Onimusha: Warlords

Whether this release is testing the water for a return to the series, or it's just a dip into the library to throw out a release in January, Onimusha is one of Capcom's finest and least appreciated. Hopefully with this new version, creaky as it can be at times, the game (and franchise) finds some new fans. It would be great to have Onimusha and Nioh competing side by side to have the premier Japanese dark fantasy crown.

There’s a lot to like with this remaster and I hope Capcom considers remastering the others for Switch (and PS4 and Xbox One) in the future because some aspects haven’t aged well but this is a damn fine experience. I’ve grown to enjoy playing many older games on handheld systems and Onimusha is best on Switch for me.

A great return that makes us want a new iteration of this franchise.

Onimusha: Warlords for Nintendo Switch is a delight. It looks and plays well, it’s fun, and the in-game achievement system – aptly named Honors – motivates the player to replay the game several times. On average, most will be able to complete the game in around four hours. Despite the short duration, the journey is a quality one and something you’ll want to replay. Hopefully, Capcom has plans to bring the rest of the Onimusha series to the Nintendo Switch in the near future.

Almost two decades on, Onimusha: Warlords lives again thanks to a handful of truly impactful changes. Those tank controls are lighter to the touch and the improvements to the visuals help take the edge off those clunky PS2-era looks. The updated soundtrack might be a little inferior, but even it brings an extra layer of authenticity to a game that draws from Japan’s rich history of warfare. Hopefully, the rest of the series will get the same treatment because this classic swashbuckling adventure (with the occasional moment of horror) has just re-sharpened its blade, and we're happy to have it back.

Back in 2001, when Onimusha Warlords first came out, it was a real step forward in the beat'em all genre. Eighteen years later, despite its laughable length, the joy of discovery remains the same, especially when it comes to its stunning art direction and the simpleness of its gameplay mechanics. Now, we can only hope for further adaptations of the Onimusha saga.

Onimusha: Warlords is short, and the remastered version doesn't expand with any new playable content. But it does a good job in terms of improving graphics performance and control. What's more, even in 2019, the battle system is still gorgeous, and it definitely is a must-buy game for the fans.

Onimusha brings back one of the greatest PS2 adventures. Visuals (remastered in 16:9 format and 1080p resolution) and combat system are still ok, but some mechanics feel outdated. It brought back our best memories of the 2001 original PS2 game.

Onimusha: Warlords is a game from another era and the remaster, despite its many enhancements, sadly highlights how the experience hasn't aged too well. This doesn't mean that the game isn't good, as many of its ideas, such as combat, leveling system and puzzles, only required a few small tweaks to be truly excellent. The fact that it's a game from 2001 is clear when playing the game, but Onimusha: Warlords can still provide a sweet, albeit short, experience.

All in all, Onimusha HD is a wonderful return to the first entry in a long and well-loved series. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if Capcom continues to overhaul these PS2 and GameCube era classics.

Nintendo Switch players that opt to revive a classic such as Onimusha: Warlords HD Remaster will find everything that made Capcom special in a title that feels like a Resident Evil spin-off. However, I must remind everyone that the game doesn't go beyond a simple port.

If you enjoy Onimusha then I'd recommend getting the remaster of Onimusha Warlords. It's really annoying that the game doesn't include the Genma Onimusha content but the 3D movement controls work very well for the type of gameplay that Onimusha has.