Muramasa: The Demon Blade

**Valigarmander** · 08-14-2009, 07:20 PM

Muramasa The Demon Blade Preview for the Wii from 1UP.com

Quote:

We slice up some Japanese demons in this 2D action role-playing game.

Feudal Japan has a certain mystique -- it's an age of Shoguns, swords, and beautiful princesses wrapped in elaborately-decorated kimonos. Muramasa: The Demon Blade's steeped in this cultural history; moving around in the game is like walking through a colorful Japanese painting, and the spirits and demons of Japanese folklore inhabit the picturesque countryside, all for you to slice up on your journey through the 2D action role-playing gameplay.
I got to go toe-to-toe with one of Muramasa's many demon bosses during a recent hands-on session with the game. You can choose to go through the game as one of two characters -- the thief Kisuke or runaway princess Momohime -- but I went with the girl, Momohime, as she's quick, pretty, and possessed by a power-mongering spirit. Kind of a deadly combo, yeah?

After fighting my way to a snowy mountaintop (and running away from what Ignition's Shane Bettenhausen describes as "evil Japanese Fraggles"), I confronted the enraged demon encamped there. He was so large, I could only see (and attack) his gnarled foot. Being careful not to get stomped to death, I had Momohime zip around the screen, trying to stay in the air as long as possible by using the incredibly useful dash attack, which one performs simply by holding down the A button and flicking the analog stick in the direction you wish to fly.

After unleashing several rounds of special attacks by cycling through my arsenal of three swords (a necessity, because as you use each sword, it takes damage and eventually requires some regeneration time), the demon went into his second, more deadly phase. At that point, he was also slapping at me with a giant hand, while attacking with projectiles that would break my sword on impact. Though the game was not on "Hard," I still found the need for some strategy in order to escape harm and efficiently damage him.

It's amazing how much fun it is to see my character flitting across the screen, wreaking havoc on a single enemy. With all the mesmerizing onscreen commotion of blade slashes, I found it difficult to pay attention to my sword's damage meter, a flub I often paid for in health points when my sword broke and left me helpless on the ground. When the boss' health got low enough, though, he revealed his true form -- a large, yet not screen-filling, grizzled boar. He was assuming the "scary demon" appearance in order to guard the mountain. No harm, no foul, I guess?

After hearing his plead for me to save his life, voiced in Japanese with English subtitles, we both went to take a dip in the hot spring, with Momohime sporting nothing but a wash towel. Maybe that happy thought can sustain you until the game's release in early September... or, you know, you could watch some awesome videos in the meantime.

Looks awesome. That's another game I'll have to get when it comes out.

Check out the link for video/screenshots.

***Marilink*** · 08-14-2009, 07:29 PM

That does look pretty awesome. I could use a new 2D sidescroller in my life.

Robotazy · 08-14-2009, 08:03 PM

WHAWHAWHAWHA??

NES Game?!

Luigiman7 · 08-14-2009, 08:05 PM

Wait. It was an NES game?

It looks amazing.

**Valigarmander** · 08-14-2009, 08:07 PM

^^ & ^ Whoops, my bad. Read things wrong. Nvm.

Luigiman7 · 08-14-2009, 08:08 PM

DAMNIT VAL

I am nobody · 08-15-2009, 07:43 AM

I've been watching this one since I saw a preview in a TGS article. Definitely one of the most promising Wii games coming out this year.

Rainbow Dash · 08-15-2009, 10:50 AM

it's from the same team as odin sphere so i'll be getting it

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-16-2009, 02:25 AM

Looks awesome, better get a AUS release.

**Valigarmander** · 08-22-2009, 09:48 PM

The game comes out in NA on September 8th, the day after my birthday. Wicked.

Bomby · 10-18-2009, 11:01 PM

This game is made of win. Period.

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-18-2009, 11:56 PM

Just making a note that the Australian release date is Dec 3rd.

***Marilink*** · 10-19-2009, 07:45 PM

Oh, wow, I totally missed this release.

**X-3** · 10-19-2009, 08:29 PM

I guess I can get it tomorrow.

Rainbow Dash · 10-19-2009, 08:39 PM

eh, I decided to pass on it

08-14-2009, 08:05 PM	#4
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	Wait. It was an NES game? It looks amazing. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

08-14-2009, 08:08 PM	#6
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	DAMNIT VAL __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

08-14-2009, 07:29 PM	#2
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	That does look pretty awesome. I could use a new 2D sidescroller in my life.

08-14-2009, 08:03 PM	#3
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	WHAWHAWHAWHA?? NES Game?!

08-14-2009, 08:07 PM	#5
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	^^ & ^ Whoops, my bad. Read things wrong. Nvm.

08-15-2009, 07:43 AM	#7
I am nobody Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Over there. Gender: Posts: 5,515 Thanks: 309 Thanked 365 Times in 242 Posts Blog Entries: 7	I've been watching this one since I saw a preview in a TGS article. Definitely one of the most promising Wii games coming out this year.

08-15-2009, 10:50 AM	#8
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,401 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	it's from the same team as odin sphere so i'll be getting it

08-16-2009, 02:25 AM	#9
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Looks awesome, better get a AUS release.

08-22-2009, 09:48 PM	#10
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	The game comes out in NA on September 8th, the day after my birthday. Wicked.

10-18-2009, 11:01 PM	#11
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	This game is made of win. Period.

10-18-2009, 11:56 PM	#12
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Just making a note that the Australian release date is Dec 3rd.

10-19-2009, 07:45 PM	#13
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	Oh, wow, I totally missed this release.

10-19-2009, 08:29 PM	#14
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,943 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	I guess I can get it tomorrow.

10-19-2009, 08:39 PM	#15
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,401 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	eh, I decided to pass on it