Capcom is known for offering many fantastic modes for people who want more out of the game. It’s a natural sight to see 6 to 7 difficulties in a Capcom game; each difficulty raises the stakes but feels good when you beat the final encounter. Unlike most games, Capcom does allow you to carry your gear from the previous progression to try your luck on the newer difficulty.
In Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Carnage Mode introduces a brand-new way to play with a fun twist on many of the game mechanics. Here in this guide, I will point out everything you must know about Carnage Mode and how to unlock it in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
What is Carnage Mode in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
Carnage Mode is the hardest difficulty for the game; this mode is unlocked after beating the game. The game opens up with two difficulties at the beginning: Story and Action, but the truly hardest difficulties lie after completing the entire game.
Once the game credits hit the screen, it might be over for a lot of people, but for anyone looking for a rougher or more challenging experience, the game has a new difficulty option: “Carnage Mode“. Think of this mode as Dante Must Die mode in Devil May Cry or Professional in the Resident Evil series. This makes the game way more challenging, punishing your mistakes and demanding that you equip a decent battle to withstand the damage from the boss and common enemies.
Bosses will hit harder and will perform new moves in combat, catching you off guard if you are heading into the battle with previous boss mechanics in mind. The common enemies will not hold back this time, as they will happily counter most of the attacks. Beating the entire game on Carnage Mode unlocks the “True Onimusha” Achievement or Trophy (50G/ Gold Trophy).
New Game Plus
Do note, you will not be going into the battle with just your starting gear – all your effort in combat and exploration that you put in to your first journey will help you out in Carnage mode. I have put up here what does, and what does not get carried over in Carnage Mode in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
| What Gets Carried Over | What Doesn’t |
| Oni Armaments | Gear Upgrades |
| Awakening Meter | Red Souls |
| Awakened Oni Abilities | Story and Side Quest Progressions |
| Enhanced Basic and Special abilities | Gauntlet Upgrades |
| Hozuki pouches and upgrades | Spirit Mirror save points |
| Items, offerings, and only a few materials | Selection of items available at the shop |
| All Skills Purchased | Upgrade Materials |
| All Charms, including the charm enhancements | Also the Oni Bow |
| Outfits and Cosmetics unlocked | – |
| Collectibles | – |
| Tutorial drills | – |
| Genma Notes | – |
| Rescued Lion Dogs | – |
The only thing that doesn’t get carried over to the New Game Plus or Carnage Mode is your gear upgrades. Your HP, Damage State, and Oni Armament Gauge will be at the default stat.
As the description for the difficulty states:
‘A difficulty level where a single hit could mean death. A high-stakes mode where carelessness can kill, but victory is all the sweeter’
Unlike other difficulties in the game, where you can switch to story or action on the go, when you start playing in Carnage difficulty, there is no going back. The game won’t let you change the difficulty to either Story or Action while you are on the route of Carnage. The only thing I will recommend before starting the final encounter, get all the collectibles found in the game so your next ride on Carnage Difficulty or New Game Plus will be a bit easier without getting annoying.
