The 'tea ceremony' of action games
posted by rsteadman (WEST COLUMBIA, SC) Aug 7, 2011
Member since Aug 2011
Muramasa is a strange beast. On one hand, it is a modern take on a side-scrolling action game that would fit perfectly in the SNES library along titles like Hagane and Actraiser, or NES stalwarts Legend of Kage and even River City Ransom with it's RPG elements -- just with the most amazing 2D art and animation ever. On the other, when not in frentic combat -- think modern Ninja Gaiden on a 2D plane -- the game is deliberately paced; almost meditative. You may backtrack through a level and do nothing but hold 'right' for a couple of minutes, but you can soak up and admire all the incredible art and imagination put into the characters and breath-taking environments. You can restore your health by eating at restaurants or making you own food, but rather than be a few quick menu clicks, you're forced spend time with these gorgeous hand-drawn animations that -- like a tea ceremony -- make you take the time to appreciate them.
It's not for everyone, but that's no mark against a sublime take on a genre that's fallen out of fashion. This is easily one of my favorite games of this generation and certainly a top 10 on the Wii.
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