“The game’s unique visual style shines brightly with the new HD resolution and 60FPS performance, turning swordplay into an experience that feels more precise and engaging than ever before,” shares Director Motohide Eshiro. “As television screens have shifted towards widescreen formats over the years, we’ve adapted the game’s output to fill these larger displays. This adjustment not only enhances the visual immersion but also intensifies the excitement of battle scenes.”
I completely agree. The swordplay is incredibly sharp and responsive, allowing me to strike effectively and defend myself with ease. Battles are captivating, especially within the narrow temple corridors as I fend off waves of demons, striving to perfect the issen hit—a powerful counterattack—and soak up the souls of my foes to level up.
Eshiro further mentions, “A gamer jumping into this remaster in 2025 should experience the same thrill as those who first played it in 2002. We’ve worked hard to maintain what made the original great while updating specific elements to meet today’s gaming standards. With access to the original game’s assets, we found that they were crafted with impressive quality for their time. Back then, standard-definition CRT displays didn’t do them justice, so now we’ve employed modern upscaling techniques to reveal their true detail on contemporary HD screens. This includes dynamic video elements, like the background rivers, which now look more stunning than ever.”
