Muramasa: The Demon Blade

[Watchers]

Out now (http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-5auy-71-z3-49-en-84-j-70-39cy.html) in the US!

Here's a review. (http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/102/1021608p1.html)

I'll be importing this asap. Anyone else?
GsvCWInoE1s

[Fusion]

looks sick, when's it meant to be released here? I thought I read september somewhere but haven't seen anything to back that up lol

[Kasplatza Red]

I'll get the local release- I can't wait, though :)

[banjoeskimo]

Spent about 20 minutes with this at PAX over the weekend, and I have to say; ladies and gentlemen, the time to dust off your Wii is now.

It looks absolutely stunning in motion, and the control scheme, while deceptively simple, is actually quite deep (think Smash Bros.) From what I could gather the game has a pretty impressive upgrade system too.

Overall though I just couldn't get over how well the game controls. When you see it in motion it looks like the player should be doing something absurdly complex, but once you get it in your hands you'll find that it just melts to your fingers like butter. That's not to say the game is easy, far from it, but if you have the reflexes and know what you're doing it's an absolute breeze to start slicing and dicing everything on screen in one long, unbroken chain.

Pretty much exactly the kind of game the Wii needs right now. Colour me impressed.

[Pai Mel]

I'll be importing this asap. Anyone else?

I would if my Wii was chipped.

[Nic Xtreme]

I would if my Wii was chipped.

It has an early 2010 release for us anyway! I can't wait; I love Odin Sphere but it's too ****ing impossibly hard, so I've barely gotten into it - but other than difficulty I love everything else about it! This definitely looks like it follows in its footsteps in many areas bar difficulty, so it should be fantastic!

[Watchers]

I would if my Wii was chipped.

Homebrew Channel dude.

[Nic Xtreme]

Here I was thinking that it had an early 2010 release in PAL regions, but it seems we only have to wait till the 13th of November (http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=96451)! Hurrah!

[Kotche]

Is that trailer from a DS version or Wii?

If Wii... lol.

[banjoeskimo]

It's a Wii only game. Are you laughing at the visuals? 'Cause if so you're either crazy or only watching a crappy YouTube video.

Try seeing the game in action at full resolution (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-muramasa-the/55698).

[borgster101]

It has an early 2010 release for us anyway! I can't wait; I love Odin Sphere but it's too ****ing impossibly hard, so I've barely gotten into it - but other than difficulty I love everything else about it! This definitely looks like it follows in its footsteps in many areas bar difficulty, so it should be fantastic!

I bought Odin Sphere but haven't got around to playing it yet :p .. maybe some day, should I play it before Muramasa? They're different games anyway, so I'm guessing it doesn't matter.

[Watchers]

Just started playing and it's pretty damn awesome. Not to mention beautiful. Though I made the mistake of playing on Easy mode, which is way too easy, so I'ma restart on Hard. There is no Normal mode for some reason - hence why I didn't pick hard initially.

[Cerebral]

^ I read that post and stated on Hard.

Were you trolling me?! Maybe I'm just not very good at this game...

[Watchers]

^ I read that post and stated on Hard.

Were you trolling me?! Maybe I'm just not very good at this game...

Muso or Shura? Shura is hard I think... I didn't think I was too good at it, but I'm finding the challenge perfect and seem to be doing pretty well.

How far in are you, Cer? I managed the first couple of boss battles without having to heal myself (though I died a few times practicing). Third boss was a bit tougher - used a couple of items. With regular battles, it is easy to lose a lot of health quickly, but you regain it at level ups / from cooking / hotsprings (hawt) / save points. Just make sure you have a full stock of healing items.

One thing giving me the shits is having to run back through stages all the time...

[Cerebral]

I started on Shura. I died on the first few battles and barely scraped though the first boss fight, using all of my recovery items, but I think I'm getting better. It dawned on me that this is not one of those games where you can just block then attack when the time suits you.

[Watchers]

I started on Shura. I died on the first few battles and barely scraped though the first boss fight, using all of my recovery items, but I think I'm getting better. It dawned on me that this is not one of those games where you can just block then attack when the time suits you.

Hell no. You gotta be attacking at all times, foo'. The more you block, the more your swords will break. Keep moving/attacking and you'll be surprised how little damage you take (especially as attacking projectiles sends them flying back at enemies).

[Watchers]

Finished Momo's story (final boss made me rage a bit - stupid falling rocks that I can't see coming), but really enjoyed it. I think I'll give it a break and come back to it later to go through Kisuke's story, lest I burn myself out on it.

[Roman Salute]

I got really hooked on this game and ended up getting every blade and every ending after 30 hours, could have been quicker using a certain item but taking in the scenery in this game is hardly a chore. One thing that bothered me for the first 5 or so hours though was the controls and the lack of any optimisation for the classic controller or even the option to map them. I found that really pathetic but got used to it and was happily juggling away after a while. If they ported this to the ps360 and added a jump button I'd buy it again for sure.

