Latest news with #Musashi
Geek Culture
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
‘Onimusha: Way of the Sword' Performs Thrilling Dance Of Steel, Blood, And Refreshed Tradition
Looking back at the 24-year-and-counting legacy of Onimusha , it's easy to forget that the series' origins date back to the very first Resident Evil game. The evolution of an idea exploring a ninja counterpart to Capcom's survival horror franchise, it has grown into its own identity, establishing a foothold in hack-and-slash gameplay, supernatural elements, and historical influence – so much so that Resident Evil 4 came full circle by taking inspiration from 2004's Onimusha 3: Demon Siege . Resurfacing after nearly two decades of absence is Onimusha: Way of the Sword , set to be a highly anticipated return to feudal Japan, with new protagonist Miyamoto Musashi taking centre stage. The title wastes little time in cementing its devotion to samurai authenticity, which features the likeness of Mifune Toshiro – the renowned Japanese actor best known for starring in Akira Kurosawa films like Seven Samurai , The Hidden Fortress , and Yojimbo – as the face model for the swordsman. It's a neat, even poetic, reference to his role as Musashi in Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy movies in the 1950s, while honouring the motion capture tradition that started with Japanese-Taiwanese star Takeshi Kaneshiro for the original game. Yusaku Matsuda contributed to the sequel, and Jean Reno, in the third instalment, all portraying historic figures who have shaped Japan's history. The franchise's latest frontman is no different, inspired by his real-world counterpart known for his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated 62-match streak. A silver of that might was the focus of an exclusive hands-off preview held for select media, showcasing combat gameplay, story premise, and revamped visuals. Taking place in a stage set at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the 20-minute demonstration points to a strong, hopeful revival in the form of punchy, blood-soaked action, vast demon variety, and a modern twist on traditional gameplay. The overall narrative beats are established in the opening moments: Musashi is on a quest to become the greatest swordsman in the world, battling anyone and everyone in his path. However, he receives the Oni Gauntlet against his will, wanting to be rid of it as he strives to become the master of the sword through his own power. Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings him to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which has been afflicted with Malice, generated by the Genma, or demons, accumulating in the area. As exposed individuals who will soon perish, Musashi infiltrates the locale to vanquish the Genma. Coming in three generations after the previous entry in the series, the visual facelift is immediately prominent. Particle effects, such as swirling red-tinted clouds in the skies – a result of the Malice – and fog, add more realism, while enhanced textures make the world look better than ever before. There's also an emphasis on cinematic storytelling, with close-up shots of Musashi revealing articulate facial expressions and subtle detailing, right down to the tendons and veins in his arms. Entering battle yields a familiar yet fresh experience. Like its predecessors, the upcoming slash fest marks the return of soul absorption, in which killing enemies rewards players with different types of souls: blue powers skills, yellow regenerates health, and red provides experience points. Souls disappear after some time, so knowing when to absorb them feeds into gameplay strategy, and veterans should feel right at home getting back into the swing (no pun intended) of things. The Onimusha enjoyment isn't complete without Issen, though. Mastering the way of the sword requires the series' signature ability to perform a fast evade and counterattack, and preview lifts the curtain on three out of the five that have been introduced across all of its titles: the basic manoeuvre, Haijiki Issen / Deflect Issen, or Issen Dance / Chain Issen. Working the same way as before, the first mechanic triggers a critical hit when the attack button is pressed at the right time during an enemy's blow. Similarly, Deflect Issen sees players sending enemy projectiles back and deflecting frontal attacks if they block just an attack that's about to land, with Chain Issen kicking the action into overdrive by stringing a successful Issen after another, before it ends on a leaping slash. The hands-off nature of the preview makes it difficult to gauge how the sensation will feel during actual gameplay, particularly when it comes to haptic feedback on the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller. According to Capcom, Issen execution promises 'a very satisfying feeling of cutting through enemies', and it does look like such. A crisp metallic sound rings through the air whenever Musashi locks blades with others, and there's weight behind each blow – a visceral touch accentuated through Break Issen, allowing players to target different parts of the body to disable attacks. The nifty mechanic is hardly the only tweak to the swordplay formula. Guarding now provides cover from all directions (Musashi's posture can still be broken after multiple hits), and the use of the surroundings is put into focus through parrying, which redirects hostile targets into a wall or the immediate environment. Spicing up gameplay beyond the usual dice-and-slice fare, it unlocks more ways to wreak