Graphics vs Aesthetics

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

gumby_trucker said:

Kenryoku_Maxis said:

gumby_trucker said:

theRepublic said:

I'm playing Muramasa right now, and it is gorgeous.  Just beautiful.  I will just watch the background a lot of the time I am playing.

The designers were wise enough to accommodate this style of play by making all combat in the game performed by mashing the same button

And yet the gameplay is still rather deep.  And I hope you aren't insinuating the game is easy.  Many people quit the game because of the difficult bosses, just like Odin Sphere.

To be honest I found it quite hard to get into the game for some reason, repetitive combat definitely having something to do with it. Every time I back-tracked I also had to fight the same enemies over and over again. After seeing the same things two or three times I kinda stopped caring about how beautiful the animation was... left the game after about 10 hours. I'll probably come back to it but I'd be lying if I said I won't have to force myself a little bit to finish it.

Also regarding the challenge, I played on the easier difficulty and for the most part got by with button-mashing. Changing blades and using items wisely can definitely come in handy but I didn't find it necessary in order to progress.

Bottom line is I wanted to like the game but it's just too lacking in substance for my taste... could have been amazing with co-op though... and less grinding.

Well, its not like repetative combat and fighting the same enemies made Super Metroid or Castlevania: SotN a bad game.  And after you beat a boss, you don't even have to fight the same enemies in the area where the boss was.  Its only if you revisit areas that you have to fight enemies.  But I don't see how that's a negative, as that's what the whole game is about.  And once you learn how to fight well, its very fun.

Yes, you can get throug hthe game just mashing the A button and holding block.  But you'll probably die at bosses multiple times.  Once you start to learn enemies timing and focus on doing 100 hit combos in the air, the game shows its deep gameplay and becomes very fun.  Plus, you'll beat bosses easier.

Also, the last few bosses as well as the end game 'white' dungeons are the best part.  And pretty hard.  I can warp through the game now without dying to any bosses but that final dungeon challenge still kills me half the time.  Because basically, you have to fight every enemy in the game consecutively, followed by clones of the main characters who have the same skills you do (and the best weapons in the game).  Think of the last level of Zelda II on steroids and no breaks.

Also, I've found multiple times that I'll play a good game, not like it much, then pick it up much later and be obsessed with it.  It happened with Resident Evil 4, Ninja Gaiden, Batman Arkham Asylum and even Odin Sphere.  And now they're some of my favorite games.  Who knows, it might happen to you for Muramasa.