Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny review - Just for fans

The Onimusha series is officially back. We’re all excited for 2026’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword starring Miyamoto Musashi, but you might’ve forgotten that an Onimusha anime series launched on Netflix in 2023. What about Onimusha VR: Shadow Team, which launched in select Japanese Capcom arcade centers earlier this year? If you don’t have your ear to the ground, it’s easy to be completely unaware of the fact that Capcom’s legendary early ‘00s action series is back in full force more than 20 years later, and you can rediscover the series with Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny.

A humble (and inexpensive) remaster of the second mainline game, Samurai’s Destiny primarily follows Jubei Yagyu as he fights yokai monsters on his way to overcome the forces of Oda Nobunaga. This is a 23-year-old game, make no mistake; while it is, for the most part, a relatively familiar action hack-and-slash adventure, the action gameplay isn’t as refined and sharp as what you might expect from modern titles. You won’t have to contend with tank controls, but controlling Jubei takes some adjustment, as he can feel stiff at times.

Jubei can lock onto enemies and strafe around them, but the game’s hallmark fixed camera angles often obscure what you need to see, such as enemy attack animations or incoming projectiles. When overwhelmed by a bunch of foes, Samurai’s Destiny feels like an intensely awkward game to play, but if you methodically wipe out each you come across (before they manage to respawn in force), everything feels more digestible and understandable.

As you explore, Jubei uncovers new weapons that he can upgrade with souls, each giving him access to a new moveset and magical attacks. Some bosses and enemies might seem tough on the surface, but using the right weapon and elemental attack can bring things to a close quickly. Absorb enough souls and energies from fallen foes, and you’ll be able to transform Jubei into his Oni form, allowing him to deal massive damage to bosses. 

If you’re not familiar with the PS2 action classics – a bit like me – then Onimusha will remind you most of Resident Evil, complete with the collection of key items and obtuse puzzles that you need to clear through, only with the near-constant threat of lurking foes. You’ll rarely get a moment to take a breather and compose yourself, you need to move fast as you slink back through familiar paths to solve puzzles and unlock new paths.

Much like ports of older Resident Evil games, Samurai’s Destiny has had its pre-rendered backgrounds upscaled to fit better on modern screens. While the resolution bump is absolutely appreciated, it can be jarringly obvious when a 3D model is on top of or behind a 2D texture. While these minor issues are easily overlooked if you’re coming back for a rerun of an old classic, it’s a fair bit harder if you’re experiencing the game for the first time.

It’s easy to see what Onimusha’s appeal would be in the early ‘00s. A Resident Evil-style action game is a beautiful thing on paper, and Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a cult classic for a reason. As a piece of video game history, it’s fascinating and wonderful to have it playable on modern systems. As a new game to jump into in 2025, it’s going to be jarring. 

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.