Compare Assassin’s Creed Shadows vs Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Writing quality received a sharply negative judgment from one reviewer, who described it as terrible.

The writing is strongest in character banter, relationships, and emotional moments, though a few reviews describe the larger script as more serviceable than exceptional.

Dialogue quality was criticized in one review for sounding flat and leaving performers with little to work with.

Character banter and comic exchanges give the cast personality, while quieter conversations help sell relationships and the reluctant-hero tone.

Stealth is one of the strongest points across reviews, with darkness, prone movement, assassinations, and Naoe's toolkit repeatedly praised despite occasional execution complaints.

Stealth exists, but the reviewer who evaluated it found direct sword combat far more rewarding.

Load times drew criticism where character switching inserted a 10–15 second screen that broke the moment.

Transitions between cutscenes and gameplay are described as seamless, and retries after defeat are quick enough to keep difficult fights moving.

Tutorial/training presentation received limited criticism, with playable flashbacks described as an odd choice after players had already learned the skills.

Story mode’s prompts and the practice systems make the timing-heavy mechanics easier to understand, with reviewers praising their usefulness for newcomers and mastery alike.

Immersion suffers in one review where protagonist imbalance breaks the connection between gameplay and story.

Detailed environments, expressive characters, fluid presentation, and the historical-fantasy setting create strong immersion for many reviewers. Repetitive Kyoto layouts and repeated activities can break that spell for some.

AI behavior gets qualified praise for reacting to sound and light, though one reviewer noted stealth AI can still be cheesed.

Regular Genma can be overly passive and easy to dispatch without using the full defensive toolkit, making ordinary encounters feel weaker than the bosses.

Content variety is positive overall, with many activities and systems, though some reviewers found the map cluttered or overfilled with side material.

One recurring complaint is that the overworld leans on repetitive objectives and familiar enemy groups, reducing variety outside the bespoke story stages and bosses.

Crash stability varies from never crashing on Steam Deck to multiple or severe crashes in more critical reviews.

The reviewers who addressed crashes reported stable playthroughs without crashes, reinforcing the broader impression of strong technical reliability.

Polish is a major positive in several reviews, with Shadows described as one of Ubisoft's cleanest and most refined launches.

The combat, animation, and major presentation beats feel highly polished, but reviewers also point to camera issues, repetitive content, minor technical roughness, and uneven secondary systems.

Bug frequency is mixed: many reviewers saw few or minor bugs, but some reported frequent issues or late-game technical problems.

The reviewers who discussed technical reliability reported playthroughs without notable bugs, glitches, or crashes.

Skill trees are more impactful for some reviewers, but others disliked percentage-based, incremental unlocks.

One critical review argues that some late skill upgrades feel more like delayed quality-of-life fixes than genuinely meaningful progression choices.

Character development is uneven: some praise strong character work, while others argue Yasuke or the central bond lacks growth and earned depth.

Musashi’s reluctant-hero arc and growing acceptance of the Oni gauntlet are widely appreciated, as are several supporting arcs. Some reviewers wanted the Ganryu rivalry and parts of the cast developed further.

Faithfulness to franchise is mixed: reviewers praised a stronger classic-AC feel, but one longtime fan missed the modern-day and Assassin/Templar focus.

The revival modernizes movement, camera, scale, and combat without losing the Oni Gauntlet, soul absorption, Issen timing, horror flavor, or eccentric Onimusha identity. Longtime fans largely see it as a successful return.

Movement and parkour are often praised as stylish and satisfying, especially for Naoe, but some dodging and rolling criticism keeps the score from being unanimous.

Movement is mixed: modern 3D navigation and wall-running can feel good, while the dodge roll, lack of a normal jump, and some traversal friction draw criticism.

Originality is limited in one review, which felt the game remains familiar and does not push the formula far enough.

The best reviews argue that the swordplay has a rhythm and identity of its own despite borrowing from modern action games. More critical voices feel the broader structure follows too many familiar contemporary conventions.

The character roster/dual protagonist setup is praised for contrasting playstyles, but critics found Yasuke and Naoe unevenly supported.

The supporting cast is a major strength, with Shizuka, Okuni, Takamura, Ganryu, and the villains repeatedly praised for personality and memorable interactions.

Frame rate stability is mostly acceptable or strong, but several reviews mention hideout issues, minor turbulence, or handheld drops below 30 FPS.

Performance is strong across PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC, and handheld testing, with many reports of stable targets and smooth combat. Steam Deck’s Eastern Kyoto hub is the main recurring performance caveat.

