusing for newcomers, but those who’ve played it before should feel right at home. I liked how the combat felt more fluid, making it easier to land directional attacks. Parrying also plays a big role and tests your timing. It works by striking at the same time as the enemy, triggering a critical hit that can instantly take them down. If you’re confident, there’s even a dedicated mode focused on this mechanic.
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny isn’t a long game. It’s about the same length as the first one, or even some Resident Evil titles. Considering Capcom made all of these, that’s no surprise. You can finish the story in under 10 hours, but the game is built for replay value. With systems like parrying, counter hits, and multiple difficulty modes, it encourages you to go back and master it. At a budget price, it’s a solid offer, though it might not be for everyone.
The revamped visuals significantly enhance the presentation of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, even by modern standards. This is largely due to its strong original design and the use of pre-rendered backgrounds, which have been carefully upscaled to high-definition resolution. While the game features fully 3D character models and environments, many of the background elements remain pre-rendered. Capcom has taken the extra effort to ensure that these assets appear crisp and detailed in the remaster. The result is a much clearer and more refined image quality, offering a stark contrast to the original PlayStation 2 release. Having recently revisited the PS2 version, I can confidently say that the difference is substantial and noticeable.
One of the features of Onimusha 2 is the ability to switch between different characters during the game. A simple relationship system is in place, which involves giving gifts to allies to persuade them to join Jubei on specific missions. While the game does a commendable job of telegraphing enemy attacks, it still requires a fair amount of trial and error to fully understand the attack patterns of each enemy. Most battles occur in tight, enclosed spaces, which gives the game a more intimate and controlled combat experience. This approach to level design sets it apart from other action games of its time, such as Ninja Gaiden Black, which emphasized fluid movement and open environments. Fortunately, a new entry in the Onimusha series has been announced, and it appears to adopt a more modern action format, moving away from the fixed-camera corridor-based combat.
As for the mini-games included in Onimusha 2, I did not spend much time with them in this release, although I previously covered them in my preview. These side activities are mainly intended for long-time fans seeking additional replay value. They exist separately from the main campaign and feature leaderboards for those who wish to compete for high scores. Outside of this, there is little to say about their inclusion. On a technical note, the PC port is well-optimized and runs smoothly across a range of hardware configurations, including handheld devices such as the Steam Deck.
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
