The gameplay in Muramasa is suited perfectly for the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and while there are no motion controls, the layout of the controls always feel comfortable. For those who prefer to not use the standard Wii Remote, you can plug in a classic controller or a Gamecube controller, each with its own unique control layout.

When it comes to the action element of this RPG, this is one game that will be very easy for most to pick up and play, yet has enough challenge for those looking to master the fighting. You can hack at enemies or repel objects easily by pressing the attack button, but this is not how the game is meant to be played. By holding down the attack button, then using the Analog stick on the Nunchuk will have your character easily shooting across the screen constantly delivering attacks. You can combo these attacks to take down your enemies quickly and efficiently. Some boss battles you won’t be able to win just by slashing away of course, and you will be forced to figure out the strategy to defeating them.

Your character can hold three blades at once, easily switching between them during battle. When the blades are glowing, you can unleash a swift, devastating blow to all enemies on screen. Your blades have their own soul meter, and once the meter reaches zero, the blade will break and you will be forced to switch to one that has more health. All blades regenerate Soul Power over time as they are sheathed. Each blade also has its own special attack which uses a portion of the Soul Power.

Graphically, this is one of the best looking Wii titles to date. Vanilla Ware did a wonderful job with the hand drawn 2D art, whether it’s the extremely detailed character models or the beautiful backgrounds and scenery. You will not suffer any slow down or frame rate issues that sometimes plagued Odin Sphere. At times I found myself staring in awe at the amount of work put into some of the characters.

The voice work in Muramasa is also top notch, thanks to the decision by Ignition to retain the original Japanese voices to keep the game as authentic as possible. This was a great move as the Japanese voice talent does a remarkable job in portraying all the characters. The music for the game is also beautifully orchestrated and really captures the feel of the time period Muramasa is set in.

My only complaint about the game would be that the Analog stick can be too sensitive and at times I would find myself jumping or moving upwards when I am only trying to go left or right. This is a minor complaint in an otherwise excellent title.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade was my game of E3, and after finally having the game in hand, it has managed to exceed my expectations. This is a must own game for fans of Odin Sphere, RPG lovers, and Wii owners alike. With fast paced action, interesting characters, and some of the best looking graphics to date, this is a game I highly recommend everyone play.