Review of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny

Capcom’s Onimusha series? Man, what a blast from the past, right? Remember when it was like Resident Evil but with samurais? The good ol’ days. The first game, straight-up Sengoku-era survival horror, kinda like if you threw a katana into the zombie apocalypse setting. That was the vibe. Four main games and a couple of spin-offs. Then it all went quiet until 2018 when they breathed some life back into the original with a remaster. Now, they’ve done it again with Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, and I’m just over here, reminiscing about PS2 glory days.

So, what’s the deal with this remaster? Not gonna blow your socks off with massive changes, but honestly, that’s the charm, I guess? Onimusha 2 always felt like when this series decided, “Yeah, let’s do our own thing.” Revisited it recently, and yup, it’s still the Empire Strikes Back of samurai demons. Dunno why, but I love that analogy. Anyway, the timing of this remaster, hmmm, feels strategic. Like they’re setting us up for the big show with Onimusha: Way of the Sword next year.

Capcom didn’t rock the boat too much. Just gave it a fresh coat of paint, maybe spruced things up here and there. Oh, and those crazy tough achievements called “Honors.” A new Hell mode too, where even breathing wrong can get you killed. Masochists, rejoice! Again, a true-to-the-PS2 experience but with HD visuals and modern controls. The old tank controls had their charm, kinda like trying to parallel park a brick, but still.

Intrigued by Onimusha’s place in the gaming universe? Onimusha 2’s got Jubei. Not the poster boy like Samanosuke, but he’s cool in his own right, building bonds with the crew: Magoichi, Ekei, Kotaro, Oyu — each with their side stories and gifts. Fun fact: Capcom kept the Gift system intact, so you can still shower your buddies with knick-knacks to unlock new paths.

Combat’s still a blast. Many weapons and juicy elemental magic, just like old times. So satisfying to switch it up based on who you’re fighting. This remaster, I’d say, is one nostalgic joyride aimed to keep purists happy while giving newcomers a taste of what made us fall in love in the first place.

So here’s to Capcom, for taking the tricky path of remastering without reimagining. You’ll hear the die-hard fans either praising the faithfulness or lamenting the lack of new stuff. Me? I think it’s a comfy path down memory lane with just enough new paint to catch the eye.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny — May 23, 2025, for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. An adventure waiting to be relived.