Camera behavior is a repeated combat complaint, especially in crowded fights and tight interiors.

Cinematic camera work can make attacks look spectacular, but combat framing is inconsistent. A few reviewers found the camera could get trapped or become frustrating near walls and bosses.

Handheld suitability is positive overall, with Steam Deck play described as enjoyable on the go despite performance limits.

Steam Deck and Switch 2 coverage is notably positive, with playable performance and strong visuals on the go despite heavier battery or CPU load in Eastern Kyoto.

Combat is widely seen as stronger and more deliberate than recent entries, especially with Yasuke, though a few critics still found it clumsy or underdeveloped.

The sword combat is the overwhelming consensus highlight: precise, weighty, reactive, and deeply satisfying, with parries, deflects, dodges, Issens, clashes, and Oni Armaments giving players meaningful options. Even critical reviews tend to praise the core fighting.

Pacing ranges from brisk or even immaculate in favorable reviews to slow, padded, or flow-breaking in more critical ones.

Pacing is the most repeated non-combat concern: early hub stretches, side activities, backtracking, and recycled fights can drag. The linear story missions and final run of set pieces are much more frequently praised for momentum.

Upgrades are generally praised, especially the Forge, weapon improvement, and approachable base-linked progression.

Upgrades are mixed: combat skills and some equipment boosts feel meaningful, while incremental stat gains and material requirements can feel dull, imperceptible, or grindy.

Progression usually feels rewarding through knowledge, skills, and character growth, but some reviewers found it only decent or half-hearted.

Progression is split between useful skill growth and incremental stat upgrades. Some reviewers enjoy how new abilities change combat, while others barely feel the numerical gains.

Atmosphere receives strong praise, with one reviewer saying the setting and mood alone carry the experience.

The blend of samurai action, body horror, mythology, and distinct locations creates a strong dark-fantasy atmosphere. The best areas feel eerie and characterful rather than like generic combat spaces.

Enemy variety drew a clear negative judgment from one reviewer who called the lack of variety disappointing.

Common-enemy variety is a recurring weakness, with several reviews noting repeated basic foes and armored variants across a long campaign. Boss variety is much stronger.

Exploration earns strong praise for discovery, scenery, and organic clue-following, though several reviewers found traversal or repeated activities less satisfying over time.

Exploration can be rewarding when it leads to charms, upgrade materials, myths, portals, or secrets. The strongest praise comes from reviewers who enjoyed searching every corner despite reservations about the hub structure.

Innovation is mixed: fundamental changes impressed one reviewer, while another felt seasonal gameplay promises did not fully materialize.

Reviewers praise the way the game modernizes Onimusha and combines familiar action ideas into a distinctive parry-centered system rather than simply becoming another Soulslike.

Parkour/platforming is praised for fluid acrobatics in some reviews, while another reviewer still found directional accuracy imperfect.

Wall-running is a small but well-liked traversal addition that expands movement without turning the game into a platformer.

Difficulty tuning is mixed: some reviewers recommend higher settings for better engagement, while others found lower stealth settings too easy.

Difficulty is demanding but generally regarded as rewarding, with Story mode offering a gentler route and Action mode asking for precise play. Opinions split where normal enemies feel too easy or late bosses become punishing and unforgiving.

Environmental detail is consistently praised through foliage, weather, seasons, and richly rendered landscapes.

Kyoto, temples, forests, palaces, and supernatural spaces are praised for dense detail, historical texture, lighting, and small visual touches that reward close attention.

World interactivity is mixed, with small physics touches praised but city interaction and consequence systems criticized as shallow.

Combat benefits from environmental tools such as carts, planks, flames, and destructibles, but one reviewer disliked how many seemingly fragile objects cannot be touched.

Narrative quality is the most divided major attribute: some reviewers found it compelling or even the best feature, while many criticized dull, thin, or unfocused storytelling.

Story reception is divided. Many reviewers love the character-driven tale, humor, relationships, and emotional beats, while others call the plot thin, convoluted, or less memorable than the combat.

Mission variety is a recurring concern, with repeated targets, activities, and quest structures wearing thin even in otherwise positive reviews.

Fetch quests, repeated demon-clearing jobs, and reused overworld activities create a clear sense of repetition between the stronger set-piece missions.

Grind level is mixed to negative, especially where side activities, resource demands, or knowledge grinding slow progress.

Several reviewers criticize material gathering and repeated combat as unnecessary grind, especially around upgrades. Others found resources plentiful enough that deliberate grinding was rarely required.

Accessibility is broad and often praised, but one PC-focused reviewer reported serious control-remapping and virtual-keyboard friction.

