So I finally got a copy of Muramasa: The Demon Blade for the Wii. Ever since I saw gameplay videos for it, I couldn't wait to play it. So I popped it in, and let myself be engrossed by it's beautiful art style.

The first thing you'll immediately notice is when playing Muramasa is the art style. By no means is it graphics king, but it's clearly gorgeous in every aspect possible. It makes you stop and think, "Wow, am I playing this, seriously?". Yes it's damn good. I wish I had enough words to truly describe it to you, but it's just too hard, it's stunning. Let's leave it at that.

Pictures don't do this game justice, watch it in motion. It's beauty will surely capture you.

As for the gameplay of Muramasa, it's pretty simple to get used to. Is it an action RPG? A platformer with hack and slash elements? Or simply an adventure game? Who knows. If anything, Muramasa is it's own genre. While I'm not particularly familiar with action RPGs (I'm more of a turn based guy), it certainly doesn't feel like an Action RPG, even if it's labeled as one. Not that there's anything wrong with that, Muramasa's quick and easy user friendly controls lets anyone get in without having too much trouble.

Slice and dice monsters as Momohime or Kisuke.

B is your main source of attack. Holding B + a direction, or a variety of other button combination allows you to do a variety of moves. A drawback slash, useful against defensive enemies where you'll have to break their weapons prior to damaging them. The aerial attacks that allow you fly by enemies up to 3 times. Your standard B button combo, that can easily be chained with aerials, and others. The X button simply uses your items while your R button switches through them. Of course, there's always a downtime with items when it comes to Action RPGs. Along with that, you've got your "Secret Arts" attack that's different based on the sword you use. Allowing for even more variety of attacks. Though really in the end, it can leave to an often repetitive state of button inputs as you execute the same combos all the time. Well, I know I do at least Defeating enemies wields EXP and souls, and as you level up, you're stats will grow, allowing you to wield even more powerful weapons while Souls are needed to forge weapons.

Speaking of weapons. You can forge and attain new weapons as you progress further through the game, gaining spirit and souls and defeating bosses who wield very powerful swords (mainly to break down barriers, allowing you to further progress). The idea of weapons is simple, each weapon has a form of life bar, which eventually wears down as you attack, block, parry and other various things. When the bar hits zero, the weapon will break, forcing you to switch. The L button allows you to do in battle, you can hold up to 3 swords, holding L and releasing it when it glows allows you to perform a Quick Draw. Quick Draws are useful as they damage ALL enemies on screen, and it's a nice damage bonus to have when dealing with fiends and having to switch. In any case, with broken weapons, you'll have to wait around until the gauge fills up before you can use it again. So chose your attacks wisely or else you'll end up with 3 broken swords, and without a means of switching equipment during a battle initiation, it's probably in your best intention to save your hits and blocks for where it counts.

Boss battles are fun, epic, and require a lot of B button controlling.

Aside from the combat aspect. Muramasa contains little moments where you're required to talk to a variety of characters, allowing you to get a better understanding of the story. These little moments, while not anything spectacular, gives you a good break from all the B mashing you'll be doing in the most likely upcoming boss. You can also interact with other NPCs such as merchants and the such. Eating food at restaurants restores your health and grants you Spirit power. A vital source of weapon forging. You can buy maps to make exploring levels easier, a variety of potions and ingredients for you to cook.

Don't get too excited, Momohime's inhabited by a male demon

Well, I think I covered all that I can (remembered) from my few hours of playing this. I'm currently playing through Momohime's story while my sister is playing through Kisuke's (Yea, I know weird gender role reversal right?). Anyways, my biggest complaint with this game? It's a crime it's only on the Wii. More people seriously need to play this, and with the constant hate on the Wii's library, it's even worse that though Muramasa is a fantastic game, it'll go ignored by many blatant fanboys.

All in all, Muramasa's a fantastic game that should definietly be added to your library of Wii games.

P.S Yes, I hear it's similiar to Odin Sphere. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to play it.