The original Onimusha 2 is already hard enough with its tight gameplay that includes the hard-to-master Issen counter system, but the upcoming remaster ups the ante by adding a new Hell mode difficulty. While the prospect of dying in a single hit may not appeal to some players, the developers have assured that at least one or two of them have completed the mode.
In a joint media interview with AUTOMATON, Motohide Eshiro, director of the original and remastered Onimusha 2, and producer Kosuke Tanaka say that Hell mode (“Shura” mode in Japan) was created for hardcore players that want a challenge. Enemies are more aggressive, items are scarcer, and most important of all, any successful enemy attack means instant death for the player. Those who manage to complete it will gain bragging rights and a deep sense of accomplishment.
“Hell mode is very challenging and is implemented for those who are confident in their skills. If you clear it, you will want to brag to others. However, you can save during the game, so even if you are not that confident, I think you will be able to play it to a certain extent if you proceed carefully.”
If the original Onimusha 2 Magic Mirror save system is being used for the remaster, players will be going back and forth between specific points to regularly save their progress. It should be expected that only the most dedicated players will be able to complete it.
To remove any suspicions that his team doesn’t test the Onimusha 2 remaster on all difficulties, Eshiro revealed that the general rule for Hell mode was that at least one developer had to complete it for it to be implemented. With only one or two of them playing Hell mode to completion (himself not included), Eshiro was satisfied with the level of challenge it provides.
Hell mode was recently included in Onimusha: Warlords as part of a free update and poses the same “one-hit” challenge that its sequel will provide. If you want to get in some practice before the Onimusha 2 remaster releases, you’ll find no better way than by playing the first game in the series.
The Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remaster is set to release on May 23, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Xbox Series X❘S, and Windows (Steam).
