demon blade demon blade known japan japanese lit action role playing game developed wii home console later playstation handheld console original game published japan north_america rising star games europe version published japan western territories scrolling perspective gameplay revolves beat fighting system incorporating rpg elements takes place period japan main island ruling power conflicts arisen ownership demon blades swords force kill bringing tragedy madness story revolves different protagonists related conflict woman possessed spirit run forgotten crime tied tragedy destroyed family port includes self contained stories based japanese folklore released banner title concept work began middle development improving action gameplay sphere great deal effort making game setting authentic period game released west retained japanese preserve atmosphere released moderate sales mixed positive reviews graphics universally praised gameplay divided opinion story received mixed response port released west released strong sales similar reception original version gameplay dimensional scrolling action role playing game set main japanese island period players control characters similar gameplay abilities navigation takes place hand drawn scrolling environments reminiscent japanese artwork period enter towns talk non playable characters buy items health accept quests additional cooking element allows characters cook meals materials gathered exploration meals grant temporary character fill meter limits food character eat combat comes form random encounters scripted fights camera fixed fighting area enemies bosses primarily drawn japanese folklore mythology battles triggered enemies near player character keeping weapons combat characters attack guard single button prompt button items healing continuously attacking different moves include sword combined directional buttons different effects throwing enemy air upward slash additional offensive items smoke bombs acquired course game end battle experience points awarded player character depending fast battle finished increases character health stats damage inflicted enemies weapons distinguished categories blade blades fast slower deal higher damage blades equipped time blade stats determining damage inflicted blocking blade special gauge emptied sword breaks offensive abilities drastically reduced soul power gathered locations restore soul power character health blades collected forged game blades requires soul power spirit blade level cap determining forged weapon governed weapon based skill tree synopsis setting characters takes place main island japanese archipelago overall style setting drawing heavily japanese folklore mythology set period larger period reign power created conflict ownership demon blades swords forged legendary blood drawn bring madness death draw chaos generated powers begin demons causing ancient gods stir long lead characters princess clan locality runaway memories burning desire vengeance course game inadvertently possessed spirit trying possess body high status accompanied watched human form holds affection aids quest demon blades corruption key character storyline sister plot story begins wakes memories killed dying aiming lord encountering spirit possesses process soul finished attacked confusion soul kidnapped monk forced follow body die soul harmed soul safe sets regain dark resurrection demon blade properly utilize soul technique gain influence new host searching battle forces spare learns intentions marrying scheme ruin family punishment goes compound retrieve said absorbed demons descending soul briefly captured demon help escapes learns dark resurrection body beginning fail strain soul attempts ascent heaven immortal demon stopped willing accept death allow remaining time body shows way heaven appears reveals dark resurrection attacked deliver divine justice ending allows sent lives decides marriage buddhist nun hope saving soul prayer second ending intercepted resulting robbed human form punishment defiance defeated delivers fatal wound forcing merge soul save act leaves grants sword fighting abilities legendary travels japan search missing memories ending battle transported night attacked power demon blade passage fate chooses attack later possesses body uses position ensure safety family security lives years old bears children remains close guise servant story begins suffering amnesia run comrades returning discover truth company accidentally breaks ancient seal keeping damned souls bay defeating monsters manifest learns companions employer mission steal demon blade clan punish order surrender turn tied intentions marrying sends sister shrine maiden charge keeping power check pursuing fights soldiers loyal family pursuit faces agents preserving flow magic energy including young battles memories originally disguised servant household scheme destroy family fell love attempted comrades stealing dying wounds spirit creator style controls fused save life pass style use good fusion triggered amnesia left ability evil spider demon learns died fleeing forces present life temporary gift travel native dragon god gone rage japan line energy diverted forcing route heaven true culprit dark deity imprisoned mad god confronted possessed fatally wounds dies arms defeats takes possession ending battle asks return life commits suicide act defiance demand refused asks help attain enlightenment second ending arrives find killed possessed following final request servant set personal quest locate demon blades causing conflict japan ending battle sent time day betrayed employers power warning allows foil plot family steals sets journey round world exhaust power striking evil promising marry return split different stories directly inspired japanese folklore set universe tales domestic cat called sees family brought ruin members killed possessing dying body family daughter vows revenge family killers assassins employed rival despite succeeding rage remains extends wrath entire household end tails cut hired robbed powers illness setting events story motion peace spends time old priest hosts dances local cats alternate ending demon rage finally old priest cause local farmer named revolt local raises taxes point village brink ruin aided spirit deceased wife fights killing fight revealed relating story king hell actions condemned love willingly joins despite pure soul punishment demons complaining banished comrades living world chance live peace new alternate ending entire sequence said holding spirit captive ruins castle comrades freed traveling ascend heaven spirited seven nights haunting house clan steals sacred spear kills leader clan learning actually leader son flees disgust taking shelter shrine accidentally breaks mirror sacred white snake die seven days heading exact revenge leader master combat learns mission orchestrated era chinese spy working japan ruling classes indirectly responsible taking young family kills escapes aid goes peacefully death asking head spear brother restore house head given proper burial insistence spirit grave prayer site pilgrims alternate ending possessed spirit takes desperate act defiance spirit away clan surviving heir attack grown takes fight hell heart girl named sent father seal treasures seven gods fortune journey monk called accidentally proposes accepts husband end saves battle feeding sacred peach banished father ending seven gods fortune persuade return father moves live proper life end returns human form marriage continues dies goes hell alternate ending run hunted saves pretending killed establish takes guise human wife daughters bear mother demonic horns legends conclude narrator detailing locations seven gods treasures scattered stories player locating demons return hell development developed studio created staff members create successor projects action adventure game princess crown according sound producer game director laying plans middle development