I liked Odin Sphere a tiny bit more then this but the fighting in Muramasa is much better and since that's all there is in the game it's pretty damn good overall.

[Nic Xtreme]

I got really hooked on this game and ended up getting every blade and every ending after 30 hours, could have been quicker using a certain item but taking in the scenery in this game is hardly a chore. One thing that bothered me for the first 5 or so hours though was the controls and the lack of any optimisation for the classic controller or even the option to map them. I found that really pathetic but got used to it and was happily juggling away after a while. If they ported this to the ps360 and added a jump button I'd buy it again for sure.

I liked Odin Sphere a tiny bit more then this but the fighting in Muramasa is much better and since that's all there is in the game it's pretty damn good overall.

I'm only five hours in and I have to say that it's definitely my favourite Wii game all year, and I have no doubt it could work it's way up even further in my mind. It's just so gorgeous. Any sort of repetition another game might induce through its simple combat, or its (very quick, unobtrusive) backtracking is completely transcended by the game's utterly gorgeous art, visuals, sounds, and perfect controls (I play with the Wiimote + Nunchuk and the button placement is perfect!).

Furthermore, the rate at which you upgrade and change weapons ensures that combat never gets boring (as if it ever would as your gracefully slice your way through the beautiful scenery) and you always have three ever-changing abilities to help you on your way!

AND THE GRAPHICS!

I'm playing it on the easy mode, too, and because I suck at games it's giving me a pleasurable play experience - for some reason (prolly the visuals/music) I don't have that craving for challenge found in the likes of the console Zelda titles). I've been close to death on two bosses now, and I'm happy with that - this isn't a game that I want to challenge me, as I'm already playing it and having one hell of a sumptuous gaming feast.

I can't wait to play more of it! I want to play it NOW! I'm pretty sure this will be my GOTY (before you ask, I'll be picking up Bayonetta on its local Climax edition release next year, so it will have to be my GOTY for 2010 ;))

EDIT: I should add, I definitely like this more than Odin Sphere. Which I can't play. Because I'm up to the snow level and it is impossibly difficult. That game is so hard :(

[Roman Salute]

Yeah I ended up using the chuck/remote combo and found it a lot easier on the thumb, it's better for all that air dashing. I do agree about the visuals making up for any repetition, with the blades though after a certain point in forging a lot of the special attacks are just upgraded versions from a previous blade (not that they aren't helpful) and the areas with the last bosses I found a bit confusing sometimes and every now and then I'd get lost and go backwards.

I think Muramasa's objectively better then Odin Sphere but I really loved growing the trees in OS, I got hooked on growing trees and making potions and meals. I shouldn't talk shit about it really because I finished all the characters storylines then got up to the sixth book and stopped playing for some reason. Maybe when I go back to it things won't be as nice as they are in my memory.

[StorminNorman]

Finally got around to picking this up today. Really loving it so far. The graphics are fantastic, and they seem to have fixed the few things that were wrong with Odin Sphere.

Also love that they kept the Japanese voice acting. Fun fact: Momo shares voice actresses with Cammy White.

[borgster101]

Yeah I started playing this ... it's really good .. easy mode seems like a bit of a cake walk ..but hard mode is tough! So I'm going through on easy for now, assuming that it might get tough later on anyway.

And it's so beautiful to look at! :D

[Watchers]

Yeah I started playing this ... it's really good .. easy mode seems like a bit of a cake walk ..but hard mode is tough! So I'm going through on easy for now, assuming that it might get tough later on anyway.

And it's so beautiful to look at! :D

Change it to hard. There isn't really much penalty for death (other than having to restart a boss battle), so it doesn't really get frustrating.

[borgster101]

Change it to hard. There isn't really much penalty for death (other than having to restart a boss battle), so it doesn't really get frustrating.
Ah right .. you can change it at any time it seems, so I guess if it gets really frustrating I can always notch it down ;)

Cheers.

[Nic Xtreme]

I finished the first half of this game last night, really, really, really loved the whole thing from start to finish! Time to start Kisuke's storyline...

Oh, and I didn't get to fight the octopus in the ocean as Momohime as per some screenshots I've seen? How do you activate this fight? Is it if you travel by sea?

[banjoeskimo]

I'm not sure, as I'm yet to pick this up (!!!), but if I remember correctly from reviews some of the bosses either change depending on difficulty. That, or you get new bosses altogether when playing on the harder mode.

[borgster101]

But you can change the difficulty at any time!

[Watchers]

I'm not sure, as I'm yet to pick this up (!!!), but if I remember correctly from reviews some of the bosses either change depending on difficulty. That, or you get new bosses altogether when playing on the harder mode.

Yeah, I don't think bosses change entirely. You do unlock secret mega boss at the end when beating the game with both characters, though (apparently, I'm still taking a break from the game).

[Cerebral]

So for shits and giggles I got this running on my PC through Dolphin to see what it would look like.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2264/capture2.jpg

How on earth does a 2D game to render this well at 1280x720? Might just play like this from now on.