Flashspoter - The lock-on feature in action games is often considered a must so that the gaze remains fixed on the opponent. The experience in Onimusha: Way of the Sword actually proves that giving up the habit can fundamentally change the way one views combat. Various data and facts reinforce that free aim is not just a personal taste, but an approach based on modern combat design.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword comes as the first new title in the Onimusha series in more than two decades, launching on September 4, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The Game won two awards at the 2026 Gamescom Awards, namely Best Gameplay and Best Sony PlayStation Game, confirming the quality of its combat system. The protagonist is Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary Japanese swordsman resurrected by the Oni Gauntlet to fight the Genma forces.
The lock-on system in this game is activated by pressing the right thumbstick button on the controller or the middle mouse button on the PC. This mechanism allows the player to lock the camera on a single target and switch between enemies when facing hordes. However, guides from the community and the media indicate that lock-on is precisely dangerous in the fight against two bosses at the same time. Analysis of the ifuu and Burai fight confirms that lock-on should only be used briefly to confirm the bow's target, then released before the second enemy moves behind Musashi. A similar principle applies to the Shuten Doji fight that separates the body and the head in the second phase.
Xbox Wire in its guide highlights the depth of the Way of the Sword combat system which includes block, parry, deflect, Issen, and Reflex Dodge. Each mech has specific functions that complement each other, with parry filling the Blaze Gauge and deflect draining the enemy's stamina. The depth of mechanics like this requires players to be sensitive to the entire battleground, and it's almost impossible to do when the camera is constantly attached to a single enemy. The ability to scan the entire battle arena becomes crucial in taking the right combat decisions.
The final Boss, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, is referred to as one of the biggest difficulty spikes in the game with three long combat phases. Guidelines from Game Rant emphasize the importance of a defensive approach and resource management, rather than simply attacking constantly.In a one-on-one duel like this, lock-on is still useful, but releasing it at certain moments actually gives better control. This pattern is in line with the findings of the Gamespot article which is the main reference for this discussion.
DualShockers and Hardcore gamers agree that Way of the Sword's combat system is the game's strongest aspect. Boss fights become the main stage that shows the quality of combat, with mechanics such as the Issen Break that allows instant kills after the enemy's stamina is depleted.Victory in combat is determined more by the opponent's motion-reading sensitivity and precise defensive response, rather than solely by the ability to automatically lock on to a target. The mechanics of parry, deflect, and Reflex Dodge require players to continue to make active decisions every second, not surrender to camera automation. Those who rely solely on lock-on will be overwhelmed when the opponent attacks from a direction outside the view of the screen, because the focus of the camera has been locked at one point only. This situation makes the player lose position awareness and vulnerable to unexpected attacks from other enemies.
It should be emphasized, free aim does not mean removing lock-on completely, because this game still provides it as a legitimate option, especially for one-on-one duels or when using a bow. However, various guides indicate that players who master free aim are superior in multi-enemy combat. The ability to manually switch targets based on the priority of opponents makes the difference between ordinary players and experienced players, while making the fight more lively and strategic. Even so, various guides show that players who master free aim tend to be superior when facing multiple enemies at once. The ability to manually switch targets based on the opponent's priorities, instead of following what appears in front of the camera, is a differentiator between ordinary players and experienced players.
From this analysis it can be concluded that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is designed with a combat system that frees players to choose their own best approach. Lock-on is just a tool, not a binding rule. Players who are able to let go of dependence on lock-on will experience more lively, strategic, and satisfying combat, while making Way of the Sword an evolution in modern action game design.
Sources: Gamespot, Capcom IR, Xbox Wire, GameRant, Console Pulse, PlayStation Blog, IGN