Story mode earns strong praise for wider timing windows and real-time action prompts that teach parries, dodges, deflects, and Issens. One review still wanted broader visual accessibility options.

Visual effects are praised for stylized kill screens, black-and-white flourishes, and potent lighting/weather effects.

Sparks, slow-motion reactions, attack effects, and cinematic finishing flourishes make clashes look dramatic without obscuring the swordplay.

Graphics are the clearest consensus strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling Japan stunning, gorgeous, next-generation, or among the best-looking open worlds.

The game is widely regarded as gorgeous, with strong character models, lighting, environments, and RE Engine presentation across platforms. Performance modes and the gap between cinematic and gameplay rendering introduce only minor visual compromises for most reviewers.

The core loop is praised when stealth, combat, and open-ended play feel fresh, but one reviewer felt the novelty gives way to repetitive objectives.

At its best, the loop of dueling, mastering defensive timing, absorbing souls, and upgrading Musashi is highly compelling. Some reviewers felt the opening and repeated hub chores obscure that excellent core.

Fun factor is generally positive, including strong stealth enjoyment and continued fun despite repetition.

Most reviewers found the swordplay and boss mastery intensely fun and addictive, often seeking extra fights simply to keep playing. Repetition and padding are the main factors that wear down that enthusiasm.

Map and navigation design earns praise for objectives, clues, scouting, and reduced handholding, but one reviewer found the vague search approach unreliable.

Eastern Kyoto can feel maze-like, and map controls or blocked routes sometimes make simple travel more awkward than it should be.

Open-world design divides reviewers: some admire the quality-over-quantity direction and road flow, while others find the checklist structure damaging to pacing.

The central Kyoto hub is the most consistent structural complaint. Reviewers often see its fetch quests, repeated streets, and resource chores as padding between much stronger linear levels and boss encounters.

Level and city design drew criticism where locations blurred together or felt artificial rather than fully reactive playgrounds.

The handcrafted linear stages are generally the strongest spaces, with memorable temples, castles, laboratories, and supernatural areas. The hub and a few repetitive routes are less consistently praised.

World-building is mixed, with praise for bringing townsfolk reactions and Japan to life but criticism of weak characters and dull storylines.

Real mythology, Edo-period details, optional legends, and character stories give Kyoto a rich backdrop that many reviewers found unusually rewarding to dig into.

Boss design ranges from satisfying Yasuke duels to cramped or irritating fights, producing a mixed but generally functional picture.

Boss fights are the standout attraction: dramatic, mechanically distinct, visually memorable, and built to reward mastery of parries, dodges, deflects, and Issens. The main caveat is repeated use of some minibosses and recurring foes.

Quest design is divisive, with praise for investigative discovery but criticism that the broader structure can become a bounty-board routine.

The side content is uneven: Lady Murasaki’s Mysteries and character-focused quests receive real praise, while generic fetch, kill, and resource jobs are frequently dismissed as filler.

Mission design is mixed: the moment-to-moment action entertains, but several reviewers called setups bland, thin, or repetitive.

The bespoke story missions work well, but generic Encounter-style objectives and busywork are repeatedly called filler.

Sound design receives direct praise in one review for fantastic effects alongside strong voice work.

Sharp sword clashes, parry impacts, executions, and other combat sounds give the fighting strong physical feedback and make successful timing feel satisfying.

Controls are split: some reviewers praised smooth handling, while others reported unreliable parry detection or remapped inputs that failed to register.

Reviewers who directly addressed the controls describe them as tight and responsive, which helps the demanding timing-based combat feel fair.

Menu usability is generally positive for clean systems, though character switching through menus was a noted friction point.

The interface and menus are praised for staying unobtrusive and avoiding unnecessary tab complexity.

Protagonist appeal is generally strong, especially for Naoe and the dual-lead concept, though some reviews prefer one lead over the other.

Musashi is one of the strongest points of agreement: reviewers repeatedly call him charismatic, funny, cool, expressive, and easy to root for, with only a small minority finding his arc less compelling.

Voice acting ranges from excellent in immersive/Japanese modes to wooden, grating, or hit-and-miss in English performances.

Japanese performances receive near-universal praise, while English-language reactions are more mixed because of accent choices and occasional odd delivery. Several English cast members are still singled out for excellent work.

Soundtrack quality is split between praise for an emotive score and criticism of modern or mismatched battle music.

The score is praised for mixing traditional Japanese instrumentation with cinematic fantasy and horror tones without overpowering the action.

Performance is often positive across PC and console contexts, though one review notes drops during heavy effects or large battles.

