Onimusha: Warlords

I think everyone knows why I quit near the beginning of the game. Yeah no. Let me skip cutscenes I'm not wasting my fucking time lol. Good game regardless but one section is so bad I lost interest.

Can't wait for onimusha 2 after playing this game again.

Excellent PS2 game.
Even better on PC with reworked music and steam achievements.
Maybe not worth 20 euros, was satisfied getting it for 10 euros though, it's a really short game (expect 3 hours if you already know the game, maybe the double if you're not familiar with the game).
You can still count more hours if you're going to go through all the achievements and other modes to unlock.
An excellent title that remains a unique experience. Hard to think they made such great games back in the days but here we are. It has aged like fine wine and will surely satisfy new players and veterans filled with nostalgia. Whoever you are it's a blast from the past.

It's a samurai/magic survival horror game. It's short and fun. Look forward to the second game's remaster.

Good port, decent story, understandable how this became a Capcom classic. Decent controls. Horrible puzzles that are more of a trick to keep the player stuck thus making the game "longer". Short game overall.

Good for a nostalgia trip and understand on how we were dumb as kids but we had fun on simpler times.

6 samanosukes outta 10 samanosukes

Onimusha Warlords has you play as Samanosuke Akechi in feudal Japan where you must save a princess from a demon infested castle. The overall gameplay loop is similar to old school Resident Evil games, with pre-rendered backgrounds and fixed camera angles but with a focus on action combat with hack and slash gameplay.

This a port (light remaster) of the PS2 game, so set your expectations accordingly.

Pros:

+ This is about as faithful a port as can be, for better and worse

++ The gameplay loop of hack and slash combat, exploration and upgrading is a satisfying one

++ The remade soundtrack for this release has some pretty good tunes despite not being the OG soundtrack

+ The puzzles in the game aren't that difficult overall, with one exception

+ QoL: Game can be played with the analog stick now, but the OG tank controls still exist on the d-pad

+ QoL: Weapons and ranged weapons can now be swapped outside of the menu via shoulder buttons

+ Keyboard and mouse controls for those who want to play that way and they can be rebinded

++ The Japanese voiceover is pretty good here and feels more authentic than the odd english dub

+ Difficulty options

+ While you play most of the game as Samanosuke, there are sections played with Kaede that provide a nice change up

+ Unlockable extras: Oni Spirits minigame, harder difficulty unlock and costumes for Samanosuke and Kaede

Cons:

- Graphics. Not much has changed here from the PS2 release. You get modern resolutions with widescreen and 60 fps. The in game models may have been slightly touched up but the pre-rendered backgrounds are the same as they've always been and don't look great with higher resolutions

- Game exit is hidden on the main menu. They could have easily added something to show that ESC is the game shutdown or a menu option.

-- Can't rebind the gamepad controls

--- The map is assigned to the left stick button. I cannot tell you how many times I have accidentally brought the map up in the middle of combat, got distracted by it, and then got hit. This could had easily been fixed by letting the player rebind the gamepad controls. Also, I looked up the OG game and the map in the original game was assigned to the right stick button. Somebody at Capcom did not think this through properly.

--- The water trap puzzle. This is probably one of the worst designed puzzle sequences in gaming and does everything it can to waste the player's time. Don't suffer it, just look up a guide, solve it and move on. I'm serious, don't waste your time trying to old school it blind.

- Cutscenes cannot be skipped.

-- The old school fixed camera angles don't work as well here as they did in Resident Evil. In fact they can be an active detriment to the action gameplay as positioning and seeing the telegraphing of enemy movements is much more important here and the fixed camera just makes that harder.

- Enemy spawns can be a bit excessive in some areas

- Translation issue of the Oni/Orges still exists here despite being corrected in the later games. Would had been an easy fix to maintain series consistency.

- Weirdly, this is not the XBox Genma Onimusha version which had extra content.

- Doesn't have the OG soundtrack for legal reasons I presume. From what I understand, the OG composer didn't actually create the music while someone else did, but they passed it off as if they did and... well no OG soundtrack.

