I Played Onimusha Warlords in 2026 - You Should Too

I had never heard of Onimusha until the announcement of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, so I decided to go back and play the very first game in the series—Onimusha Warlords (2001). As a complete newcomer who never owned a console as a kid, I’m sharing my honest first impressions. Is this PS2 classic a forgotten masterpiece or a relic that should have stayed dead? In this video: The Story: My take on Samanosuke, Princess Yuki, and the demon-infested Sengoku era. Combat & Mechanics: Why the Oni Gauntlet and the three elemental swords (Raizan, Enryuu, and Shippuu) make the combat feel better than some modern AAA games. The Struggle: Dealing with the infamous "tank controls," fixed camera angles, and the dreaded sliding tile water puzzle. The Challenges: My journey through the 20-floor Dark Realm to claim the legendary Bishamon Sword. Timestamps: 0:00 - Why I’m playing Onimusha in 2026 1:10 - Resident Evil with Swords? (History & Setting) 2:12 - The Oni Gauntlet & Story Setup 2:48 - The "Tank Control" Struggle 3:13 - Why the Combat is Actually Amazing 4:45 - The Soul Absorption Gamble 5:12 - Mastering the Issen Counter 6:08 - The Infamous Water Trap Puzzle 6:30 - Playing as Kaede (Ninja Gameplay) 7:22 - The 20-Floor Dark Realm Challenge 7:50 - Unlocking the Bishamon Sword 8:04 - My Favorite Boss Fights 8:26 - What Hasn't Aged Well (Voice Acting & Camera) 9:16 - Final Verdict: Is it still worth playing? This is my first attempt at a deep-dive review like this! If you enjoyed it, let me know in the comments—do you think the tank controls are a dealbreaker, or is the combat worth the hassle? Support the Channel: Like the video if you enjoyed it! Subscribe for more retro deep-dives and gaming impressions. Credits: Outro art and animation by Devadarsan. Find him on Instagram:   / devadarsan_m   #Onimusha #RetroGaming #OnimushaWarlords #PS2 #GamingReview #SamuraiGames #Capcom