Muramasa: The Demon Blade was developed by Vanillaware and released on the Nintendo Wii in 2009. A remake called Muramasa Rebirth hit the Vita in 2013 and featured additional storylines. Both versions focus heavily on hack-and-slash side scrolling with RPG elements such as leveling up and acquiring new swords. Beating the game on Shura (hard) mode unlocks the nearly-impossible-for-mere-mortals Shigurui mode, which forces one to play through the game with only a single hit point. Have you figured out where this is going yet? Yup, that’s right. Welcome to a speedrun of Muramasa: The Demon Blade played on Shigurui mode with Momohime.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS85RRz5z_M[/embedyt]
[gap height=”15″]
Trineas holds the second place spot for Momohime’s Shigurui run, first place being held by a Japanese runner (surprise, surprise). Because the player is killed after only a single hit in this mode, the smoke bomb item is used extensively to avoid unwanted enemy encounters. The rest is entirely up to skill, and a defensive trick that negates damage from a hit. By attacking just as the player is hit, the damage animation will trigger but none will be taken. This must be performed at the moment of impact and is difficult to pull off consistently.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr-mL9hENHg[/embedyt]
[gap height=”15″]
Unfortunately, there are no speedruns for Kisuke on Shigurui, presumably due to some of the later bosses’ behaviors and attacks. Wow, a challenge that makes even speedrunners quake. Instead, since traveling and random encounters are much the same for both characters, here is a video showing Kisuke battling a gauntlet of his bosses on Shigurui. What’s that, Kisuke? Too easy for you? Well then, how about doing it with only one sword and no secret arts? EpicNameBro demonstrates each battle and the strategy for emerging victorious, so those interested at home can attempt the same if they’re insane enough.
Muramasa: The Demon Blade is not only a beautiful game, but it’s rife with extra challenges and multiple endings, and a couple of well-hidden secrets. If you own a Nintendo Wii, you won’t be disappointed picking this game up.