Capcom’sOnimushaseries remains one of the studio’s more noteworthy franchises from its 6th-generation output. Originally intended as a Sengoku-era version ofResident Evil, the firstOnimushagame was essentially just that: a take onResident Evilwhere players got to step into the shoes of a samurai instead of law enforcement. Across four mainline entries and two spin-off titles, theOnimushaseries remained a relic of one of Capcom’s more experimental and boundary-pushing eras until the 2018 remaster of the original game in the series,Onimusha: Warlords. And now, we’ve gotten a remaster of the iconic second entry in the series,Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, as well as a brand-new mainline entry set to release next year inOnimusha: Way of the Sword.
Like theremaster of the firstOnimushagame,Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyplays it close to the chest when it comes to the actual changes it makes over its source material, but it shines as a result. The four mainlineOnimushagames on the PS2 gradually separated themselves from their origins as intended spin-offs of theResident Evilfranchise, andOnimusha 2has long felt like the title where the franchise really started to come into its own. Playing throughOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyfor the first time since it was originally released only served to confirm what I’ve long felt about the title: that it’s ostensibly theEmpire Strikes Backof theOnimushasaga and the series' highlight.
The long gap between the remaster ofOnimusha: WarlordsandOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinypoints to Capcom timing its release to strategically align with the first new game in the series in two decades, and it’s perhaps the perfect introduction to what makesOnimushaspecial ahead ofWay of the Sword’s launch. Capcom’s adherence to and reverence for the originalOnimusha 2is a sword that cuts both ways in its remaster, but it also serves to underscore how strong its combat and progression have always been and remain all these years later. Together with the small quality-of-life flourishes and additional special features that are included in the remaster package,Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyis a re-release of a long-forgotten title in the PS2 library that’s now poised to onboard audiences to theOnimushaseries with what’s arguably the best game in the short-lived franchise ahead of its revival.
What’s Different in the Onimusha 2 Remaster
The biggest question on players' minds likely centers around what changes Capcom has made toOnimusha 2as part of the remaster, and the answer is that the studio has opted to approach things conservatively. The original release ofOnimusha 2on PS2contained a gallery of concept art from artist Keita Amemiya and design sketches from internal Capcom documents, and the remaster’s Special Features menu contains these galleries as well. New to the remaster, though, is an additional gallery of concept art labeled Special Artwork that contains 126 new images for players to peruse. Interestingly, the original “Making Of” featurettes that were included in the PS2 version ofOnimusha 2are absent in the remaster’s Special Features menu.
Another new inclusion in theOnimusha 2remaster are the new Honors, which are effectively the game’s achievements. As expected, most of these center around reaching certain story milestones or completing combat or puzzle challenges spread throughout the campaign, but some focus on remaster-specific additions, such as the new Hell difficulty mode. Aptly named, theHell mode difficultyoption puts players through the ultimate gauntlet thatOnimusha 2has to offer, requiring perfect execution of every encounter. One hit, and you’re dead. It’s practically impossible as you get further along in the campaign unless you happen to be keenly tuned in toOnimusha 2’s combat, and it’s precisely the kind of apex challenge aimed at returning players looking for a new way to experience this PS2-era classic.
Aside from the additional features and modes included inOnimusha 2’s remaster, some small quality-of-life flourishes makeOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinythe definitive edition of the title. Visuals have been upscaled to HD while remaining largely the same as in the original, but the game’s controls have been adapted to a more modern standard analog scheme versus the original’s “tank controls”. There’s an argument to be made that the old-schoolResident Evil"tank controls" in the original release ofOnimusha 2made combat more precise, but the new control scheme in the remaster is, by and large, a net positive. Together with these changes, players now have immediate access to all the previously unlockable mini-games from the Special Features menu, which are a fun dalliance for anyone looking for something different from the game’s main story.
Capcom’s Decision to Make Small Adjustments Serves Onimusha 2’s Remaster Well
The first thing players will see when they boot upOnimusha 2is a note from Capcom proclaiming that the remaster is geared toward maintaining the original experience as closely as possible. For some, the lack of more significant changes to a remaster might be disappointing, but this approach has ultimately allowed the strength of the original’s design and gameplay to be that much more apparent.Onimusha 2’s remasterstill looks and plays like the PS2 original, but the small touches that have helped bring it into the modern era allow it to feel like how it’s remembered through the rose-tinted lenses of nostalgia versus how it actually is.
Thanks to the new control scheme that uses 1:1 inputs from the left analog stick, Jubei is now easier to control than ever before, which simultaneously makes combat easier. On Normal difficulty, experienced action game fans might even findOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinytoo easy, thanks to how the new controls make combat more efficient. But the originalOnimusha 2experience was already both a series highlight and one ofCapcom’s better action games of the 6th generation, so to see the studio maintain the purity of that experience for a new audience is a move befitting the title’s legacy.
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remains a Series High Point, Underscored by its Remaster
In terms of its place in the broaderOnimushasaga,Onimusha 2has long felt like the series' peak. Despite Samanosuke being seen as the sort of de facto face of theOnimushaseriesand the only protagonist to appear in more than one entry,Onimusha 2’s Jubei is a strong main character who is further rounded out by his relationships with his companions. Getting to build the bonds between Jubei and his allies — Magoichi, Ekei, Kotaro, and Oyu — is a core component of gameplay that remains essential in the remaster, and the fact that Capcom have kept the original’s Gift system completely intact is a great way to preserve the original’s many branching paths and story deviations that incentivize multiple playthroughs.
The subtle changes toOnimusha 2’s combatin the remaster similarly serve to support encounter design that was already strong in the original release. Jubei has access to a total of 6 melee weapons (5 of which are tied to a specific elemental magic) and multiple ranged options, like a bow and arrow or a tanegashima, and figuring out which weapons are the best for use against specific enemies is still as fun in the remaster as it was 23 years ago. Ultimately,Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyis a remaster that is specifically aiming to remain authentic to the original experience, and that experience is one worth preserving as a way to welcome back lapsed players and entice newcomers.
Playing through the game on Normal difficulty, I was able to unlock 36 of the 56 total Honors/Achievements in a single playthrough that lasted roughly 10 hours.
When a company remasters a beloved title in its back catalog, it’s always faced with the dilemma of needing to strike a balance between two very different audiences. That balancing act becomes especially precarious the more beloved a title is, and honoring the legacy of a game’s original vision to appease longtime fans can sometimes have the unintended effect of pushing away a contemporary audience. As a remaster,Onimusha 2is a success because it lands at a comfortable middle ground between staying true to the original while also serving as perhaps the best jumping-on point for the franchise ahead of its revival.
WHERE TO PLAY
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destinyreleases Jun 19, 2025 for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Game Rant was provided a PC code for this review.
