Soul of the Samurai – The Forgotten Predecessor to Onimusha

Long before Capcom released the first Onimusha game, Konami had already brought a similar concept to life—an entire generation earlier. That game was Soul of the Samurai.

Unfortunately, I never got to play it as a kid, but I’m certain I would have been obsessed with it. Soul of the Samurai isn't just a title—it’s something you can feel in every scene, every stance, every movement. And I’m not exaggerating—even the save files aren’t displayed as numbers, but as haiku or hokku.

The game offers two playable characters: Kotaro Hattori, a wandering ronin, and Lin, a skilled ninja. To unlock the true ending, you must complete the game with both characters—but trust me, it's worth it. The differences between their playthroughs are massive: completely distinct playstyles, bosses, and cutscenes. If you thought Resident Evil had unique scenarios, this game takes that concept even further—each character’s story is a separate piece of a larger narrative.

As a ronin, Kotaro gains new swords after each boss fight, and each weapon plays noticeably differently. Lin, on the other hand, acquires more ranged weapons, shifting combat tactics significantly. Additionally, both characters unlock new techniques after defeating a set number of enemies. These moves can be tricky to execute and aren’t strictly necessary, but they look fantastic—and you’ll definitely want to try them.

The controls are unique. My friend didn’t like them, but I was thrilled. They aren’t quite the "tank controls" of Resident Evil, but due to the fixed camera angles, you might lose spatial awareness in combat. However, the parry system is phenomenal—I got immense satisfaction from perfectly timed parries and brutal finishing moves.

The game also features plenty of hidden elements that aren’t tied directly to the story but reward players with new weapons. The pre-rendered backgrounds are static, yet they capture the atmosphere of samurai-era Japan so well that I had no complaints.

This was one of the games I played for the first time in 2025, and I enjoyed it immensely. Neither the gameplay nor the visuals felt outdated in any way. And the fact that it’s a short game? That’s a plus for me. In about 10 hours, you can fully immerse yourself in the world of the samurai, complete both storylines, and even unlock bonus weapons.

If you, like me, missed out on this gem back in the day, now is the perfect time to discover it. I guarantee you’ll have an amazing time!