After making his way to the deeper levels of the Underground Laboratory during What Lurks in the Shadow, Musashi will face the first head-scratcher in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, fittingly named the Mask Puzzle.
Given the lack of clues within the room, though, it can be easy to get stumped. Trust me, I speak from experience. Here’s how to solve the Mask Puzzle in Onimusha: Way of the Sword and a few other things you might want to know.
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How to solve the Sword Mask puzzle in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
As you might have guessed from our wording, the key to solving the mask puzzle in Way of the Sword won’t be inside its room. Instead, the clues will be right outside, in the shadows cast by the masks by the entrance.
More specifically, the number of light spots on each will give away the order in which you must shoot their hanging copies. The right one? Light Blue (1), Orange (2), Yellow (3), and Purple (4). Upon hitting all in quick succession, head over to the altar and grab the Unsettling Mask.
With the Unsettling Mask at hand, head back to the Spirit Mirror area via the door on the right. There, you will find the door matching its unique design, leading to the way easier contraption puzzle.
How to stop the contraption in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
A two-step process: you can stop the contraption in Onimusha: Way of the Sword by first heading to the room on the right and interacting with the first lever. Upon doing so, a new enemy will show up; Don’t worry, he’s alone. Now, head to the newly opened path and interact with the second lever to stop the contraption.
Just brace yourself before moving on, as the latter portion of the Laboratory houses both tough encounters and an optional Byakue boss following an unmissable trap.
How to defeat Byakue – Hundred Defilements
Upon falling into the pitfall trap, start by eliminating all enemies in the area while staying away from Byakue – Hundred Defilements and avoiding all flammable pots and wooden boards. Once the room is clear, grab any items you might need and get close to the boss to start the bout.
To defeat the Byakue quickly, make use of all mentioned objects to start with a heavy dose of damage before closing in. Like in your first fight, the name of the game here is parrying/blocking his dashes, deflecting his long swings, and using the easy-to-telegraph motion of his downward slash to cash in with a well-timed Issen.
Don’t forget to also stay on your toes, as his AoE attacks can put those looking to complete a no-Item challenge in a tough spot in the late fight.
