I may feel a little dejected about the recent news of Muramasa‘s release delay (we won’t see it until 2009), but it’s sincerely difficult to get too blue when you see art and screenshots like the ones in the gallery. It also helps to get press releases that XSEED and Marvelous Entertainment have brewed in regards to the title, and hey, will you look at it — it’s going to be exclusive to the Wii in North America.
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?
[Via Kotaku — Thanks, Joe]
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.
