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Cutting through one bad guy after another
posted by JMichaud (BETHESDA, MD) Sep 12, 2009
Member since Jan 2008
6 out of 8 gamers (75%) found this review helpful
With more and more movies coming out in 3D, as well as the platforming games coming out in 3D, there's a thought that 2D sidescrolling games are going out of buisness.
But Muramasa: The Demon Blade is an example on why that thinking is wrong. You get to play as one of two characters, each with their own mission mode covering eight acts.
To get through an act, you follow the arrow on screen to the destination and boss battle. But the trip can be a long one, and there's a vast number of random encounters- far too many for my tastes.
And you might have to stock up on healing items or cook up something to keep your life bar up which makes the trip even longer.
Which brings us to the combat system - a button masher if I've ever seen one. For most battles all you have to do is go up to the bad guys, mash the A button and fiddle with the thumbstick to keep your character in the right spot. The bad guys die, and you get experience to increase you HP and strength.
When you beat a boss, you get a special sword to unlock other areas on the map and go on to the next act.
Along the way, you can craft more swords - up to 108 are in the game. But the swords are almost all the same. You hack with them and you can use their special attack. This can get very repetiive very quickly.
The stories in the game don't hold my interst; one is about a guy with amnesia (that's not original) and a spiritual guy who posseses a girl so he can fight his way into the afterlife. There's no connectiion betwen the gameplay and the story - it's that disposable.
The other big problem I had with the game was the jumping. Tapping up on the thumbstick is troublesome; I'd rather have a button push for the jumps, thank you.
But this game is great to look at; it has a unique art style, and those looking for a simple action game need look no further.
So I say give Muramasa a try, you might actually like it. RENT IT.
But Muramasa: The Demon Blade is an example on why that thinking is wrong. You get to play as one of two characters, each with their own mission mode covering eight acts.
To get through an act, you follow the arrow on screen to the destination and boss battle. But the trip can be a long one, and there's a vast number of random encounters- far too many for my tastes.
And you might have to stock up on healing items or cook up something to keep your life bar up which makes the trip even longer.
Which brings us to the combat system - a button masher if I've ever seen one. For most battles all you have to do is go up to the bad guys, mash the A button and fiddle with the thumbstick to keep your character in the right spot. The bad guys die, and you get experience to increase you HP and strength.
When you beat a boss, you get a special sword to unlock other areas on the map and go on to the next act.
Along the way, you can craft more swords - up to 108 are in the game. But the swords are almost all the same. You hack with them and you can use their special attack. This can get very repetiive very quickly.
The stories in the game don't hold my interst; one is about a guy with amnesia (that's not original) and a spiritual guy who posseses a girl so he can fight his way into the afterlife. There's no connectiion betwen the gameplay and the story - it's that disposable.
The other big problem I had with the game was the jumping. Tapping up on the thumbstick is troublesome; I'd rather have a button push for the jumps, thank you.
But this game is great to look at; it has a unique art style, and those looking for a simple action game need look no further.
So I say give Muramasa a try, you might actually like it. RENT IT.
Is that a demon blade in your pocket?
posted by JCDenton (FREEDOM, NH) Nov 8, 2009
Member since Mar 2006
3 out of 4 gamers (75%) found this review helpful
Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a great excuse to slash ninjas with giant swords. It's fun and addictive with lots of content, but problems hold it back from greatness.
Muramasa includes two stories as you play both Kisuke and Momohime who have various issues revolving around swords and demons. You'll collect blades, forge new ones and level up each character in unique storylines with their own bosses. There are also monster lairs to explore and several rewards, like alternative endings and more powerful weapons, for playing through each story a second and third time. It's quite a lot of content, giving you over 20 hours of play in a side-scrolling action title.
I'm actually glad to see 2D side-scrollers making a comeback and Muramasa makes the most out of the format. The art style looks like a silk painting, the battles have style and the action is fast.
However, problems abound. Combat controls revolve around the A button and the analog stick, which makes pulling off maneuvers tricky as the analog also controls your movement and jumping. Aerial combat is even more cumbersome, making it overly difficult to accurately attack flying enemies. The game relies heavily on random battles which are frequent and repetitive. Your blades will break often, leaving you vulnerable and struggling to switch to another. Unfortunately, switching weapons and pulling off special moves is not instantly responsive. There is far too much backtracking in the game, mostly because there are no warps until the first time you finish the game.
Through all these notable flaws, the game remains easy to pick up and play, entertaining in it's execution and deep enough to hold your interest. It's the kind of throwback title that reminds you why the side-scroller should never go extinct.
Muramasa includes two stories as you play both Kisuke and Momohime who have various issues revolving around swords and demons. You'll collect blades, forge new ones and level up each character in unique storylines with their own bosses. There are also monster lairs to explore and several rewards, like alternative endings and more powerful weapons, for playing through each story a second and third time. It's quite a lot of content, giving you over 20 hours of play in a side-scrolling action title.
I'm actually glad to see 2D side-scrollers making a comeback and Muramasa makes the most out of the format. The art style looks like a silk painting, the battles have style and the action is fast.
However, problems abound. Combat controls revolve around the A button and the analog stick, which makes pulling off maneuvers tricky as the analog also controls your movement and jumping. Aerial combat is even more cumbersome, making it overly difficult to accurately attack flying enemies. The game relies heavily on random battles which are frequent and repetitive. Your blades will break often, leaving you vulnerable and struggling to switch to another. Unfortunately, switching weapons and pulling off special moves is not instantly responsive. There is far too much backtracking in the game, mostly because there are no warps until the first time you finish the game.
Through all these notable flaws, the game remains easy to pick up and play, entertaining in it's execution and deep enough to hold your interest. It's the kind of throwback title that reminds you why the side-scroller should never go extinct.
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