Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Review – A Conservative Remaster

With the Onimusha franchise set to make a long-awaited and long overdue comeback in 2026 with Onimusha: Way of the Samurai, the developer is looking to once again drum up excitement in and around the action series, and as you would expect, remasters are part of that plan. 2002’s Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny arrives as a result in modernized and updated form for current platforms, but much like 2019’s Onimusha: Warlords re-release, this is a pretty conservative remaster of a game that, though it is still a lot of fun in some ways, hasn’t aged very well in others. The end result is a mixed experience that buckles in spite of its strengths.

As a remaster, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is quite a modest upgrade. As you’d expect, it brings the game up to HD resolution, while you can now also play with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The developer hasn’t done a great job of calibrating the game for that aspect ratio, however, which means the camera won’t always show you what you’d think it should be showing. Thankfully, you can switch to the original 4:3 aspect ratio.

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“If you were hoping for a more thorough upgrade that does a little bit more to update the experience both visually and from a gameplay perspective, this is going to come as a disappointment- not unlike 2019’s aforementioned Onimusha 1 re-release.”

Onimusha 2’s remaster also adds a new modernized control scheme that lets you move regularly with the analog stick- though the original’s tank controls are still available as an option, for anyone who may wish to experience the game the old fashioned way. The remaster also adds an easy mode and, conversely, a hell mode option where you die in a single hit, as well as a gallery where you can view all the updated and enhanced assets.

Beyond that, other than some minor gameplay tweaks here and there (such as seamless weapon switching) and the odd none-too-signigificant bonus (like all minigames being unlocked right out the gate), Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is pretty much exactly the same game it was on the PS2 over two decades ago. If you were hoping for a more thorough upgrade that does a little bit more to update the experience both visually and from a gameplay perspective, this is going to come as a disappointment- not unlike 2019’s aforementioned Onimusha 1 re-release. Onimusha 2 does run really well with next to no performance issues to speak of, and it does still look quite good- though that’s more down to its solid art design and ageless pre-rendered backgrounds than any major remastering work, so the credit there goes more to the original game itself than its remastered release.

The remaster’s conservative nature also obviously means that Onimusha 2 has brought over much of itself almost exactly as it was-  which in turn means that many of the game’s strengths and weaknesses are the remaster’s strengths and weaknesses as well. Take, for instance, the frustrating camera, which feels even more frustrating and aged in 2025 than it obviously did back in the day. Though Onimusha 2 does make great use of its fixed cameras quite often, just as frequently, they can also be a source of great annoyance. You’ll suddenly start moving in a direction that you didn’t mean to because of sudden camera cuts, leaving you disoriented, or you’ll often find yourself being assailed by ranged attacks from targets that you can’t even see- in several ways, Onimusha 2’s camera often gets in the way of the action, making everything from some of the most hectic fights to even basic movement feel clunky and ungainly more often than you’d like.

“When the game isn’t getting in its own way with dated design choices or frustrating camera issues, combat remains a lot of fun.”

Onimusha 2 also has issues baked into its core design that were obviously not going to be addressed in a remaster- least of all one as conservative as this one. Levels, for instance, are too unimaginative and straightforward in their design, which means you’ll find yourself moving through corridors with not much going on beyond impressive art design a bit too often. Progression, too, is quite simplistic in a way that makes it feel like an afterthought, while some of the combat scenarios and fights feel artificially difficult more due to the game’s own aged eccentricities than any real challenge.

All of these issues are very much present and accounted for in this remaster, which means your patience is likely going to be tested. That, of course, means mileage will vary, because not everyone is going to want to put up with Onimusha 2’s undeniable issues to get to the good stuff. Thankfully for those who do choose to take the good with the bad, there is genuinely good stuff to be had, especially if you’re a returning fan.

The combat, for instance, continues to be a blast. When the game isn’t getting in its own way with dated design choices or frustrating camera issues, combat remains a lot of fun, thanks not only to the variety of weapons available to use and how fun each of them is to play with, but also a number of well-designed boss fights, strong enemy variety, and tight, responsive, and consistently satisfying core gameplay mechanics.

Outside of combat, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny’s light doses of exploration and puzzle solving are also quite well-implemented. Taking hints of inspiration from the classic Resident Evil school of design, Onimusha 2’s item-gated puzzles break up the combat from time to time and are usually just the right level of engaging. No, there’s nowhere close to the levels of exploration here that you would expect from something like a Resident Evil game, but what the game does have is done well enough that it leaves you wanting for more.

“For hardcore fans of the Onimusha franchise or for those who don’t necessarily mind its aged PS2 era sensibilities, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a good excuse to embrace the franchise once again.”

That is ultimately what many are going to come to Onimusha 2 for – this isn’t a game that is going to floor you with its story or storytelling by any stretch of the imagination, for instance – and by and large, it does deliver enough of well-designed combat and puzzle design to warrant a look. It is not, however, without those issues. Arguably, it’s a bit too conservative as an upgrade, while on a more fundamental level, issues with dated design, a frustrating camera, and more also hold it back. Put together, all of these issues do certainly feel not-insignificant, at the very least, which means a recommendation isn’t exactly easily given here.

For hardcore fans of the Onimusha franchise or for those who don’t necessarily mind its aged PS2 era sensibilities, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a good excuse to embrace the franchise once again. If, however, you are looking for an experience that can stand the test of time with consistently strong design, you might not necessarily find that here.

The PlayStation 4 version of this game was reviewed on PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility.