Onimusha

Onimusha: Warlords (PS2, 2001) is the groundbreaking debut of Capcom’s samurai-horror hybrid, casting you as samurai Samanosuke Akechi battling Nobunaga’s demon hordes in a Resident Evil-inspired feudal Japan. Its tank controls and fixed cameras feel dated, but the soul-absorbing katana combat, eerie castle exploration, and live-action cutscenes (starring Dead or Alive’s Takeshi Kaneshiro) ooze atmosphere. A trailblazer that defined the series’ blend of history and horror—later remastered in HD (2019) with smoother controls.