Technical optimization is a strong point, with reviewers highlighting smooth frame rates and good visual quality even on less powerful or handheld hardware.

Value for money is polarized, with some citing huge content value and another rejecting the price because of technical and monetization concerns.

Reviewers who directly discussed price generally felt the campaign quality, replay options, and production values justify the cost for action fans.

Replay value is supported mainly by the volume of content and the possibility of returning to the world for months or years.

Boss rematches, harder difficulty, challenge rewards, and New Game Plus give combat-focused players meaningful reasons to return. Replaying padded missions is less appealing to some critics.

Platform-specific feature support is praised where the PS5/PS5 Pro display modes balance performance and image quality.

Console and Switch 2 versions are generally well supported with useful performance options and stable play; Switch 2-specific control features are seen as fun if somewhat gimmicky.

The bow’s generous auto-aim makes headshots easy, but lock-on and targeting can occasionally keep attacks moving in an unwanted direction.

Animation is one of the game’s clearest showpieces, with bespoke parries, blocks, executions, facial reactions, and combat transitions repeatedly singled out as exceptional. A few reviewers noticed a gap between cinematic and gameplay presentation.

Reviewers consistently praise the grotesque Genma, corrupted Kyoto, historical architecture, and supernatural imagery. The aesthetic feels recognizably Onimusha while benefiting from much richer modern detail.

The use of Toshiro Mifune’s likeness and the game’s performance casting are generally viewed as fitting and distinctive, even though a minority questioned the ethics or necessity of recreating a deceased actor.

Checkpointing is usually generous, especially around difficult fights, though one reviewer disliked having to restart multi-phase boss encounters from the beginning.

Collectibles often reward exploration with mythology, story details, cosmetics, or progression, and the Lion Dogs and Oni Portals are particular favorites. Some completion-oriented tasks still feel repetitive or low-value.

The hideout/resource system is treated as useful and customizable, with one review crediting it for turning resources into gear and scout benefits.

The material economy is a weak point for some reviewers: common upgrade resources can be oddly expensive or grindy, and their relationship to the broader progression loop feels less refined than the combat.

Despite the action-heavy premise, reviewers frequently found the character relationships, personal arcs, and later story beats funny, heartfelt, or unexpectedly moving.

Post-game play includes harder Carnage difficulty and New Game Plus-style replay, giving mastery-focused players a reason to continue after the credits.

Facial animation is repeatedly described as among the game’s best visual work, especially Musashi’s expressive mannerisms and subtle reactions during both cutscenes and gameplay.

Spirit Mirrors make revisiting areas straightforward, although travel is tied to those points rather than available from anywhere. One reviewer specifically liked that restraint.

Opinions on length are mixed, but the strongest criticism says a superb shorter action game has been stretched into a 25–30 hour experience. A smaller group felt the adventure did not overstay its welcome.

The layered defensive options, soul management, armaments, environmental tools, and resource systems create unusually rich moment-to-moment play. A few explanations and secondary systems can feel confusing or less polished.

The body horror, grotesque Genma, corrupted environments, and occasional Resident Evil-like sequences add genuine unease without overwhelming the action-adventure focus.

The combat is easy to understand but demanding to master, and many reviewers enjoy the process of learning timing and boss patterns. Some training and system explanations could be clearer.

Loot reactions are mixed: several reviewers enjoyed meaningful perks and gear loops, while others disliked excessive randomized drops or low gameplay impact.

Japanese myths, legends, readables, collectibles, and side stories give the world substantial optional lore without requiring prior knowledge of the series.

Microtransaction impact is mixed: some found the store non-intrusive, while others disliked map packs, supplies, or the volume of paid extras.

The easiest Story setting is praised as an effective introduction to modern timing-based action, especially because it teaches defensive responses without turning the game into a passive tutorial.

Sandbox freedom is limited by level gating, which one reviewer felt pre-determines routes despite the apparent openness.

Shizuka, Okuni, Takamura, and Ganryu often earn praise for personality and chemistry with Musashi, though some reviewers wanted the rival storyline to go deeper.

Oni Armaments fill distinct roles such as healing, stamina damage, and crowd control, and at least one reviewer found each option useful rather than redundant.

Cosmetic options exist, with additional looks unlocking through play and harder modes, but the selection initially feels limited.

Cross-save support is positively noted as a convenient way to move between PlayStation and PC.

Puzzles are a light part of the experience, but the secrets and environmental challenges that do appear can be enjoyable diversions from combat.

The UI is praised for being restrained, clear, and largely out of the player’s way.