Okay Geek Farm
Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Wii Overview
Okay Geek Team
Japanese cover is way prettier
Muramasa was announced about two years ago, around this exact same time too. Heck, I still remember posting the first screens on my old blog back then. Well, the game’s been out in Japan for a few months and it’s finally been released in the states. I’ve been looking forward to it for a while now so I was stoked when I finally got the game popped into the Wii.
Was it a game worth the wait? Or was it hyped for nothing? Take the jump to catch my full overview of the entire experience I had with Muramasa: The Demon Blade.
Overview: Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a sidescroller, Action/RPG that knows how to add flare and style to a seemingly rehashed idea of Samurai’s and Ninja’s. Made in the same art style as Vanillaware’s past work, Odin Sphere, there is no shortness of beauty in the presentation, soundtrack, and straight out kick ass action the game wields. And giving you the choice of two different characters with two different story arcs, Muramasa has a lot to offer the Wii hardcore player.
Plot: Each protagonist has their own distinct story, which incredibly don’t connect to each other. Monohime is our female lead - a princess who is killed by the time you begin the game, and is later possessed by an evil spirit who knows his way around a blade or two. Our male lead, Kisuke, wakes up as a lone ninja who’s lost his memory, and throughout his arc will encounter past betrayal, love, and a sword wielding skill like no other.
Gameplay: Since it’s an Action/RPG you’ll be hacking and slashing with style to gain experience, soul, and spirit points. Your XP will be for growing levels and raising your stats, but your Spirits and Souls will be used for a different purpose. In your Forge option in your start screen you’ll see a very large grid in which you can use your hard earned souls and spirits to purchase stronger swords. If you’ve played Final Fantasy X it’s a bit reminiscent of the sphere grid, so a wrong turn here may mean you’ll spend a bit more time grinding to be able to go back and get a sword you may have wanted earlier.
Now because of this ginormous grid and the countless amount of swords within your reach, there is a ton of replayability in the game, since you’re going to want to unlock each and every sword. Why do I say that? Well, each character is given 3 separate and different endings to their side of the story. Without spoiling anything for you, you’re going to want every sword in the game to get those endings.
Oh, and I have to mention that there are two controller schemes for you to choose from: the Wiimote and Nunchuk (no motion required) or the Gamecube controller. Both are easy to use and similar, but I went for the Gamecube. I don’t know why, but prolonged usage of the Nunchuck make my fingers cramp up a bit.
Who’s it for: Anyone really, but the story is quite deep, and the Japanese folklore can be overwhelming for those who aren’t familiar with the rich history behind it. And depending on what sort of player you are, you may appreciate or hate the Japanese voice work, which I thought was a great decision to not go for an English dubbed track because it adds more to the setting the game was striving for.
The difficulty isn’t hard at all on nomal, so you don’t have to pull your hair out just to finish the game - although you could choose the harder setting if you enjoy going bald. Other than that when comparing this game to Odin Sphere there are quite a few contrasts. Players of both games will appreciate the shorter and less frequent cut scenes, epic boss battles, a faster cooking process, and a much easier and enjoyable quest this time around.
Estimated time to finish: Each character’s story takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete, which equals out to about 15 hours on average to complete the game. But to get the final, conclusive, endings the game will demand way much more dedication out of you then just a mere 15 hours.
Rent/Buy/Pass: As with the PS3, the Wii is lacking quality titles this year, so Muramasa is a perfect game to purchase - with its sheer beauty, fast paced action, and hours upon hours of replayability it’s sure to hold you over until you finally get your hands on Wii Fit Plus! /sarcasm. All Joking aside, it’s a definite buy and if you haven’t gotten it yet, then what are you waiting for?
