I’ll be honest: I’m sick of parrying in video games. What once was a unique combat mechanic has become as standard as jumping in action games. Even James Bond can parry in 007 First Light, as if he’s a Tarnished warrior taking down Radahn. (You’re just punching out a dude named Arthur, no need to show off!) It’s gaming’s most overused mechanic at present, and the move has lost its impact as a result. It takes a lot for a parry to stand out these days. That makes Onimusha: Way of the Sword all the more impressive.

Capcom’s new action RPG, released Sept. 4 for consoles and Windows PC, follows the industry trends to create a combat system built around blocks, evasive dodges, and, yes, parries. It doesn’t sound all too interesting on paper, but Way of the Sword is a reminder that great animation and sound design can make a huge difference in a game. You can see that reflected in its parries, which are the finest counter-attacks I’ve ever felt in a game.

Onimusha's parries rip

Way of the Sword’s........

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