- The timing of Issen (Critical strike) is far too cryptic to be reliable. Either there needs to better tells or the frame window needs to be more lenient.

- Plot: A lot gets hyped up about Nobunaga Oda story wise but in reality he barely plays any role in the game. It bugged me when I played the OG game, it still bugs me now.

All in all, it’s a fun, short action game. This PC version however barely qualifies as a remaster and while it has a few QoL additions, I feel like this needed more love to really shine. As such, the experience just comes off as just okay. A passable port of a PS2 game and nothing more.

6/10

This is peak

Fuck this game. Seriously, fuck this game. It is one of the most brutal hack and slashes I have ever played. Long periods where they don't give you a SINGLE healing item. Endless backtracking. Endless "where the fuck do I go?" moments, only for a cutscene you can't skip and instant death and hours lost because the last checkpoint was seriously hours away. How this game got such a great reputation is beyond me. I fucking can't stand this game.

The game holds up well and is a classic. Psyched for the new Onimusha! 8/10.

This game brings back so many good memories I hope they finally make a new one after all these years.

Great classic

Resident Evil just with Swords and Demons, was fun.

Short, sweet, and a lot of fun. Replay value too like Resi with costume unlocks, harder difficulty and ranking system based on what you accomplish on your run.

This game is a classic. I originally played it on the PS2 back when it was new, and it immediately became one of my favorite games due to it's setting (mid 1500's Japan), gameplay, music, and it's crazy, yet compelling, story line.

For those newer to the series that have an aversion to the Souls-Like games (like I do), I should point out that you have nothing to fear here. While there is a bit of a challenge, it's not the throw your keyboard against the wall and monitor in the trash frustrating that Souls-Like games have. This game is actually FUN to play hacking up monsters while upgrading your weapons.

Also, I should address Steam Deck capability. The game DOES run on the Steam deck flawlessly during regular gameplay and normal movie sequences, however the CG-movies (the movie sequences with the good-for-the-time graphics) don't play nice with the Steam Deck. There's 5 in total, 3 don't play at all, 2 are stuttering and jittery. You can easily skip them and go back into the game, but 4 of these sequences are important to the story (one is the opening, two are major plot points, and the last is the ending). Luckily, there's the internet so I'd recommend just watching these sections on YouTube if you haven't played the game before and are playing on the Steam Deck.

I highly recommend this game, even with the Steam Deck issues. If the idea of playing as a Samurai fighting monsters in feudal Japan interests you, don't let modern gaming tropes scare you away from this one (nor the second, since Onimusha 2 is coming out soon and is just as good), it's worth your time and won't infuriate you with it's difficulty.

First of all, the game is too short. Reaching to final boss took me only 3.5 hours. Considering what it wants to accomplish, the combat is quite shallow as it's all about spamming square and sometimes, block with L1 while all the mobs have many features from dashing to somersault. Alongside Samanosuke's 3 different weapons, there is also bow and arrow but neither it's useable nor the game doesn't explain anywhere how to use it. And the final boss is naturally old-fashioned as it is purely designed not to get beaten.The funny thing is that, Samanosuke says: "Even if I die, I will destroy you!" before the final boss fight but, when he dies, it's Game Over and the boss doesn't get destroyed LMAO. The story is whatever. And lastly, puzzles require trial and error or speed instead of brains.

Still, it's a short fun game that you might try when you're looking for some small action.

7/10

A favorite of mine. Think "Resident Evil", but with samurai and swords.

It's a good, simple, and short game. Combat is fun but not all that interesting or deep. The fixed camera can cause some issues and some enemies can hit you off screen but it's really not that big of a deal. The story isn't super enthralling but it does its job. The atmosphere and music are where this game really shines for me. Overall, I'd give it a 7.8/10.

Such a classic. Love this game. And when Modern RPG gameplay is applied to this legend, it'll be too awesome!

If you like classical Resident Evil games, you will like this game's mechanics too. This version supports analog controls and is the way to play the game if you haven't purchased it before. Having said that, blurry visuals and dated controls will affect your experience and enjoyment.

