Cracking the Nijo-jo Castle mask puzzle in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
A breakdown of the mask puzzle solution in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, detailing the exact arrow-firing order needed to clear Nijo-jo Castle.
Exploring the historic halls of Nijo-jo Castle in Onimusha: Way of the Sword often means hitting a wall when classic puzzle design gets in the way of your progress. During the "What Lurks in the Shadows" quest, players eventually stumble upon a locked door bearing a smiling face that blocks the path to finding Hinagiku. Getting past this barrier requires solving a tricky environmental riddle involving four hanging masks and a bow.
As Polygon details in their latest puzzle walkthrough, the solution rests entirely inside the room itself rather than requiring backtracking through the castle. Players must fire arrows at the four hanging masks in a very specific sequence. If you mess up the order, the masks simply reset to their default positions and you have to try again.
The trick involves checking the replicas mounted on the nearby windows and observing how the spotlights cast shadows through them. By counting the illuminated orifices on each shadow from a different perspective, you get the exact 1 through 4 firing order. Hitting the green mask, the red mask, the yellow mask, and finally the purple mask in that exact sequence drops the cage holding the Unsettling Mask, letting you finally unlock the door and push forward.
Tags: Onimusha, Action Games, Guides, Capcom
Original article: Polygon