A special weapon was forged to create Onimusha: Way of the Sword's brutal blade sound effects: 'We wanted that very raw, kind of rough feel'

During an exclusive hands-on session at Capcom's headquarters in Osaka, I had the opportunity to speak with the game's audio director, Shunichi Suwa, about the design of the sound effects in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The focus of the conversation was on the brutal blade sound effects, which Suwa emphasized were designed with a raw and rough feel.

Suwa explained that while real swords were used to create some of the sounds, a special katana was also made specifically for producing the desired effects. This katana had a thicker blade and a pronounced S-shaped kink near the hilt, which differed from a regular katana. The purpose of this special katana was to capture a raw, grating, and scraping sound that would convey the intensity and strength of the game's protagonist, legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.

Suwa further elaborated on the decision to create a rough and unprocessed sound for Musashi's fighting technique. He explained that Musashi's fighting style was raw and powerful, with wild swings of the katana, contrasting with his rival Sasaki Ganryu's refined and smooth movements. By using this special katana, the audio team aimed to showcase Musashi's raw strength and fighting style through the sound effects, making the sword action in the game impactful and immersive.