GENRE
	Action Adventure
	DEVELOPER
	Vanillaware
	PUBLISHER
	Ignition Entertainment
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is the kind of game hardcore Wii owners have been craving. Instead of complaining about the system's shortcomings, Vanillaware has embraced the limitations of the hardware to produce something truly amazing. There are a few minor problems with the game, but nothing stands in the way of declaring this a "must buy."

The story itself isn't anything to write home about. Players are given the option of playing through the game as either amnesiac ninja Kisuke, or spirit-possessed Momohime. While the characters are connected to each other in subtle ways, neither character has a major effect on the other's story. Both stories are divided into eight acts finished off with a spectacular boss fight and bookended with cutscenes that advance the plot. The story is also told through conversation with various characters before each boss fight. While it can be annoying that there is no way to start a boss fight before talking to every character on the pre-battle screen, these scenes are skipped during subsequent attempts to beat the boss. All story elements are presented in the original Japanese with English subtitles.

The world is beautiful, if just a bit repetitive at times. Early on in the game each area is new and exciting, but by the end of the character's adventure the backgrounds, while still impressive, become variations on the same themes. This problem is not helped by the fact that when playing as the other character there aren't any new areas to go through as both characters advance through the same maps, in reverse of each other. Thankfully in character-specific areas an attempt was made to give some major variation to the vistas players run through.

The scenes presented in the game are breath-taking and show lots of minute details. Muramasa: The Demon Blade is as beautiful than any game on PS3 or 360, if hampered by its lower definition. The sumi-e style employed by the game really makes the game feel like a work of art-- it truly is one of the best looking games on Wii.

Aurally Muramasa impresses as well. Though the music suffers from the same repetitiveness as the artwork, there are plenty of unique compositions. Each song has two versions, one that plays as background and another for when enemies are present that adds in a driving percussion track. The game seamlessly switches between these tracks and most players will probably not even notice the switch. Sound effects are visceral and appropriate throughout the entire experience.

Actually, visceral is a great way to describe the gameplay as well. Both characters control the same, though different swords have different effects and special attacks. At first the controls are not completely intuitive possibly leading players to button-mash their way through the various basic enemies. However, by the second boss savvy players will have mastered the controls and the character will be a beautiful butterfly of death, flitting about the screen dealing damage with impunity.

Players can experience the game in either Muso (normal) or Shura (hard) difficulties. The only difference between the two is that Muso automatically blocks for players while Shura requires players to learn when to swing their sword and when to defend. Muso can be pathetically easy at times while Shura is hair-pullingly difficult, especially early on when players do not have as many hit points. Thankfully the game gives players the opportunity to easily switch between the difficulties in-game. If the boss is giving the player fits on Shura he or she can pause the game and switch to Muso. A third difficulty (Shigurui) is also unlocked once players beat the game playing on Shura, but it truly is masochist mode giving players only one hit point meaning any attack can kill them.

Each story takes roughly 6-8 hours to play through, although it can take longer or shorter depending on whether players complete all the monster-den sidequests located throughout the game. Muramasa can feel a bit repetitive, especially by the time players are completing the second character's story, but messing around with different equipment options helps alleviate this feeling.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a game of the highest quality. While there are a few minor complaints to be made against the game, they really are minor and easily overlooked. If you're still on the fence about buying this game, go get it right now. It's an amazing hardcore game that helps justify the system for "core gamers."

9.5/10