Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Muramasa: The Demon Blade excels as a 2D side-scrolling action game with surprisingly deep RPG mechanics woven into its core. Players control either Kisuke, a young ninja struggling with amnesia, or Momohime, a princess fighting to reclaim her body from a vengeful spirit. Combat feels razor-sharp thanks to responsive controls and a variety of sword attacks, counters, and special moves. You can cycle through three swords on the fly, each with unique stats and abilities, keeping encounters dynamic and strategic.

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Level progression comes from defeating enemies, exploring secret paths, and completing boss battles, all of which yield experience points and materials for sword forging. The game’s branching level design encourages multiple playthroughs: each area often splits into divergent routes, leading to hidden caverns, treasure rooms, and NPCs who offer upgrades or new recipes for cooking. Cooking isn’t just window dressing either; well-prepared meals restore health and can grant temporary combat buffs, making ingredient hunting another layer of tactical choice.

The PS Vita port retains the Wii version’s fluid frame rate while integrating enhanced button mapping to suit the handheld’s layout. Touch controls are sparing but useful for quick item selection and menu navigation. Trophies add a meta challenge for completionists aiming to collect all 108 swords and finish every DLC chapter. Speaking of DLC, the four “Genroku Legends” expansions introduce fresh quests, new boss fights, and a unique fighting style, enriching the base game’s already generous content.

Graphics

One of Muramasa’s most lauded aspects is its striking hand-drawn art style. Every backdrop—from misty bamboo forests to dusty village streets—feels like a living ukiyo-e painting. The PS Vita’s HD upgrade sharpens character sprites and environmental details without losing that signature watercolor charm. Bosses tower with intricate designs, and their attack animations are both graceful and terrifying, making each showdown a visual spectacle.

Character animations are fluid, with each sword swing and dodge feeling weighty and precise. Special attacks unleash bursts of color and particles that pop against the softer background palettes. Whether you’re running through rolling fields or descending into dark caverns, the sense of movement is consistently smooth, and loading times between screens stay minimal.

The port also smartly enhances UI elements for the smaller screen. Menus are crisp and readable, while on-screen indicators for health, sword durability, and item shortcuts remain unobtrusive. Even the DLC segments maintain the same high graphical fidelity, ensuring that players never feel a dip in visual quality as they extend their journey through the Genroku Legends.

Story

Muramasa weaves two parallel narratives that occasionally intersect in surprising ways. Kisuke’s arc follows his quest to reclaim lost memories and unravel ninja conspiracies, while Momohime battles demon possession as she works to exorcise Jinkuro from her body. The dual-protagonist approach allows players to experience varied pacing: Kisuke’s levels often emphasize stealth and swift strikes, whereas Momohime’s encounters lean into dramatic boss conflicts tied to her spiritual plight.

The lore is steeped in Japanese folklore, with each sword carrying its own backstory—some blessed by fox spirits, others tainted by malice. Villagers and wandering sages pepper the landscape with tidbits of legend, making exploration feel rewarding even outside of combat. Side quests tied to swordsmiths or farmers enrich the main plot by revealing personal tragedies and triumphs that underscore the game’s themes of loss, redemption, and the fleeting nature of life.

The Genroku Legends DLC further expands this tapestry, introducing new characters whose stories shed light on secondary figures from the base game. These chapters delve into the origins of certain cursed blades and reveal hidden motivations behind key antagonists. For fans hungry for more plot twists and emotional payoffs, the additional content is a welcome extension rather than a tacked-on afterthought.

Overall Experience

Muramasa: The Demon Blade on PS Vita stands as a stellar example of how to breathe new life into a beloved classic. It offers the same satisfying blend of tight combat, RPG progression, and branching exploration that made the original Wii release a cult favorite, all wrapped in an even more polished graphical package. The handheld format is a perfect match for quick sessions or extended play, with intuitive controls and a comfortable UI layout.

Between the main storylines of Kisuke and Momohime, the hunt for all 108 swords, and the four DLC chapters comprising Genroku Legends, there’s easily 20–30 hours of content for completionists. The game strikes a strong balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for seasoned action-RPG fans. Those who appreciate folklore-inspired narratives, collectible weapon systems, and high-octane boss battles will find Muramasa hard to put down.

For anyone considering a purchase, the Vita port delivers outstanding value. You’re not just getting a faithful adaptation—you’re also receiving enhanced visuals, refined controls, a fresh localization, and robust trophy support. Whether you’re exploring secret caverns for rare materials or testing your mastery against colossal demons, Muramasa: The Demon Blade proves itself a must-play title in the action-RPG genre.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10