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Muramasa: The Demon Blade - the prettiest game for the prettiest gamers (56k alert)
UncleSporky
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Trailer
Intro
Click spoiler for more:
I couldn't find anything higher resolution for this game except this:
Official Japanese site of the game
Muramasa: The Demon Blade was released in Japan on April 9. As a result there are many videos of it on Youtube if you want to see more.
Its NA release time frame is July 2009 while Europe is getting it spring 2010 (:(). It is being brought over by XSeed, bless their souls.
IGN has just come out with a new preview for this game located here. Here it is reposted:
For people who burnt out on Odin Sphere (myself included) it looks and sounds quite a bit better. Rather than 5 characters to slog through there are only two. Rather than flat ground most of the time, it looks like there are a lot more varied environments. IGN does mention a few issues: jumping handled by pressing up, and backtracking. Backtracking doesn't sound so terrible though.
Can't wait to see more of this.
Intro
Click spoiler for more:
I couldn't find anything higher resolution for this game except this:
Official Japanese site of the game
Muramasa: The Demon Blade was released in Japan on April 9. As a result there are many videos of it on Youtube if you want to see more.
Its NA release time frame is July 2009 while Europe is getting it spring 2010 (:(). It is being brought over by XSeed, bless their souls.
IGN has just come out with a new preview for this game located here. Here it is reposted:
The most visually stunning game I've ever seen is on the Wii. Don't call me crazy until you've first had an extended look at Muramasa Demon Blade. Vanillaware, makers of Odin Sphere, have proven themselves the masters of 2D and visual style with their first Wii effort. And best of all, beyond just the visuals, Muramasa is turning out to be a fine game as well!
Muramasa has fantastic animation, large sprites and bosses, and lots of enemies on screen. But the thing that really makes it stand out is the variety of its imagery and its attention to detail. You'll go from a foggy forest to a paradise-like beach, cross to a series of rooftops, then enter a Japanese mansion. The backdrops aren't just static scenery either. They have such layered depth and movement that they really do look like paintings come to life.
One thing that has kept me playing Muramasa thus far is the desire to see what gets shown next. But the game isn't just good looks. A fast and deep combat system and some unique level design has kept me wanting to play just as much as the pretty visuals.
Muramasa's combat system manages to keep things simple as far as buttons are concerned. You have just one attack button along with a special move. But with these, and with some well-timed directional presses, you'll make your character, either Momohime or Kisuke, soar through the air with finesse and speed.
Even with the simple control setup, you feel like you're in full control of the characters as you leap from enemy to enemy and connect your attacks while avoiding contact with the ground. And there's never a need to break out of the action for weapon switching or item selection, as these can be done on the fly via the shoulder buttons.
The only thing that's a bit iffy about the controls is the jumping, which requires that you press up on the control stick. This was presumably done to make the game playable with the Wiimote/nunchuck combination. I've found jumping to be a bit tough with the nunchuck's analogue, so I use either the Classic Controller or GameCube controller with the d-pad.
One of the interesting quirks about the combat system is that you can select between a button mashing mode and a more skilled mode. These can be switched between at any time. You're basically changing the difficulty, but the end result is that when playing the button mashing mode (actually "Musou" mode as in the "Musou" from the Dynasty Warriors series' Japanese name) you can pretty much slash away at enemies without fear of dieing. The more skilled setting is for experts only. You'll die pretty quickly if you don't properly use all the moves at your disposal.
In addition to these selectable difficulties, I've gotten the feeling that Momohime's and Kisuke's quests are of different difficulties, with Momohime's being a ways easier. With Kisuke, I died during my first fight!
Combat is all important in Muramasa. The game feels somewhat like a sequence of fighting set pieces. Stages are split into a series of short scrolling areas, each facing you off against one or two groups of enemies. Defeat these enemies, and you're able to proceed. There's also a larger world map surrounding all this, along with the ability to backtrack.
Backtracking is sometimes forced upon you. The game will make you run through large expanses just to get back to a previous point. Annoying? Not at all! There's no loading between scenes, and with the stunning visuals, and the promise of more intense sword play at the end point, you probably won't mind.
For people who burnt out on Odin Sphere (myself included) it looks and sounds quite a bit better. Rather than 5 characters to slog through there are only two. Rather than flat ground most of the time, it looks like there are a lot more varied environments. IGN does mention a few issues: jumping handled by pressing up, and backtracking. Backtracking doesn't sound so terrible though.
Can't wait to see more of this.
Switch Friend Code: SW - 5443 - 2358 - 9118 || 3DS Friend Code: 0989 - 1731 - 9504 || NNID: unclesporky
UncleSporky on
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I'm going to miss the item management/whoring/synthesis.
You're missing the bath scene screenshot :winky: That'll move some copies.
Also I didn't see this bath scene screenshot!
Hahahahahaha.
Game over. Return of 1992.
Jesus christ.
Ouch , kinda puts my whining about a few months into perspective.
I liked it a lot playing through one character. But there are five of them and they're all quite long and also retreads of areas/bosses you already went through. Still I would say it's worth it, it's quite pretty, well voice-acted, and fun.
If you have the patience to see all five stories through and pursue the true ending(which I did), you'll be rewarded with one epic tale.
Best of all, you can watch them all the cutscenes in order after unlocking them, like a complete film(which is pretty much the look they went for, and nailed).
And this is one of the few remaining games that make me glad I have a Wii.
Holy christ this is pretty awesome actually.
It's like a japanese painting.
Kinda wish that I have a Wii now
Pretty sure its a GH title, meaning it should be $20.
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
I totally love the art-style for this game so far, backgrounds ripped straight from famous Japanese prints is a total plus. I like the idea that there are only two characters, hopefully they will allow enough game-play variety this time around to keep me interested all the way through.
It is a Japanese painting:
How awesome is that.
I'm pretty sure that it's animated too.
Long live 2D!
Also, that level looks like it will be absolutely phenomenal in motion.
3DS FC: 0817-3759-2788
I know the look, just not too sure about the medium.
Love the style.
I don't know if you noticed but you can see it very briefly at 1:23 in the first youtube video. And it does look phenomenal.
Dude is pissed he's in the water with a girl. Looks like he'd much rather run around and kill people.
Yeah, I noticed it, and it looks amazing. I absolutely cannot wait for this game.
3DS FC: 0817-3759-2788
I'm glad there is a button masher mode and an expert mode.
Freeloader, I'm counting on you now.
Well played, VanillaWare.
That does make me sad, considering it's already released in Japan, but I figure titles like this aren't going to have US release be a natural part of their launch schedule.
I'm a little concerned that Atlus isn't bringing it over - they do the best damn localizations this side of Metal Gear Solid. Still, I doubt anyone's going to buy Muramasa because of how it sounds.
Looking forward to this though!
If you're looking for a fight, be warned that I can attack consistently for more than five seconds without becoming fatigued.
In all fairness, if you told me there were a hundred people who had the patience to fully complete that game and see the story through to completion, I'd be stunned.
Like it matters, I'll be able to see every punch coming thanks to the slowdown!
wait
Count me on that list. The story was too good for me to not go through to completion. I just watched Gwendolyn's story last night and I remember what got me through. That and I have some odd affinity for collecting junk and then putting it together to put it to good use. The restaurant/alchemy system was sweet. Also the art, music, and voice acting. In fact, I loved everything aside from the slowdown and that block and attack were the same button.
I saw it through also, true ending and all. It was worth it, but I'm wondering how many people who got the game(and if it really went GH, that must be a lot) managed to pull that off.