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+====== Onimusha ======
+===== The Resident Evil Spin-Off =====
+The Onimusha series began development as a spin-off of Resident Evil set in feudal Japan, originally utilizing the same fixed-camera "tank control" style of gameplay. [([[https://www.ign.com/games/onimusha-warlords|IGN]])]
+===== PlayStation 2 Shift =====
+The project originally began development for the PlayStation 1, but Capcom shifted the project to the PlayStation 2 to leverage its superior 3D processing power. [([[https://www.ign.com/games/onimusha-warlords|IGN]])]
+===== The Takeshi Kaneshiro Casting =====
+The protagonist, Samanosuke Akechi, was famously modeled after and voiced by Japanese superstar actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, a major industry milestone for motion capture. [([[https://www.gamespot.com/games/onimusha-warlords/|GameSpot]])]
+===== The Meaning of Onimusha =====
+The title "Onimusha" is a compound of the Japanese words "Oni" (ogre/demon) and "Musha" (warrior), translating to "Demon Warrior." [([[https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps2/onimusha_warlords|Push Square]])]
+===== The Oni Gauntlet =====
+Samanosuke’s primary tool is the Oni Gauntlet, a magical artifact that allows him to absorb the souls of defeated demons to increase his power and weapon strength. [([[https://www.ign.com/games/onimusha-warlords|IGN]])]
+===== Oda Nobunaga Antagonist =====
+The central antagonist is the historical figure Oda Nobunaga, who returns from the dead to lead the "Genma," an army of supernatural demons. [([[https://www.gamespot.com/games/onimusha-warlords/|GameSpot]])]
+===== Soul Absorption Mechanic =====
+Players gain power by absorbing souls dropped by enemies; different colors of souls provide specific bonuses, such as health restoration or experience points for upgrading weapons. [([[https://www.gamespot.com/games/onimusha-warlords/|GameSpot]])]
+===== Fixed Camera System =====
+The early series is famous for its cinematic, pre-rendered backgrounds that use static "fixed" camera angles to create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. [([[https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps2/onimusha_warlords|Push Square]])]
+===== The Dark Realm =====
+The "Dark Realm" is a hidden, multi-level dungeon that players can access to fight increasingly difficult waves of demons for rare loot and upgrades. [([[https://www.ign.com/games/onimusha-warlords|IGN]])]
+===== Swordplay vs Firepower =====
+While other action games of the time focused on firearms, Onimusha was strictly focused on deliberate, rhythmic swordplay and block timing. [([[https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps2/onimusha_warlords|Push Square]])]
+===== Sword Upgrades =====
+Weapons are not static; players must spend absorbed souls at save points to upgrade their swords, which unlocks new magical elemental attacks. [([[https://www.gamespot.com/games/onimusha-warlords/|GameSpot]])]
+The Sequel Era
+===== Gift-Giving System =====
+Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny introduced a "Gift" system, where Jubei could give items to NPCs to build trust and unlock new sidequests. [([[https://www.destructoid.com/onimusha-2-samurais-destiny-review/|Destructoid]])]
+===== Branching Narratives =====
+Unlike the linear original, Onimusha 2 featured branching narrative paths that shifted based on how the player interacted with the game's non-playable characters. [([[https://www.destructoid.com/onimusha-2-samurais-destiny-review/|Destructoid]])]
+===== Jean Reno Casting =====
+Onimusha 3: Demon Siege famously cast French actor Jean Reno as a modern-day Parisian police officer named Jacques Blanc, who travels to feudal Japan. [([[https://www.eurogamer.net/onimusha-3-demon-siege-review|Eurogamer]])]
+===== The Time Travel Mechanic =====
+The story involves a time-travel plot where Samanosuke is transported to modern-day Paris, while Jacques is transported to feudal Japan to battle Nobunaga. [([[https://www.eurogamer.net/onimusha-3-demon-siege-review|Eurogamer]])]
+===== The Eiffel Tower Level =====
+The game features a combat sequence at the base of the Eiffel Tower, contrasting ancient samurai weaponry with a modern European urban setting. [([[https://www.eurogamer.net/onimusha-3-demon-siege-review|Eurogamer]])]
+===== Dual Protagonist Style =====
+Players swap between Samanosuke and Jacques throughout the campaign, requiring the player to master two entirely different combat styles and weapon sets. [([[https://www.vg247.com/onimusha|VG247]])]
+===== Action-Oriented Camera =====
+Onimusha 3 experimented with a more dynamic, semi-3D camera during combat to give players better situational awareness than the original fixed angles. [([[https://www.vg247.com/onimusha|VG247]])]
+===== Soki the Protagonist =====
+The protagonist of the final mainline PS2 entry, Dawn of Dreams, is Soki, the "Oni of Ash," who possesses the power to control darkness. [([[https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps2/onimusha_dawn_of_dreams|Push Square]])]
+===== Free Camera Introduction =====
+Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (2006) was the first entry in the series to abandon fixed camera angles entirely, moving to a fully controllable, free-roaming third-person camera. [([[https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps2/onimusha_dawn_of_dreams|Push Square]])]
+===== Party-Based Combat =====
+Unlike the solo adventures of previous titles, Dawn of Dreams allowed the player to command a party of warriors, swapping between them on the fly during battle. [([[https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps2/onimusha_dawn_of_dreams|Push Square]])]
+Remasters and Spin-offs
+===== Blade Warriors Spin-Off =====
+Onimusha Blade Warriors was a 2D arena fighter that pitted characters from the first two games against one another in a brawler-style format. [([[https://www.vg247.com/onimusha|VG247]])]
+===== Warlords 2019 Remaster =====