Unskippable cut scenes that scale in length with boss difficulty are truly painful. Healing items are scarce and if you use them early on the end game gets real tricky. Other than that masterpiece pure cinema. Play in Japanese for the freaky deaky cut scenes :D

An essential part of gaming history - to my mind the birth of the 'character action' genre started here. It won't take very long to beat (around 4 hours) and well worth your time.

one of the greatest.

It's a great game from the Capcom S2 era. Period.

Great game, plays really well. An underrated classic.

This is a PS2 classic game and I think they uplifted the graphics well enough for a game released in the early 2000s, this is basically a Samurai resident evil game with the tenky controls and cameras. I think this one is an good game for the first as the second one is my favorite one of all the series (there is 4 main title game and few spin offs). You can easily beat this game in 7-9 hours but if you want to 100% you have to remember certain items to get a new game plus for the higher difficulty instead of buying it right off the bat like most games do. There was technically two releases for this game one for the PS2 and one for the OG Xbox as the Xbox one had harder enemies and bosses. This is the PS2 one so it's the original release one and not too difficulty as opposed to the OG xbox one. Def recommend this one as they are about to drop Onimusha 2 and soon the reboot Onimusha with a new Main Character.

A solid and unique game in it's youth/past. I have played the original PS2 version many years ago. But with the remaster it shows it's age significantly. Onimusha Warlords is very much the weakest out of the Quadrology.

The game is extremely short, lacks replayability other than trying to get all of the collectibles to play the additional little mini-games. However this version of the game still lacks "Genma onimusha" features which is extremely disappointing, Genma Onimusha being a mini-DLC updated version of the game for the OG Fat Xbox. Which gave a little bit more features, that is missing in this version including some additional armor, some new mini-games and a few other QOL changes such as swapping weapons on the fly etc.

If you wanna play a piece of video game history get it on sale or wait until the Onimusha 2 Samurai's Destiny comes out and get the two pack. Thankfully it seems that capcom is reviving the series yet again so hopefully more of it will come around here soon including Onimusha 3 Demon Siege and Dawn of Dreams.

Timeless classic. Eerie and beautiful, filled with Japanese folklore and magic.

Classic Resident Evil with a little bit of a Musuo (Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, ___ Warriors) game, solid but CRIMINALLY short (Beat in under 4 hours) get on a sale but still fun if you paid full price!

One of the best Capcom games to come out back in the day and now they are finally bringing it back in 2026. Too anyone reading this comment pls play through the series you wont regret it!.

Just as good as I remember. Nearly perfect port too.
Onimusha Warlords, the first game in the series, is one of my favorite games. I think Sengoku classic Resident Evil is a very apt descriptor in a lot of ways, but it is distinct enough to set itself apart. The atmosphere is amazing and the pre-rendered backgrounds look fantastic. The gameplay is also perfectly balanced for first timers to the Onimusha series. The combat just feels very good. The pacing is great as well. The tank controls are done well enough in a way that it rarely feels like it gets in the way, and it respects player agency in a lot of ways while not becoming too obtuse like a lot of these older games fall victim to. A short game as well. If you take your time, it can take 5-6 hours to beat the first time around.

That being said, I do have two problems with this port. One disappointing, the other not very.
The first is that this game is a port of Onimusha *Warlords* and does not contain any content from *Genma* Onimusha. If you, reader are not aware, Capcom at the time was a Sony first developer, and Microsoft just released the original Xbox. To help Xbox break into eastern markets, Microsoft wanted to make a deal with Capcom to make Resident Evil an Xbox exclusive and Capcom declined and offered to make a *definitive* edition of Onimusha Warlords on Xbox. Thus we got Genma Onimusha as an Xbox exclusive that has a ton of new content and also *skippable cutscenes!* Whole new areas and new mechanics too. I really wish this was added in as maybe a Genma mode setting because Genma is absolutely the definitive way to play Onimusha 1. I think that would make the game a perfect game for me.
The second thing is much smaller. They re-did the OST for the game. The original was wonderful, and you can still get it in this port with a mod. But they removed it because of some legal reason with the original composer or something and I completely understand why. For sure mod in the original OST when you play.
This is an almost perfect port of Onimusha Warlords. And nothing more. This is like if they ported vanilla Kingdom Hearts II instead of Final Mix.

