From AV Club · · 1m 30s
What's the antidote to a summer of crappy boss fights?
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword offers dynamic boss fights that reset summer's stale video game battles.
In brief
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword offers dynamic boss fights that reset summer's stale video game battles. Onimusha: Way Of The Sword provides engaging boss fights where player choices matter, contrasting with Wolverine and Control: Resonant's repetitive combat. Originally reported by AV Club.
Summer boss fights feel stale
I've been fighting enemies with whips in recent games, but summer boss battles feel lackluster and repetitive.
“I've been getting whiplash with my boss fights lately”
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword
Capcom's game features dynamic boss fights where player choices directly impact outcomes.
“Onimusha: Way Of The Sword (and its designers at Capcom)”
Player agency in combat
The game requires quick decisions on parries, blocks, dodges, or fighting through pain to succeed.
“With a battle system focused on enemies tossing out a huge variety of types of attacks”
Wolverine boss fights
Wolverine's boss fights involve repetitive combos and minimal player impact on the narrative flow.
“pressing up against one and feeling the invisible shape of a conversation from the design process”
Control: Resonant boss fights
Control: Resonant's boss fights feel like fighting an algorithm rather than a meaningful opponent.
“the game seems to believe that you make a battle bigger simply by making it longer”
Pacing differences
Onimusha uses shorter, energetic battles where both players take significant health damage quickly.
“Onimusha doesn’t really care how quickly I can get through a boss fight”
Why Onimusha stands out
The game's boss fights feel thrilling and personal, rewarding attentive play without excessive repetition.
“the duels in Onimusha feel genuinely thrilling, and even kind of personal”
The antidote effect
Onimusha's boss fights reset the summer's stale video game battles by prioritizing player engagement.
“I caught myself thinking something else: 'Fuck yeah, more fight'”
Contrast in player experience
Wolverine and Control: Resonant offer less engaging boss fights compared to Onimusha's dynamic combat.
“the result is to make killing the hundredth poor Reaver who winds up impaled on your claws feel far more like an expression of Wolverine's character”
Conclusion
Onimusha provides an antidote to summer's repetitive boss fights through meaningful player choices.
“I can't really think of a higher compliment I can pay it”
The bottom line
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword provides engaging boss fights where player choices matter, contrasting with Wolverine and Control: Resonant's repetitive combat.