destruction, such as redirecting enemies into a torch and setting them on fire, or lifting a table to block an arrow, then slamming it into them. Deflect enough blows, and Musashi will enter a powered-up state that deals more damage against foes. Attacking in this state creates more blue souls, allowing for quicker, more regular activation of his skills, including one which swaps out the katana for two swords – a nice little ode to the historical figure's dual-bladed tendencies – that land faster strikes and spits out health-regenerating yellow souls upon successful attacks. As per tradition, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to introduce new Genma types, each with their own characteristics and abilities. The Hitotsume Gasa, for instance, wields swords, a bow, and shields, and attacks in groups, while the Kubi Akari, a floating soul-sucking variant, is capable of grabbing players before self-destructing. Elsewhere, a ninja-like species uses doppelganger projections to evade strikes. The boss fights are the highlight, however, and the hands-off preview shifts its focus to Sasaki Ganryu, a rival swordsman who also wields an Oni Gauntlet, and a gargantuan, tanky Genma called Byakue. Unlike common foes, these hard hitters have a second gauge under their health bar that decreases with every deflected attack and staggers the enemy when fully depleted, opening the window for a Break Issen. Both opponents ooze a distinctive design – the former, shown in a trailer unveiled during Summer Game Fest 2025, is a bloodthirsty, deranged blur of speed, while the latter becomes stronger the more it's soaked in its own blood. Another welcome cultural nod comes in the form of the paper talisman, or ofuda, covering Byakue's body, said to ward off evil spirits and misfortune, alongside the addition of the Japanese flute to the battle music, which, by the way, is a head-bopper that adds to the adrenaline rush. The varied attacking patterns and styles keep players on their toes, requiring different strategies to handle the threat. Pressing the dodge button in time and before the final blast triggers a grab reversal against Kubi Akari, and deflecting the Byakue's axe attacks takes out all enemies in the vicinity. From the look of things, swordplay is shaping up to be a thrilling, high-octane time, with flying enemies potentially being one of the more annoying forces to defeat, even when locked on. Just a small gripe, but it'd be great if enemy lines could have more variety, especially since Ganryu seems to have mastered the art of trash-talking. Outside of swordplay, Onimusha: Way of the Sword introduces Oni Vision for a puzzle-solving element to progression. This new feature can detect and reveal hidden objects, including invisible Genma blocking the entrance to a location; defeating them opens up the path forward. Dark Mass comes in as the other new flourish, described as the embodiment of the resentment and negative energy of those who have been killed nearby. A narrative device, it relives memories related to the Malice when absorbed, allowing Musashi to witness events that occurred in the past, such as a scene of a father forced to throw his child off the temple. It sets up a gritty tone for storytelling, especially with the parallel to a real anecdote, steeped in mystical intrigue through the manifestation of the Oni Gauntlet as a mysterious female voice, also hinted at in the latest trailer. 19 years is a long time to be away, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword appears to be steadily slashing its way to an encouraging leap into a new generation. While there were some slight stumbles and hiccups in the hands-off preview, the sneak peek at a parry-heavy spectacle and visual polish proved scintillating, if brief, serving as the evolution of an honoured tradition. Now, the wait to play as Musashi awaits. Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be released sometime in 2026 . Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Capcom Geek Preview Onimusha Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Engadget
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings Japanese cinematic royalty to the samurai fantasy series
While the surprise of a new Resident Evil might have been Capcom's biggest story at SGF, it's got other series – and other sequels – to show off, like Onimusha . Previously a banner PS2 series, Onimusha spanned four mainline games between 2001 and 2006. We've since seen remastered editions of the first two episodes. Still, a true sequel was long overdue, especially after games like Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima showed a renewed appetite for feudal Japan swordplay. Through a theater presentation during SGF 2025, I got a closer look at Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which features a new hero and a new setting. Also, no more static backgrounds. Players will control Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary (but historically real) Japanese swordsman, artist and writer. This is interesting, but the more compelling wrinkle is that his face is modeled on the legendary (but historically real) actor Toshiro Mifune, who passed away in 1997. Mifune was a leading actor in several Akira Kurosawa movies in the 1950s and '60s, including Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Yojimb o. In short, he was arguably the most famous samurai actor there ever was. I'm not counting Tom Cruise. (Mifune, while alive, portrayed the same character, Musashi, in three separate movies.) To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Several