according evolution princess crown narrative provided chance evolving gameplay went far dub princess crown iii draft proposal completed end positive sales gave capital needed begin development team style development identical strategy worked change aspects unique experience developing game team decided create vertical plain players explore team needed addition bathing sequences cut reworked incorporated hot spring scenes wii chosen game platform release fairly close playstation console sphere developed meant team carry earlier experience start scratch learning new hardware create design proposals versions playstation xbox went undeveloped development development costs wii motion controls tested team game old fashioned style little need implement biggest problem developing wii graphics especially pieces artwork game scenery interact respond properly wanted loading times minimum possible wii area pre loading abilities technical kind went end development team highly dedicated success project putting large work good players creating game atmosphere based japan era combined local folklore mythology team wanted create air realism fantasy world keeping wish realism given distinct accents dialect spoke accent realistic element game food designed based types popular 17th 18th centuries folklore references demon blades game direct reference human japanese folklore number monsters deities japanese mythology appearances game art style intended japanese feel consciously copying artwork game period artwork created double game resolution reduced fit hardware potential playable characters storylines narratives following cut game elements cut storylines incorporated stories game setting heavy departure previous games western inspired settings stories game overall theme death music music handled team sound company composed multiple composers worked acted sound producer sound director music composed working music sphere project proposed thought working premise based japan developing game based european mythology initial planning stage thought game mock japanese project japanese instruments inserted techno music realized sincere project team needed identify roots traditional japanese music approach earlier japanese people turned philosophy words music carried approach project composers similar experiences release announced tokyo game tgs title lit legend mystical sword alongside intended platform setting gameplay mechanics announcement information releases game virtually stopped april report famitsu reported game development struggling details revealed reintroduced current japanese title planned release window details characters story game released japan april later released budget game line january released virtual console july announced release north_america title demon blade october release following year game originally published april announced dropping title schedule publishing rights transferred later explained hot competition acquire american publishing rights seeing tgs encouraged apply rights change publishers internal agreement parent company situation resolved large number wii titles lined giving publisher allowed multiple titles overlooked came western publicity game released north_america september game localization external localization companies close collaboration game strong japanese atmosphere seen hard sell west localization lot work went preserving adjusting western tastes game dubbed english instead retained japanese voice track text localized aspect worked hard sure localization good quality working closely chosen localization partners backlash received fans critics lackluster localization control development game published europe rising star games alongside products including english translation carried north american version english language version underwent regional adjustment minor faults corrected game translated french italian german spanish original translation practical creating new originally scheduled november shifted moved game released europe november year release united_kingdom retailers stock general attitude sell like prevalent franchises games mainstream genres game released australia december released japan original title port developed playstation according development team chosen port platform commercially successful xbox based screen felt better portray game palette content cut original version team decided going restoring instead creating new additional content controls adjusted suit new platform published japan march game western release handled created new localization compared original version described direct translation version faithful original text released north_america june released europe australia october addition main game self contained stories released downloadable content title featuring new characters universe new characters swords replaced weapons clubs play way new music created title supervision episodes scored respectively developed launched japan west november november final japanese release delayed months western release special edition exclusive japan contained episodes alongside original content reception demon blade received critical acclaim garnering score metacritic based critic reviews review famitsu praised art style called battle system absorbing main complaints lack variety characters story having proper climax called solid title saying flawed story delivery instances repetition visuals absolutely beautiful proved fun play ign highly positive graphics sound thought people said story people heads game revolution writer enjoyed game greatly admitted lack depth reduced score reviewer writing game informer found demon blade stunning despite pacing depth gamespot praised visuals boss battles swords found activities outside combat lacked depth gamepro called visuals gorgeous praised combat multiple storylines found combat got hampered experience praised combat visuals calling better action titles wii writing eurogamer noted like beautiful things demon blade little lacking substance saying lack depth undermined aspects called great game play despite plain story rpgfan shared points common reviewers story repetition praising graphics sound design rebirth positive reception metacritic giving score based critic reviews review famitsu praised good remake reviewer disappointed lack new content chris_carter said people played original version find new content newcomers likely enchanted reviewing rebirth game informer said game exactly developer intended better looking version release noting fixed game original faults noted ign called rebirth faithful port praising improved localization generally enjoying playing despite experience adrian den praised localization shared points praise criticism previous reviewer rpgfan played wii original called rebirth gorgeous action packed fairly lengthy adventure looks sounds plays better gaming monthly impressed visuals indifferent story recommended playing higher difficulty setting sales debut japan demon blade reached game sales charts coming battle heroes units sold sales title higher anticipated resulting stores japan sold weeks release game sold units november north_america reported game sold units month release feature notable video games stated sold extremely established western franchise releases extraction entertainment game north american publisher confirmed september sales demon blade fallen estimates met sales expectations interview publisher stated despite positive reception critics players demon blade suffered low sales japan north_america europe non traditional game falling relevance wii hardware week release rebirth debuted selling physical units month following release japan game topped shipments physical retail sales remainder digital copies distributed ranked seventh downloaded digital game japanese north_america europe game ranked high download charts ranked fifth best selling title north_america europe debuted climbing december
Muramasa: The Demon Blade