Great to relive a cult classic from the PS2 era. Wish they included the Genma version as well. Can't wait for Onimusha 2 and Way of the Sword. Please provide Oni 3!

Never played this series before. As soon as I saw a new trailer of the upcoming game, decided to try this one. An outstanding game. despite the age it plays amazingly. Graphics are not perfect, feels the age, but the gameplay is really good. Worth playing!

The game itself is very simple and enjoyable. The remaster aspect isn't perfect. Replaced soundtrack, unskippable cutscenes, and no option for Genma abilities. The weapon switching and nicely upscaled visuals are nice though. It's a solid version of the game and I'm sure the issues could be remedied with mods.

Would have been nice if this was the Xbox version.

I see that the game says the Steam Deck is unsupported but my Legion Go does play it just fine so I think this game is Steam Deck playable.

The great news is that the Onimusha 2 Remastered has been announced...maybe the Xbox version will be included in the Onimusha Remastered when the time comes...$$$.

Always wanted to play this sometime and seeing that it was on sale pushed me to play it once and for all. I can see the influences from early RE titles pretty easily and how other titles that have come out since have used this as a reference. It has a bit of a uneasy atmosphere and mood to it so there's some tension and the final boss fight is pretty cool and has some scale to it i didn't really think i would see. I won't really talk about the combat and such since i'm too biased by games as they are now to give it an objective view. I heard this was somewhat influenced by DMC 1 but I don't remember DMC 1 having such terrible controls and camera movement when i played through it more than 10 years ago.

The only real thing I hated was the crashing. I had constant crashing for some reason. Not sure if it was the ini edit to play on my 4K TV or the texture mod I downloaded from Nexus but it was annoying to be playing and be thrown back into Windows but just be aware you may experience this so save often.

Looking forward to the second game's remaster coming to Steam this year!

Pre-rendered backgrounds are great and never should've fallen out of fashion. For a port of a PS2 game, this does a decent job of preserving the quality of them. The game otherwise is decent though only about 4 hours long if you don't want to engage with the bonus game mode or challenge runs.

Basically Resident evil game design but with a few twists that probably inspired games such as:
Ninja Gaiden
Devil May Cry
God of War
Sekiro, and other FromSoftware titles
Idk, some more games??

Game's short and sweet, quite replayable.
Cool game, thanks Capcom

Samurai resident evil, whats not to like here

A Sengoku era Resident Evil-like with great movement and fun leveling up mechanic? Yes please. A concise yet engaging story incorporating medieval Japanese historical figures who precipitated the cultural changes that would make Japan what it is today? Sign me up. What's that, boss? Supernatural horror? Yokai? Demons? Genma? Whatever you call them, I'm sold mister! I couldn't recommend this game enough, espescially to anyone who loves classic Capcom gaming. This game feels very much of its time but it has lost none of its charm and certainly does not feel like it has aged poorly. In fact I would say the opposite. It's an incredibly entertaining experience, if a bit short. But because of it's short run time I find a lot of replayability in it and have found myself playing it back to back up to three times. To sum it up: You are a Sengoku era Samurai fighting against Nobunaga Oda's forces backed by demons called Genma to save the Satomi clan's Princess Yuki from being sacrificed for their malevolent cause. It's a bop.

Onimusha slashed so Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden could full combo.

memories

No Nostalgia Needed...

First, I think it’s worth mentioning that I wasn’t familiar with the Onimusha series until 2025, so this review comes from someone without any nostalgia for it.

What can I say... Despite the game’s age, it feels and plays ahead of its time. I thoroughly enjoyed playing it. The setting, the graphics, the characters, the soundtrack — everything’s great.

