One of my most anticipated appointments at this year’s PAX West was with Capcom, and finally getting some hands-on time with not only Resident Evil Requiem but also Onimusha: Way of the Sword, along with some additional time with Pragmata (one of my favorite games I tried back at SGF). Capcom has been firing on all cylinders the past few years, and if these three games are any indication, 2026 looks to be another stellar year for the Japanese developer. What did I think of these three games?
Pragmata:
Let’s start with Pragmata, a game that I only had a passing interest in prior to actually getting to try it this past summer. The demo I got to try seemed nearly the same as the one I played previously, taking place near the beginning. I ran around as Hugh with helpful Diana on my shoulder, hacking and blasting the violent robots in our way. I still really love how Capcom handles hacking in real time, letting you maneuver and shoot all the while.
The main difference in the PAX demo compared to the one I played at SGF was that I was allowed to take on the boss, which previously, while being in the demo, I wasn’t allowed to try. Taking on this massive machine felt great, leaping out of the way of his attacks and slowing him with my time bubble. While it may have been just more of what I’ve seen, it was more of a great thing and just further solidified Pragmata’s spot as one of my most anticipated games of 2026!
Resident Evil Requiem:
A very select few folks were able to play Requiem at SGF, with most folks watching a gameplay video of it, but PAX West marks the first time more of the general gaming community are able to sneak their way through the mysterious manor as Grace Ashcroft. Stepping into the shoes of this FBI analyst felt pretty much what I expected—eerie and atmospheric, with a terrifying wet nurse lady chasing me that left my hands hurting from how hard I was gripping the controller.
There was nothing really new to the section that hadn’t been shared in the announcement trailers, and the gameplay felt pretty similar to RE VII: Biohazard and Village. It all felt good to play, and I’m still incredibly excited to play it, but Resident Evil in general doesn’t preview the best with small snippets of gameplay unless there is something brand new to try out. Overall, cool to see and try out, and I can’t wait to see what other surprises and horrors await us in the burned-out ruins of Raccoon City.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
I have fond memories of slaying through hordes of demons on my PS2 back in the day with the original Onimusha, and seeing Samonosuke’s tale through to the end in the third game. Having Onimusha back puts a giant smile on my face, and getting to try it out this week at PAX is one of my highlights. The combat feels fast, responsive, and surprisingly most refreshing to me, so that it doesn’t feel like a Soulslike. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the formula that FromSoftware created, and there are some really great ones out there, but I’ve just grown worn out by just how many are coming out these days, and was worried Onimusha would continue that trend. Thankfully, this doesn’t seem to be the case, and I am far more excited about it because of it.
I loved deflecting arrows shot from enemies at a distance and the boss fights with the ability to target different parts of their bodies with powerful strikes. Visually, Onimusha just looks gorgeous. I am so glad to see this game back, and I can’t wait to find out more about the story and what other abilities Musashi will unlock to dispatch demons with. Now, if only we could get a new Mega Man X game…
