Future Capcom games will have Onimusha to thank for RE Engine's gnarly dismemberments
Surely this will come in handy for the next Resident Evil.
The Onimusha: Way of the Sword game has received high praise for its combat animations, which remain natural and fluid regardless of the camera angle or Musashi's sword swings. Director Satoru Nihei explained that the intricate animations were a key focus during the six-year development process. The team leveraged the vast assets and tech available at Capcom to create these unique actions, which couldn't be easily replicated by other companies.
The animations and motion capture data were enhanced by programmers who transformed the data into smooth transitions between animations, using physics-based calculations. The dynamic dismemberment system, a new addition to the game's RE Engine, allows Musashi to chop weaker enemies into pieces with dramatic finishers like the lightning-fast Issen strike.
Unlike other games where cut enemies freeze and fall apart, Onimusha's system enables enemies to continue animating as they die and drop. Nihei also noted that the team intentionally avoided a freeform cutting approach, opting for a more reactive system that showcases the power of abilities. The advanced dismemberment technology, now integrated into the RE Engine, could potentially be seen in future Capcom games, perhaps even applied to more gruesome scenarios like Leon blowing a zombie in half with a shotgun.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