That said, I’d like to share a few words about the game’s difficulty. Surprisingly, it feels a bit too easy. For your first playthrough, the highest difficulty available is "normal." While the game can feel challenging at the beginning, the more you enhance your equipment, the easier it becomes.

One thing I didn’t enjoy was the controls. They felt a bit too slow for an action game like this, and occasionally, they caused me to take some unexpected and unwelcome hits (or maybe I’m just a slowpoke, lol ┐(￣ヮ￣)┌ ).

Still, for me, Onimusha: Warlords has become another favorite Capcom game, and I’ll definitely play it again — at least to unlock Ultimate Mode and complete it.

P.S.: My personal recommendation—play the game with Japanese voice-overs.

A Timeless Samurai Classic!
When it comes to samurai games, Onimusha Warlords stands tall as one of the best ever made.
Originally released in 2001, this Capcom gem blends feudal Japan's mystique with supernatural thrills to deliver an unforgettable action-adventure experience.
Even today, it remains a benchmark for how to craft a samurai story, and for me, it's a game that never gets old!
The gameplay of Onimusha Warlords is a satisfying mix of swordplay, puzzle-solving, and resource management.
As the legendary samurai Samanosuke Akechi, you wield a variety of mystical weapons, each with its own unique elemental powers, adding depth and strategy to every encounter.
Combat is methodical yet fluid, rewarding precision and timing over button-mashing, a hallmark of Capcom’s design philosophy at the time.
What sets the game apart is the "soul absorption" mechanic.
Slaying enemies and absorbing their souls to upgrade weapons and abilities feels incredibly rewarding and adds a layer of tension to every battle.
The variety of enemies and the memorable boss fights, from demonic samurai to monstrous beasts, keep the action fresh from start to finish!
Set against the backdrop of the Sengoku period, Onimusha Warlords weaves a compelling tale of honor, betrayal, and demonic invasion.
Samanosuke is tasked with rescuing Princess Yuki while facing the demonic forces of Nobunaga Oda.
The story strikes a perfect balance between historical drama and supernatural intrigue, pulling you into its eerie world.
Samanosuke himself is just plain awesome!
His stoic demeanor, unwavering sense of duty, and unmatched skill with a blade make him one of the most iconic samurai protagonists in gaming history.
Whether he's slicing through hordes of demons or facing down larger-than-life foes, he carries the game with an undeniable charisma.
The atmosphere is another standout. The haunting music, dark castle corridors, and eerie demon-infested landscapes create a sense of tension and mystery that pulls you into the world.
It's like stepping into a samurai horror film, and it's glorious.
While the original graphics show their age, the 2019 remaster does a commendable job of enhancing the visuals with improved textures and widescreen support.
The result is a game that looks sharp enough to appeal to modern audiences while retaining its classic charm.
The updated controls in the remaster make movement and combat more accessible without sacrificing the game's old-school feel.
Onimusha Warlords is a timeless masterpiece that still shines as one of the greatest samurai games ever made!
Its gripping story, unforgettable protagonist, and tight gameplay mechanics have earned it a special place in gaming history, and in my heart.
Whether you're a longtime fan revisiting a classic or a newcomer discovering its brilliance for the first time, Onimusha Warlords is an experience that shouldn't be missed...
Samanosuke isn’t just a samurai, he’s a legend!

This game went FAR TOO under the radar. A MUST PLAY for anyone looking for 2000's nostalgia!

I love Onimusha, played and passed most of them. I bought this on sale though since the last time I tried a pc port it wasnt working properly. But this is an amazing release. Controls arent janky and story is always great. Good Job Capcom, they just keep winning nowadays.

Refreshing to play a good game that doesn't require 100 hours of your time!

it's good like spaghetti and meatballs good

good game

Great, short game and definitely the definition of gaming during the early 2000's. Hack and slash goodness with Japanese folklore and demons. Definitely worth it if you wanna play and beat a game in ~5hrs. Definitely buy only when on sale

How did I miss you old friend... You are still as good as always.

PS: Capcom please port Onimusha 2...