Posture System
Onimusha: Way of the Sword uses a posture system layered on top of Musashi's guard. Each block takes away posture, which means guarding is a resource, not a free defensive option.
How It Works
Musashi can guard in any direction, which gives him a full 360-degree defensive option against ranged threats and surrounds.
Every block drains a chunk of his posture.
If posture breaks entirely, he is vulnerable to a punish window that a smart enemy will capitalise on.
Why It Matters
The posture cost on guards is what nudges the player into reading enemy attacks rather than holding block. A clean parry keeps Musashi in an offensive rhythm; a held guard bleeds his posture until he cannot keep doing it. The combination rewards players who want to fight in a readable, timing-based duel rather than hiding behind a shield.