Sick of grinding for upgrade materials like leather and iron in Onimusha: Way of the Sword? Good news: you can buy a lot of them
Onimusha: Way of the Sword allows players to purchase upgrade materials like leather and iron using in-game souls earned from defeating enemies, rather than requiring real-money transactions. The game does not employ level gating that mandates specific stat thresholds before accessing content, distinguishing it from traditional RPGs.
The upgrade system remains entirely optional—skilled players can complete the game without upgrading equipment at all, allowing them to tackle harder bosses without any gear improvements. This design choice addresses concerns common to modern AAA games, where grinding for materials often artificially extends gameplay duration. The hub world where upgrades are processed has been described as uninspiring, making the grinding feel disconnected from core combat experiences.
The implementation represents a balance in modern game design—providing progression-based monetization while keeping the system non-mandatory. The game avoids more predatory monetization practices found in comparable AAA titles, instead using earned in-game currency as the sole means of purchasing upgrades.