gameplay features have carried over to the latest edition of the Onimusha series. Once again, you're equipped with the Oni gauntlet, now possessing its own sentient voice. The gauntlet is crucial to collecting different types of orbs from enemies. Some will repair health, while others add experience points, skill points and more. We were also shown some mild puzzle-solving, using the power of the Oni gauntlet to see invisible demons and unlock areas that were spiritually blocked. Absorbing sinister dark masses will let Musashi relive harrowing scenes from the past, powered by his cursed gauntlet. The early gameplay demo focused on swordplay, mainly, with barely any mystical attacks and special moves. Like in previous games, you'll have to balance attack, movement, guarding and counters. Once again, Issen attacks (both through interrupting sword strikes and well-timed guards) are key to applying major damage to waves of attacking demons. Musashi can also apply Issen attacks multiple times to finish off groups of enemies – if your timing is good enough. He can also parry arrows and send them back to where they came from. Environmental damage can also prove useful against enemies, like fire. At times, you'll even be able to wield objects for defense, like a raised tatami mat to block arrow fire. It seems we were only glimpsing the basics of Onimusha battle dynamics and attacks. The guard system appears relatively forgiving, and I saw Musashi block light sword attacks from behind without even turning around. I'm intrigued to see how the game's difficulty will scale in an era of Soulslikes. Fans of those games will be more intrigued with boss battles, in particular, ones where you face off against Ganryu, seen above. He appears to be Musashi's swordsman rival – and one that's been gifted his very own Oni gauntlet. The confrontation between the two was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how Break Issen operates. After wearing down the guard gauge of enemies, you can perform a severe attack which can be channeled to specific areas or body parts. Do you go for the head to hit for maximum damage, or the sword arm to reduce damage going forward? I also love having an antagonist to face off against, each time upping the ante. Ganryu, who seems a bit of a dick, is that guy. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is scheduled for release in 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC.
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Shinobi Art of Vengeance confidently retools a 2D platforming Sega classic
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is on track to be one of the biggest smaller scale surprises of the year, getting Sega's classic franchise revival project off to a strong start. Art of Vengeance is successfully reinventing the Shinobi series for a new generation, complimenting its gorgeous hand-drawn art style with tight combat and platforming. As soon as I heard that Lizardcube – one of the studios responsible for the mind-bogglingly excellent Streets of Rage 4 – was behind Sega 's upcoming Shinobi reboot, I knew we were in safe hands. Cut to trailers and gameplay slices demonstrating the same beautiful hand-drawn art style shared between both games that I expected. What I didn't expect, however, was that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance would turn out to be one of the tightest-handling 2D action-platformers since at least Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown last year – no small feat! In several ways, Lizardcube's new take feels like a far cry from the classic Sega Mega Drive game I remember. While in others, more flexible combat mixes with snappier platforming and bombastic special attacks to render Art of Vengeance easily the most ambitious Shinobi instalment ever. My 45-minute demo of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance dropped me in right at the start of the game, with me donning the guise of protagonist Joe Musashi, who shortly after returning to his village has found it under attack by outside military forces. Believe me when I say that absolutely no knowledge of prior Shinobi adventures is needed to enjoy Art of Vengeance. It's a statement I feel confident making since the stakes for Musashi's titular thirst for revenge are appropriately set almost immediately, as I rush through to save students at the local ninja school by learning how to roll, dodge, and air dash alongside traditional light and heavy attacks. What initially impressed me most was how quick and natural it felt to battle reams of baddies. What with solid and slick beat-em-up chops already under its belt, Lizardcube has done just as good of a job making pulling off combos in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance equally as impactful. Rolling into the air and landing a punch from above simply flows a lot smoother in a way that past Shinobi games could only ever dream of, and this was evidenced nearly right away in the opening stage of Oboro Village. I was pleased to see the franchise's trademark Kunai weapon also return, and it worked well to help me maintain my combo whenever rolling wasn't possible by letting me damage enemies located across the screen. What became clear the deeper I delved into Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, in addition to its gorgeous, comic book inspired art style of course, was how much of a Metroidvania it's turned out to be structurally. The two levels I got to play through as part of my demo were linear in the sense that they had a start, middle, and