Onimusha fans got a good taste of what awaits them in the Onimusha: Warlords remaster today after Capcom released this extended trailer highlighting how combat looks in this version of the PS2 classic. It looks like every aspect of the original game is still intact here; it’s just been prettied up a bit. Character animations are smooth; enemies stand out from the background like they should, and all those wonderful pre-rendered backdrops still retain that certain special something that makes pre-rendered art look more charming than it should.
The title’s Resident Evil roots are definitely showing in this trailer, as several of these fights are seen from multiple fixed angles as Samanosuke and Kaede move to different portions of the screen. These fixed camera angles were a hallmark of early 3D RPGs and horror games, but it wasn’t too long until the technique was abandoned in favor of free-roaming and over the shoulder perspectives. So, while older players might be able to adjust without much issue, younger fans trying this game for the first time might find themselves having issues until they get the hang of the rapid and sudden shifts in perspective the combat appears to force.
This new version of Onimusha: Warlords features a brand new “easy mode” difficulty level, so those who’d like to experience its story without having to worry about simultaneously fighting both the enemies and the camera might do well to make use of it.
Onimusha: Warlords releases on January 15, 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One.
