The title will be shown at this year's Tokyo Game Show, so I'd wager you can expect more detailed impressions from Destructoid's attending team soon enough. I can't wait to hear some hands-on impressions of the gameplay, but I definitely wonder if the difficulty will be as high as Odin Sphere was, or if the RPG format will take an alternate approach. Would you want Muramasa to be as challenging as Odin Sphere was?
October 2, 2008 - Game publishers Marvelous Entertainment USA and XSEED Games announced today that the highly anticipated title, Muramasa: The Demon Blade (known in Japan as "Oboro Muramasa Youtouden"), is currently in development and will be released for the North American market. A unique, highly stylized action RPG (role playing game) videogame, Muramasa: The Demon Blade will ship in North America in 2009, exclusively for the Wii.
"Muramasa: The Demon Blade is an incredibly special title," stated Yasuhiro Wada, Managing Director of Marvelous Entertainment. "From the team that created the critically acclaimed Odin Sphere, Muramasa features a stunning visual look and palette that will be embraced by gamers world wide. We're pleased to continue our relationship with XSEED Games to bring such an anticipated title to the massive North American gaming market."
Jun Iwasaki, President of XSEED Games, shared Mr. Wada's sentiments. "Gamers are already excited for Muramasa. The game has already been included in many 'must-have Wii games' lists. We feel this enthusiasm will only continue to grow as gamers learn more about the mysterious 'Demon Blades, and have the opportunity to experience the life of a ninja warrior."
Based on ancient Japanese lore, Murumasa: The Demon Blade plunges players into the mystical Genroku era, ruled by the skilled shogun Tsunayoshi Tokogawa. But this culture is threatened; Tokogawa's thirst for power leads to a conflict over the enormously powerful, though cursed, Demon Blades. Used in hatred, drenched in blood, the cursed blades condemn those who use them to tragedy, madness, and untimely deaths. As chaos spreads, denizens from the netherworld breach their realm as these malevolent swords summon evil spirits - and the Dragon and Demon Gods as well.
Featuring hand-drawn 2D art reflecting the heritage and tone of the storyline, Muramasa: The Demon Blade transports players into a little known mythology, envisioned by the creators of the critically acclaimed Odin Sphere. Players take on the role of a male ninja or female kunoichi, utilizing their ninja prowess to traverse the clever side-scrolling levels that feature vertical progression as well as the traditional horizontal stage advancement.
Muramasa: The Demon Blade is currently in development by Marvelous Entertainment and Vanillaware exclusively for the Wii, and will be unveiled at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show in Japan (October 9-12). The game will be co-published by Marvelous Entertainment USA and XSEED Games in North America and is expected to ship in 2009.
Contest:
10:33 AM on 10.06.2008
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I have no immediate plans to buy a Wii, but when this comes out I'll still have to buy it and put it aside until I get one. I simply cannot allow an opportunity to support Vanillaware to pass by - now if only someone would localize the Princess Crown PSP port.
As long as Muramasa is every bit as good as Odin Sphere was, it should be one of the greatest Wii games EVARR. More so if it sports the option for watching the story in order... gets me every time.
I too did not find Odin Sphere particularly challenging, though I did have to grapple with the battle system for about a few hours in. Also, as nilcam said, it must have less lag. I still have nightmares fighting a certain queen of the underworld (an incredibly busty queen of the underworld/skeleton).
guess I really really have to drop for a wii now.
And frankly, I thought the game was pretty easy. Just level if you can't beat something. And the multiplication-combo items you could make were crazy powerful, so once you knew how to make and use them, the game kind of just became a button masher.
3d is getting there slowly, but amazingly gorgeous 2d...
for the win indeed...
for the want! ... i do
for the wait.... can't be helped
I would like to see this be a difficult game, but in that logical, learnable way Odin Sphere had.
imagine...
Unlimited Pow + Shadow Form for Oswald = PAIN!!!