Just as the Resident Evil series that inspired it (we’ll get into the Resident Evil DNA in Onimusha: Warlords later), Onimusha has pre-rendered backgrounds and fixed camera angles. Capcom and NeoBards have done much more than simply raise the resolution for this rerelease. I’ll start with what’s been changed and/or improved with the remaster before delving into the game itself. Upon playing the Onimusha: Warlords remaster thoroughly and to completion (one and a half times so far), I can confirm that all of my memories, both those foggy and the one I remember in lurid detail, are present here in what is a tight, atmospheric, and enjoyable game that was inherently great, and has been improved upon in this remaster.

So he just stares at you and retreats back into the ceiling. He’s upside down with his long mustache swaying along with his swaddled body, and until you make a certain amount of progress in the game, he appears but won’t interact with you. The only thing I remembered vividly (and wished that I could forget) was this horrifying, sneering, wrinkled, gross, surely fetid, man-creature who is wrapped in what looks to be some sort of rotting lettuce cocoon who drops down from above in one of Onimusha’s save rooms.

I vaguely remembered elemental weapons, spooky environments, stabbing enemies on the ground, a giant snake boss, and cool music. As a poor, dumb, 7-year-old kid, my experience with the game was over the course of two separate rental periods and I had long spaces between progress since I had no access to the internet to save me when I was hopelessly lost. The only thing that gave me trepidation was that my recollection of the game was pretty foggy. I had many fond memories of playing the original in 2001. The PlayStation 4 remaster of Onimusha: Warlords had me super excited when it was announced.

Onimusha ps4 advanced controls