Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Remaster

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a good follow-up to the original Onimusha and improves on it in almost every way and this remaster is the definitive way to play it. The combat feels great, the upscaled pre-rendered background are gorgeous and the colorful cast of characters helps propel the story above the first game in the series. Some half-baked systems and mechanics hold it back from being truly great, but I still recommend this to those who love the original release and to those who may have never played the series before.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny fits an interesting place in gaming history. There’s a weightiness to the visuals and combat that place it more in the past, but the new life given from the analog controls cannot be understated. What results is a comedically charming story that is coupled with methodical action combat. The lack of reliable healing adds a layer of difficulty that makes taking hits problematic and gives added weight to the powerful boss encounters. This particular style of quirky nostalgic charm hasn’t been replicated since the original’s release and the modern improvements make this a treat that is enjoyable to experience firsthand.

The remaster of Onimusha 2 is sure to stir nostalgia in longtime fans. It’s a great opportunity to relive Capcom’s classic action-horror, though it remains very much a product of its time, complete with gameplay elements that now feel dated. Still, it's hard not to appreciate Capcom’s effort in preserving a piece of gaming history.

A solid remaster of a game that's very much a product of its era—brimming with charm and eccentricity that you'll either fully embrace or not, flaws and all.

A nostalgic return for Onimusha fans, but its dated design may not hold up for everyone.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a nostalgic gem that mulches demons by a bunch, but fixed cameras and retro limitations make it more a love letter to the PS2 era than a modern hit. Worth a try if you love Capcom’s eccentricity, but don’t expect a masterpiece by today’s standards.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a bold sequel that adds RPG elements into the mix and has more of an action focus. Awkward fixed camera angles add unwanted frustration to combat, though, and the new weapon switching mechanic is troublesome to use in the heat of battle.

A visually upgraded but mechanically outdated remaster of a PS2 cult classic. Onimusha 2 retains its charm and historical value, but the stiff controls and static camera make it a tough sell for modern audiences. Best suited for nostalgic fans and genre historians.

While we wait for the release of Onimusha: Way of the Sword in 2026, Capcom returns to the fray and rescues one of the best episodes of the saga, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny. Available on Playstation, Switch, PC and Xbox consoles, the remastering stays in the previous generation offering a work that could have been better. Fortunately the original game is powerful enough to hold its own with what is undoubtedly the best option to relive the story of Jubei Jagyu and Oda Nobunaga.

It's honourable, in a way, to present the Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remaster mostly unchanged from its original 2002 PS2 version. The visuals have been given a freshen up, and some smart changes – like weapon switching on the fly, auto-save, and more – definitely make for a more playable experience. But the fixed camera angles and dated production values don’t necessarily show Onimusha in the best light, leaving this remaster as a clunky history lesson for newcomers, and a solid throwback for fans.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a delightful time capsule that harkens back to a much simpler time when linear games still had a magical feeling of worlds feeling much bigger than they were. It’s an absolute joy to revisit for retro purists who appreciate a few modernised tweaks. So what are you waiting for? Go play it already.

Even with the baggage of its PS2 origins, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a welcome trip down memory lane.

If nothing else, it whets the appetite for next year’s big Onimusha revival, so perhaps that’s job done after all.

Some believe that in order to truly "remaster" a game, there has to be a mastered game to begin with, and in the case of Onimusha 2, it certainly (with all due respect) isn't a game that was made with mastery to begin with. A derided sequel given an appreciable but unsurprising remaster, Onimusha 2 is worthwhile to play if you didn't play it in 2002, and is a capable study for new players.

If you’re eager to get closer to the Onimusha series ahead of Way of the Sword, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a great way to do that, but it’s an awkward action experience in 2025.