end, true, but both were absolutely littered with secret areas (often containing precious Oboro relics) that are made purposefully awkward to get to. It makes mastering Musashi's core platforming skills a must, since relics are the only way to unlock and purchase new movement and combat abilities from the travelling vendor. READ MORE: PlayStation State of Play June 2025 start time and how to watch the 40 minutes of major reveals Mark of the ninja All these extra powerful attacks and manoeuvres I was able to put to the test in the second stage of the preview, Lantern Festival, which I played in Arcade Mode free of any usual story disruptions. Easily my favourite was what's called the Shinobi execution, where after hitting an enemy's health down low enough a symbol appears above there head, indicating that they can be taken out Shinobi style instantly. These types of execution can be chained across the screen from foe to foe, too, meaning if you hit enough people's health low enough, Musashi will dart across the screen slashing endlessly to take rivals down in one fell swoop. For a 2D action-platformer it feels wildly spectacular and cinematic. Complimenting your move set further are what's called Ninpo, which as far as I can tell serve as elemental special attacks tied to a rechargeable meter. The first introduced centres on fire and is a good way to deal a great deal of damage in a short distance out front. The second based on water, meanwhile, I couldn't quite work out, but temporarily surrounding Musashi in a bubble seems to indicate a type of protective effect. Regardless, the takeaway here should be that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is no slouch in the combat or traversal department, since there are multiple ways to roleplay as ninja master. Just like a ninja master, I was pleased to learn how the platforming side of this action-platformer can still often be quite the challenge – particularly when trying to navigate optional areas. There's nothing especially difficult about hitting switches to reveal new pathways, of course, but getting there sometimes takes a lot of precision when it comes to timing wall jumps, wall slides, and air dashes. The latter is a manoeuvre that can be boosted and sustained in specific instances where there is a green energy source in the air, and I'm not ashamed to admit how tough I found it to get out of one of these tricky scenarios. Were I not against the clock for the preview I'm sure I would have found the exit solution. For now, though, just know that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's best secrets are well tucked away and require a bit of platforming skill to reach. I came away from my Shinobi: Art of Vengeance demo impressed by just how much Lizardcube's take is less iteration and more evolution. Similar to its work on Streets of Rage 4, the studio has taken the core of what made the original games great and build upon this solid foundation for an all-new generation using an expressive art style, flexible combat, and some supremely tight platforming. Better yet? Between new unlockable moves and the score-centric Arcade Mode, there's so much about Art of Vengeance I wasn't able to glean in just 45 minutes of playtime. If this truly is the first of Sega's new wave of reinvented classic franchises, it's certainly off to a strong start. Shinobi: Art of Vengeanceis set to launch on PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Nintendo consoles this August 29, 2025.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
New games, characters released in Summer Fest 2025: Resident Evil, Street Fighter and more
Capcom has announced new information about the games that will be released and the new characters featuring this time. It will be an action packed fest for you, if you are a fan of survival horror, samurai action, or street fight game. This will include the next Resident Evil Requiem, Street Fighter 6 and others. The new protagonist and characters are set to feature in Resident Evil and Street Fighter, according to a blogpost on Resident Evil Requiem will feature a new protagonist Grace Ashcroft. Ashcroft is given a case to investigate leading to the terrifying events to follow. Resident Evil will feature cinematic action and the series will unfold in a bold new direction. The iconic series will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Resident Evil Requiem will be released on February 27, 2026. In the Street Fighter 6, new characters will be joining in Year 3. Fans of the series may recognize these characters as they're all returning in some way or form making this year a celebration of Street Fighter. The king Sagat claims his throne in Summer 2025, with gameplay showcasing his signature moves. C. Viper returns with spy gear in Fall 2025. Alex, the fighter brings explosive power arrives in early spring 2026. Finally, mysterious Ingrid debuts in a mainline Street Fighter title in late Spring 2026. Street Fighter Years 1-2 Fighters Edition also just released, which includes all characters from Year 1 and 2, and their colors 3-10 for Outfit 1. Onimusha: Way of the Sword unveils more swordplay action for 2026. Set in Edo period Kyoto, protagonist Miyamoto Musashi battles Malice-twisted darkness. The 2nd Trailer: Formidable Foes Emerge reveals dark fantasy environments, fearsome enemies, and intense action, including the powerful Issen. Musashi faces rival Sasaki Ganryu, an Onimusha wielding an Oni Gauntlet. Their stories intertwine as a mysterious woman emerges from Musashi's Oni Gauntlet glow at the end of trailer.
