GENRE
	RPG
	DEVELOPER
	Vanillaware
	PUBLISHER
	Ignition Entertainment
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	WII EXCLUSIVE
	Yes
	EXPECTED RELEASE DATE
	September 2009
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The last game Vanillaware made was Odin Sphere, a side-scrolling RPG for PS2 that received positive reception at its release in 2007. Now, two years later, Vanillaware is back with Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a katana-wielding action game exclusive to Wii.

Muramasa features hand-drawn graphics like Odin Sphere's and two playable characters, Kisuke and Momohime. The game's two protagonists each have a unique story and adventure in Muramasa. Kisuke has lost his memory, and the only thing he desires is a certain katana. Momohime is a princess who has been possessed by an evil swordsman.

During battle, each character has three katanas they can switch between, with some being slower and more powerful and others being faster but dealing less damage. Kisuke and Momohime start the game with only three katanas, but a total of 108 swords can be collected while playing the game.

During combat, which usually takes the form of ambushes while traversing the game's many landscapes, players can attack any enemy with various combo attacks. For instance, up to three dash attacks can be executed in a row, with the third sending the player airborne. Occasionally a sword will break if its soul gauge is depleted, causing the broken weapon to do less damage. The sword won't be broken for good, however: it just needs time to self-repair/recover. Times like these are optimal for switching to one of the other katanas. If a gamer has been battling for awhile without swapping swords, the on-screen katana meter may be full. When it is, switching swords causes an attack against every enemy on-screen, dealing massive damage. In addition to all this, each katana also has its own special attack.

As expected post-Odin Sphere, Muramasa has fantastic 2D graphics and a fitting soundtrack. The action is fast and frantic and overall the game a whole lot of fun to play. It's currently set for a September release and should be a perfect title to tide gamers over until the release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii.