Refreshing.
The story is definately loose in terms of historical relationships, but I don't think it is as hackneyed as some reviews label it as... We have to understand, when playing Japanese games, that the culture doesn't always give the "why" of certain things. They are just part of the story; accept it and enjoy.
The next thing to consider is you are now a part of a larger world. Being a traditional Onimusha player, I found the controls in this new world a bit awkward at first, but once you finish the prologue and get used to the camera, you become amazed at the level of freedom the the new control scheme gives.
The team aspect of the game is delightful especially when you realize that you can use your allies as bait to free yourself up to plan or recover. The team criticals are great, and very anime-esque. If you enjoy Onimusha, if you enjoy action, if you enjoy anime, if you enjoy RPGs or any of the above, give this game a go! I wouldn't call it "genre-bridging" per se, but it does make a neat hybrid. All in all, it is a refreshing change to what what was begining to become an "aging" series.