The story follows classic power-fantasy tropes of a brash swordsman seeking mastery through gritty combat, with supporting characters like the Oni spirit Shizuka (voice in the gauntlet), rival Sasaki Ganryu, and dancer Izumo no Okuni drawn from Japanese history and folklore without any modern ideological overlays or forced changes to established figures. Capcom preserved the uncensored traditional Japanese setting and gore-focused action with no DEI consultancy involvement or activist statements from the developers. The game features no character creation, romance systems, pronoun options, or LGBTQ+ elements in story or mechanics, keeping the focus squarely on historical samurai action and demonic combat. This approach avoids identity-focused arcs or gender and race swaps for Miyamoto Musashi, delivering a straightforward traditional experience that prioritizes authentic period combat and folklore over contemporary messaging.