Nanamagari

Your step-by-step guide to navigating the Nanamagari area in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Learn how to defeat demons, gain the Ogre's Gauntlet, and progress through the early stages of the game.

Alright, so you've just started up Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and you're about to head into the first area, Nanamagari. Don't worry, I'll walk you through it. You'll start off playing as Kaede, but you and she will split up pretty quickly. Just head north, the way Kaede didn't go. You'll enter a new screen, and a cutscene will pop up. Some demons have grabbed Princess Yuki! You'll need to fight them off until they decide to bail. But just as you think you're safe, a bigger demon shows up and knocks you out cold while you're trying to save the Princess. After that, the Princess gets nabbed by this big demon.

Now, another cutscene plays. Some spirits are going to tell you that you're not strong enough to take on these evil forces just yet. They'll grant you the power of the Ogre's Gauntlet on your right hand. This lets you absorb the souls of defeated enemies to get stronger and help you fight back against the demons. Once you wake up, you'll get the Instructions too, which basically explain how to collect enemy souls and what the different colored souls (red, blue, and yellow) mean. You'll also notice you now have the Ogre's Gauntlet power. Before you go any further, find the Magic Mirror near the big wooden doors and save your game. Seriously, do it! Then, head through those doors and into the next area, which is filled with corpses and crows. Keep going until you stumble upon some villagers getting attacked by demons. There's a short cutscene where the villagers are on a protective wall, spearing the demons below. Unfortunately, one villager gets pulled off the wall and brutally stabbed by four demons. Once that's over, take care of the remaining demons. Then, head through the next door and into a shed.

Inside the shed, a villager will tell you to hurry up through the next door, but then four demons pop out from behind you! The villagers freak out and you're left in the small shed with these four demons. You'll need to fight them off. After you defeat them, collect the souls they drop. Then, approach the door the villagers locked. Press the X button, and Samanosuke will let them know the demons are dealt with and they should open up. The villagers, a bit shaken that you handled those demons, will slowly open the door, and another cutscene will play. They'll apologize and tell you to head to the Keep, as it's also been attacked. After the cutscene, feel free to chat with the three villagers still standing there if you want any extra info. Then, run around the back of the shed and head into the woods. As you make your way through, two demons will ambush you, so take them down and grab their souls. Keep going until you reach a cave at the end of the forest. An explosion will happen inside, creating a hole in the ground that blocks your path. You'll have to enter that hole and make your way into the underground cave system.

Fight your way through these caves – they're pretty linear, so you won't get lost. You'll face a total of three demons one by one. Make sure you collect their souls after each fight. When you find the temple entrance, open the chest to the left of the stairs to grab the Underground Temple Map. Then, climb the stairs and you'll find a mummified monk. Examine him to get the Sougen's Note. Read it, and the monk will automatically move aside, revealing a door into the Temple. Go on in!