Miyamoto Musashi is the main protagonist of Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Capcom’s version of the famous samurai is a young swordsman who arrives in Kyoto to prove that he is the best swordsman in Japan. However, his journey quickly changes when he becomes involved in a supernatural battle against the Genma.
Unlike the historical Miyamoto Musashi, the character in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is part of Capcom’s dark fantasy world. The game uses the famous swordsman’s name and some elements of his history, but gives him a completely different story involving the Oni, Genma, and supernatural powers.
Miyamoto Musashi: Quick Overview
- Character: Miyamoto Musashi
- Game: Onimusha: Way of the Sword
- Role: Main protagonist
- Setting: Edo-period Kyoto
- Weapon: Katana
- Special Power: Oni powers
- Special Equipment: Oni Gauntlet
- Face Model: Toshiro Mifune
- Main Enemies: Genma
- Developer: Capcom
Who Is Miyamoto Musashi in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
Miyamoto Musashi in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a young and highly skilled samurai who travels to Kyoto with one goal: to prove that he is unmatched with the sword. He is confident in his abilities and relies heavily on his own swordsmanship when the story begins.
His journey takes an unexpected turn when Kyoto becomes overrun by the monstrous Genma. Musashi is pulled into a much larger supernatural conflict and gains access to the power of the Oni. This makes him more than just a skilled samurai. He becomes a warrior capable of using supernatural abilities alongside his sword skills.
What Happens to Miyamoto Musashi in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
The story takes place in an Edo-period version of Kyoto that has been corrupted by Malice. Genma emerge from the depths of hell and attack the human world, forcing Musashi to fight his way through the city.
During his journey, Musashi receives the Oni Gauntlet, a mysterious artifact that gives him the power needed to fight the Genma. The gauntlet also allows him to absorb Genma souls and use them as a source of power. As the story continues, Musashi has to understand these new powers while continuing to rely on his swordsmanship.
What Is the Oni Gauntlet?
The Oni Gauntlet is one of the most important parts of Musashi’s character. It gives him powers that go beyond what a normal human warrior can achieve. The gauntlet allows Musashi to absorb Genma souls after defeating them. These souls can then be used to strengthen his abilities and help him during combat.
Check out our Oni Gauntlet guide to learn more about the same.
What Weapons Does Miyamoto Musashi Use?
Musashi’s main weapon in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is his katana, and sword combat is at the heart of his gameplay. Capcom has designed his combat around fast sword strikes, parries, deflections, and powerful finishing attacks. He can also use different Oni-based weapons and abilities as he progresses. These give Musashi more options when dealing with different types of Genma.
Capcom has also explained that this version of Musashi is still early in his journey. He has not yet mastered the famous dual-wielding style associated with the historical swordsman, so the game puts more focus on his one-sword fighting style.
Does Miyamoto Musashi Have Oni Powers?
Yes. Musashi gains supernatural Oni powers during the story. His abilities allow him to fight enemies that would be far beyond the strength of a normal samurai. His Oni powers work together with his sword skills, giving him a mix of traditional swordplay and supernatural attacks. The game also introduces Oni Awakening, which allows Musashi to unleash more of his Oni strength during combat.
Who Is Toshiro Mifune?
One of the most interesting details about Musashi is his appearance. Capcom used the likeness of legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune as the face model for the character. Mifune was famous for his roles in classic Japanese samurai films, making his likeness a natural fit for Capcom’s version of Musashi.
It is important to note that Mifune is the face model, not the voice actor for the character. Capcom used his appearance to give Musashi a strong classic samurai look.
Is This the Real Miyamoto Musashi?
The game is inspired by the real Miyamoto Musashi, but Onimusha: Way of the Sword is not a historical biography. The real Musashi was a famous Japanese swordsman who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He became known for his swordsmanship and his writings on strategy.
Capcom takes the famous name and some elements associated with the historical warrior, then places him inside its supernatural Onimusha universe. The result is a fictional version of Musashi who fights Genma instead of following the real swordsman’s historical life.
Is Miyamoto Musashi Connected to Previous Onimusha Heroes?
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is designed as a new starting point for the series. You do not need to know the stories of previous protagonists such as Samanosuke Akechi or Jubei Yagyu to understand Musashi’s story.
Capcom has explained that the game was rebuilt so that new players can jump into the series without previous knowledge. It also does not have a direct storyline connection to the earlier games.
Summary
In short, Miyamoto Musashi is a young samurai searching for recognition who becomes caught in a supernatural war in Edo-period Kyoto. With his katana and Oni Gauntlet, he must fight the Genma while discovering the reason behind his new powers.
Capcom’s version is very different from the real historical Musashi, but it keeps the legendary swordsman’s reputation for swordsmanship at the heart of the character. His journey from a confident young swordsman to an Oni-powered warrior is one of the main stories in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
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