+Capcom released a high-definition remaster of the first game, Onimusha: Warlords, for modern consoles in 2019. [([[https://www.shacknews.com/game/onimusha-warlords|Shacknews]])]
+===== Analog Stick Support =====
+The 2019 remaster finally added full analog stick movement support, a major update over the tank-style movement of the original 2001 release. [([[https://www.shacknews.com/game/onimusha-warlords|Shacknews]])]
+===== Soundtrack Re-orchestration =====
+The 2019 remaster featured a completely re-orchestrated and newly recorded soundtrack to bring the audio quality up to modern standards. [([[https://www.capcom-games.com/onimusha/|Capcom]])]
+===== Costume Unlocks =====
+The series is famous for its bizarre costume unlocks; players can often find secret items that change characters into giant pandas or comedic versions of themselves. [([[https://www.capcom-games.com/onimusha/|Capcom]])]
+===== Ranking System =====
+Each mission is scored based on the time taken, souls absorbed, and enemies defeated, awarding players a rank from "E" to "S." [([[https://www.capcom-games.com/onimusha/|Capcom]])]
+The 2026 Revival
+===== Onimusha: Way of the Sword =====
+On June 3, 2026, Capcom officially announced Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the first new entry in the series in over 20 years. [([[https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/14969052/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-set-to-release-on-september-25-2026?publisherId=90456&lang=en|Business Wire]])]
+===== September 2026 Launch =====
+The game is scheduled for release on September 25, 2026, with a playable demo released for players to experience the combat mechanics early. [([[https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/14969052/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-set-to-release-on-september-25-2026?publisherId=90456&lang=en|Business Wire]])]
+===== Musashi Miyamoto Protagonist =====
+The new title features the legendary swordsman Musashi Miyamoto as the protagonist, set in an Edo-era Kyoto twisted by supernatural forces. [([[https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/14969052/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-set-to-release-on-september-25-2026?publisherId=90456&lang=en|Business Wire]])]
+===== Dark Fantasy Setting =====
+The 2026 title moves toward a Japanese-inspired "dark fantasy" aesthetic, featuring a world twisted by malevolent clouds of "Malice." [([[https://briefglance.com/companies/capcom-co-ltd/pulses/37087|BriefGlance]])]
+===== Sasaki Ganryu Battle =====
+The released demo allows players to experience high-speed swordplay, including a showcase fight against the formidable foe, Sasaki Ganryu. [([[https://briefglance.com/companies/capcom-co-ltd/pulses/37087|BriefGlance]])]
+===== Sales Milestone =====
+As of March 31, 2026, cumulative sales for the Onimusha franchise have exceeded 9.1 million units worldwide. [([[https://briefglance.com/companies/capcom-co-ltd/pulses/37087|BriefGlance]])]
+Legacy and Trivia
+===== Netflix Anime Adaptation =====
+In 2023, Netflix released a CGI-animated Onimusha series that followed Musashi Miyamoto on a supernatural quest. [([[https://www.destructoid.com/onimusha-netflix-anime-review/|Destructoid]])]
+===== Critical Success =====
+The original Onimusha: Warlords was a massive commercial success, becoming the first-ever PlayStation 2 game to sell over a million copies in Japan. [([[https://www.metacritic.com/game/onimusha-warlords/|Metacritic]])]
+===== Influence on Action Games =====
+Onimusha is frequently credited alongside Devil May Cry for setting the blueprint for the character-action genre, focusing on technical skill and high-speed combat. [([[https://www.metacritic.com/game/onimusha-warlords/|Metacritic]])]
+===== Ziggurat Interactive =====
+In 2020, publisher Ziggurat Interactive acquired the rights to older titles in the franchise to bring them to modern digital platforms. [([[https://www.pcgamer.com/bloodrayne-is-back-and-under-new-ownership/|PC Gamer]])]
+===== Terminal Reality Origin =====
+While Terminal Reality developed BloodRayne, the Onimusha engine work at Capcom was handled entirely in-house by their internal Tokyo development teams. [([[https://www.pcgamer.com/bloodrayne-terminal-cut-is-coming-on-november-20-free-for-owners-of-the-original/|PC Gamer]])]
+===== The GameFAQs Legacy =====
+During the early 2000s, Onimusha was a GameFAQs staple, with thousands of users writing exhaustive guides on how to find every secret "Fluorite" gemstone. [([[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/446231-onimusha-warlords/faqs|GameFAQs]])]
+===== Sword Variety =====
+Throughout the games, players wield unique blades like the "Frost Slash" sword and the "Hurricane Spear," each with distinct magical properties. [([[https://www.thegamer.com/tag/onimusha/|TheGamer]])]
+===== Modernized Remasters =====
+The Terminal Cut editions of BloodRayne sparked a trend of remastering early 2000s action games, influencing Capcom's decision to bring back Onimusha. [([[https://www.thegamer.com/tag/onimusha/|TheGamer]])]
+===== The 20-Year Hiatus =====
+The 2026 launch of Way of the Sword marks the first true mainline entry in the franchise in over two decades. [([[https://briefglance.com/companies/capcom-co-ltd/pulses/37087|BriefGlance]])]
+===== Global Appeal =====
+Capcom stated in 2026 that their strategy to "reactivate" dormant IPs like Onimusha is driven by the industry's renewed focus on established, high-value franchises. [([[https://briefglance.com/companies/capcom-co-ltd/pulses/37087|BriefGlance]])]
+===== Playable Demo Strategy =====
+Capcom’s decision to release a playable demo on June 3, 2026, for the new game is part of a broader company initiative to build pre-launch hype for their revived classic series. [([[https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/14969052/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-set-to-release-on-september-25-2026?publisherId=90456&lang=en|Business Wire]])]

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