Cover Reveal: Onimusha – Way of the Sword

Miyamoto Musashi stands as a towering figure in Japanese history. While his origins dating back to 1583 remain shrouded in mystery, his legacy is undisputed: he retired with an undefeated streak of 62 duels, pioneered the iconic dual-wielding katana and wakizashi fighting style, and has inspired countless films, novels, and manga. Now, this legendary warrior takes center stage in Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a long-awaited revival that marks the franchise’s triumphant return after a two-decade hiatus and serves as our latest Game Informer cover story.

To pull back the curtain on this project, I traveled to Capcom’s Osaka headquarters alongside video editor Eric Van Allen. We spent an intense three hours diving into an expansive demo set in the atmospheric, open-town environment of Edo-period Kyoto. Our journey saw us confront the nightmarish “Wish Warper,” Rasho-gan, before descending into subterranean labs to battle the grotesque Genma creations of the sinister Dokyo. We sat down with key architects of this revival, including director Satoru Nihei, producer Akihito Kadowaki, and art directors Hiroyuki Nara and Hiroshi Yugen, to discuss the philosophy behind resurrecting such a beloved series.

Beyond our developer sit-downs, we fully immersed ourselves in the Onimusha world. I had the privilege of interviewing Motohide Eshiro, director of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, while Eric and I explored real-world Kyoto locations that serve as the inspiration for the game’s setting. We even made time for a local arcade pilgrimage to experience Onimusha VR: Shadow Team.

Keep a close watch on our coverage over the coming weeks as we dissect Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The cover art itself is a statement—Musashi, equipped with the mystical Oni Gauntlet, stands defiant as flames consume Kyoto, perfectly encapsulating the game’s high-stakes intensity.

This issue is a personal favorite, packed with a wide array of deep-dive features. From JJ Bersch’s poignant look at the 30-year legacy of Kirby Super Star and Hayes Madsen’s analysis of Capcom’s recent industry dominance to our massive roundup of promising indie titles, there is plenty to add to your gaming backlog. We also feature an exclusive look at the action-platformer Crowsworn from editor-in-chief Matt Miller, and a report from Paris by Charles Harte, who went hands-on with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse inside a historic church.

The issue is rounded out by a wealth of previews, including Resident Evil Veronica, Fable, and Signet City, alongside critical reviews of Gothic 1 Remake, EA Sports College Football 27, and Star Fox.

Experience the full story today: The digital edition is available immediately, while physical copies will reach subscribers by late August, just ahead of the game’s global September release. You can also pick up a copy at your local newsstand or subscribe today to secure your copy and join us for the year ahead.

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