Dublin Live
06-06-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Food drones buzzing like 'lawnmowers' over Dubliners' heads could be 'harmful', says Councillor
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Food delivery drones buzzing like "lawnmowers or mopeds" over Dubliners' heads is "not acceptable", according to a Dublin City Councillor. Cabra-Glasnevin Cllr Gayle Ralph has called for an immediate review of how drone delivery trials "align with existing planning and aviation regulations" after Deliveroo announced a new drone delivery trial yesterday with Manna, an established global drone delivery operator. The takeaway app released footage of its first-ever drone delivery — a portion of fresh sushi and sashimi from popular Japanese restaurant Musashi. The service is currently based in Blanchardstown, and Deliveroo say they will use the initial weeks to assess how drones can help serve suburban and harder-to-reach locations. Over the coming days, people in a 3km radius of Blanchardstown will be able to order from selected restaurants including Musashi, WOWBurger, Boojum, and Elephant & Castle. Orders can be flown to customers in as little as three minutes, the food app has claimed. Manna is also looking to trial drone deliveries from a new base in Dublin Industrial Estate in Glasnevin, according to the Dublin Inquirer, with questions persisting over noise, privacy, safety concerns, and what planning permission is needed. Cllr Ralph said there have already been significant complaints from residents in Dublin 15 about drone noise, which has been likened to 'lawnmowers or mopeds,' with reported levels up to 65 decibels. The noise, the Fine Gael rep says, would be particularly disruptive in densely populated areas like Glasnevin. She added that nearby Drumcondra is Ireland's Autism Friendly Town for 2025, and introducing drones would be "simply incompatible with the needs of our neurodiverse community". She said: "The announcement of Deliveroo's partnership with Manna to begin drone deliveries raises a number of concerns for me as a public representative, particularly around safety, noise pollution, and privacy. "While I appreciate the potential innovation drones can bring to logistics and delivery services, we must not allow technological novelty to outpace the regulatory frameworks that protect our communities. Residents in Dublin 15 have already reported significant noise issues, likening the drone sounds to lawnmowers or mopeds. "That's not acceptable in a densely populated city. The presence of cameras on these drones, regardless of their stated purpose, continues to worry many constituents. "We need full transparency and independent verification regarding data protection, especially when such devices operate over residential areas. Drumcondra has proudly been named Ireland's Autism Friendly Town for 2025. "Introducing drones that generate noise levels of up to 65 decibels is simply incompatible with the needs of our neurodiverse community. For autistic residents, many of whom are sensitive to sound, this disruption is not just inconvenient, it is harmful." Cllr Ralph is calling for: A full environmental and community impact assessment before any further expansion of drone delivery trials Mandatory public consultation for all drone delivery operations in Dublin A clear, enforceable framework for drone flight paths, operational hours, noise thresholds, and privacy protections An immediate review of how these trials align with existing planning and aviation regulations. She added: "Innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility. The public is being left somewhat in the dark, with no clear process for feedback or safeguards against noise, safety, and disruption. "Until these concerns are properly addressed, I cannot support the widespread rollout of commercial drones over Dublin's skies." In their announcement of the partnership yesterday, Deliveroo said: "Drone deliveries can significantly cut wait times and reduce emissions, offering a faster and more sustainable alternative to traditional delivery methods, particularly suited to suburban locations where Deliveroo is looking to increase its presence." Chief Business Officer at Deliveroo Carlo Mocci added: 'Our mission is to bring local neighbourhood favourites to as many people's doors as possible, and constantly raise the bar on the experience and service we provide - so I'm thrilled to launch drone deliveries in Dublin today. We're excited to explore how drones can help us reach new customers, complementing our existing rider model and if successful, the prospect of expanding drone deliveries across Ireland and into other markets.' 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