Look, let's be honest, Onimusha: Way of the Sword has been tipped as one of the major titles kicking off September, and early reviews suggest it is living up to the hype. Critics are raving that the game successfully revives the series' distinct identity while nailing a remarkably polished sword-fighting action.

Media reviews for Onimusha: Way of the Sword started rolling out on September 1st. As of September 1 at 11:00 AM, the PS5 version sits at a solid 85 across 82 reviews, the PC version holds an 82 from 22 reviews, the Xbox Series X version claims an 83 based on 8 reviews, and the Nintendo Switch 2 version peaks at 89 across 6 reviews. Every single platform is comfortably floating in the 80s, mate.

The standout praise across the board is, naturally, the combat. Critics largely agree that the highlight is a punishing yet deeply rewarding sword action system, fusing the series' signature Issen instant-kill mechanic with modern parrying and dodging. Other lauded elements include cinematic boss battles, a tangible sense of progression through various upgrade systems, an eerie Kyoto crafted via the RE Engine, and the undeniable charm of the protagonist Musashi alongside supporting characters. Oh, and performance-wise, optimization issues were notably absent on PS5, PC, and Switch 2, which is always a cheeky little win.

Still, let's not get ahead of ourselves; the flaws are quite apparent. Reviewers pointed out that once you wrap up the roughly 20-hour main story, there is precious little left to do, making replayability feel rather weak. On top of that, some critics argued that the ending drags on unnecessarily and that padding is painfully obvious through recycled enemy encounters and backtracking sections. Complaints about awkward camera angles obstructing your view also popped up.

All in all, while the content volume leaves something to be desired, the sheer quality of the action makes it well worth a go if you fancy a proper slash-em-up. Onimusha: Way of the Sword follows the tale of Miyamoto Musashi as he fights off grotesque demonic creatures known as Genma in Edo-period Kyoto, driven by a thrilling blend of parries, Issen, and finishing moves.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches on September 4 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, complete with Korean language support. Best of luck out there, mate!