Legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi considered himself more an artist than a fighter. A keen strategist and a self-proclaimed master of war, I think it’s Musashi’s art that hits more keenly than his katana: it’s minimalist, monochromatic, a study of nature defined by its simple brilliance. Less is more. Whether intentional or not, I think Capcom may have internalised this philosophy when creating Onimusha: Way of the Sword – a game based loosely on the life and conquests of Musashi. Seldom over-complicated and often composed with artisanal skill, Way of the Sword takes the philosophies of 16th Century Japan’s most influential martial artist and somehow applies them to video game development.
