AI Summary
5 min readThe hosts of The Besties open the episode with a confession: none of them had really paid attention to Capcom’s Onimusha series before. It was always the odd one out—less bombastic than Devil May Cry, less survival-horror than Resident Evil, set in feudal Japan with real historical figures fighting demons. But the new game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, is a reboot that has them all surprised. Ron Funches, who swapped in for regular co-host Russ Frushtick, calls it “one of the best action games I’ve ever played.” The conversation quickly becomes a love letter to Capcom’s recent run of quality, a deep dive into how Onimusha threads a needle between punishing difficulty and player-friendly design, and a side trip into the newly announced Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.
The Combat Sweet Spot: Between Soulslike and Power Fantasy
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What you'll learn
- 1 (04:31) **Onimusha: Way of the Sword – Series Primer & First Impressions** – The hosts set up the Onimusha franchise as an action-adventure series that sits between Devil May Cry and Resident Evil, set in historical Japan with demons.
- 2 (06:21) **Combat Philosophy: A Unique Blend of Accessibility and Depth** – Ron contrasts the game’s combat with "souls-like" punishing difficulty and mindless button-mashing, praising its balanced approach.
- 3 (09:16) **Facial Animation & Tone: The Toshiro Mifune Realism** – Chris marvels at the game’s facial animation, which uses the likeness of iconic actor Toshiro Mifune to create a uniquely expressive and realistic character.
- 4 (11:49) **Difficulty Options: A Masterclass in Accessibility** – The hosts discuss how Onimusha offers an "Action Mode" with optional button prompts, proving that "easy mode" and "souls-like" design can coexist.
- 5 (13:44) **Boss Fights: Skill Checks and Japanese Folklore** – The conversation focuses on the boss fights, which are described as the highlight of the game, featuring grotesque designs and requiring genuine skill.
- 6 (18:25) **Strategic Dismemberment: The Stamina Break System** – The hosts detail a unique stamina break system that allows players to strategically dismember bosses, removing their most dangerous attacks.
- 7 (19:56) **The "Widdle Babies" Mode: Learning Without Stress** – Chris explains how the game's easier difficulty mode allows less skilled players to learn boss patterns without the pressure of constant failure.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
The last time Capcom made a new Onimusha game, George W. Bush was President. But Onimusha: The Way of the Sword would have you believe the series never missed a beat. This week, Ron Funches joins the guys to talk about the ways this new entry blends Devil May Cry and Dark Souls tropes into something fresh and surprisingly welcoming!
Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
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