Murasaki

About

Murasaki is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Katatema and was released on May 12, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

Murasaki is a single-player shooter/puzzle game set in a beautiful, mystical world on the brink of destruction. Players can only fire one bullet at a time and must use angles, timing, and explosive shape combinations to survive against overwhelming enemies. Each character has a special attack and limited uses, essential for tight situations and defeating bosses. Kairi, the older hero, takes on a protective role for Satsuki as they embark on a mission driven by music, magic, and survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews

music24 positive mentions

The game features a unique blend of bullet hell and puzzle mechanics, providing a refreshing take on the genre that encourages strategic thinking.
The soundtrack is exceptional, with a variety of genres that enhance the gameplay experience and evoke strong emotions.
Murasaki offers a satisfying gameplay loop with a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.

Some players may find the difficulty curve unbalanced, particularly with the second stage being notably harder than the rest.
The game lacks clear instructions on controls and mechanics, which can lead to confusion for new players.
Visual design and character art may not appeal to everyone, and some sound effects can be abrasive during intense gameplay.

music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
36%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its diverse and inventive soundtrack that blends genres like jazz fusion, funk, and classical. Players find the music enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's atmosphere and making gameplay more enjoyable. While some opinions vary, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a standout feature, elevating the game to a memorable level.
- “The hand-drawn character portraits and exceptional soundtrack both complement the story and gameplay perfectly, imbuing it with an atmosphere of beauty and tragedy.”
- “The music in this game is genuinely, absolutely one of my favorites I've heard in any obscure small indie game like this; it's ridiculous how good and how varied it is, ranging from cool jazzy/funky tunes to straight-up techno/house beats, and all of them are catchy as hell.”
- “Add in a gorgeous soundtrack that contributes to the overall elegant, mysterious, and melancholic atmosphere, plus an excellent price, and you have an easy buy if you're even a little bit interested.”
- “The music is nothing special.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Even if you're not a fan of the gameplay itself, the music might surprise you.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The gameplay in Murasaki is characterized by its easy-to-learn mechanics that offer significant depth, blending bullet hell and puzzle elements in a unique way. Players appreciate the inventive mechanics, engaging soundtrack, and the gradual introduction of complexity, which keeps the experience fun and addictive. While some may find the lack of a precise hitbox marker challenging, the game rewards mastery of its core mechanics and offers a refreshing take on the genre.
- “Basic mechanics are very easy to get used to, but have a lot of depth at the same time.”
- “The hand-drawn character portraits and exceptional soundtrack both complement the story and gameplay perfectly, imbuing it with an atmosphere of beauty and tragedy.”
- “This easy to understand core mechanic remains unchanged for the whole game, but never gets boring as you start to master it and find new ways to save yourself from a difficult spot.”
- “Mechanically, this game is solid, but I know some people will miss having a precise marker for the character's hitbox like in other shooters.”
- “Pretty easy for a bullet hell game; I think the puzzle mechanics are pretty easily exploited.”
- “The main catch with the 'schmup' gameplay is that you don't just shoot enemies (well, you can, but it's unoptimal), as you can only fire a single bullet at a time and it's not particularly damaging.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The game's story is intricately woven into its gameplay, gradually revealed through achievements and missions, allowing players to unlock lore and character dialogues that enhance the experience. While the narrative can be ambiguous and open to interpretation, it adds depth and intrigue, making progression enjoyable as players piece together the plot. The combination of hand-drawn art and a captivating soundtrack further enriches the atmosphere, creating a blend of beauty and tragedy that complements the gameplay.
- “Beyond the basic gameplay, there's an excellent story, gradually revealed through cryptic fragments as you unlock achievements.”
- “The hand-drawn character portraits and exceptional soundtrack both complement the story and gameplay perfectly, imbuing it with an atmosphere of beauty and tragedy.”
- “The story is kind of all over the place (and a lot of things are purposefully left ambiguous or up to interpretation), but it does make progression more fun, getting to unlock extra tidbits of info with each mission you complete and slowly piecing together what's supposed to be going on.”
- “Interestingly, despite being a shoot-em-up, a visible amount of care went into the backstory, which you can unlock little by little by collecting the achievements.”
- “If you manage to beat it, you'll receive a brief part of the story on the collection, along with the time it took for you to defeat that part of the boss.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the artwork and character design for their aesthetic appeal, while others criticize the overall visual quality as poor. The game's art style is noted for its charm, particularly in character clothing, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “I really like the art style and how fuzzy the character's clothes look.”
- “The portrait artwork is pretty good.”
- “And the artwork and visual design is appallingly bad.”
- “Murasaki is an obscure, simple but clever game by the doujin circle, katatema, that combines the aesthetic sensibilities of Touhou with the cerebral storytelling and some gameplay similarities of Irisu Syndrome (which should come as no surprise as they developed that game too).”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its hand-drawn character portraits and an exceptional soundtrack that together create a beautiful, mysterious, and melancholic experience. Reviewers highlight the elegant and somber tone, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a unique emotional depth in gameplay.
- “The hand-drawn character portraits and exceptional soundtrack both complement the story and gameplay perfectly, imbuing it with an atmosphere of beauty and tragedy.”
- “Add in a gorgeous soundtrack that contributes to the overall elegant, mysterious, and melancholic atmosphere, plus an excellent price, and you have an easy buy if you're even a little bit interested.”
- “Combine this with Watson’s amazing music and you end up with an intriguing somber atmosphere that’s difficult to find elsewhere.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game largely derived from whimsical characters, particularly noting the amusing "funny white thingies with flowers on their heads." This lighthearted and quirky design contributes to an overall playful atmosphere.
- “The most common ones are these funny little creatures with flowers on their heads!”
- “The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, with clever puns and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game incorporates slapstick comedy and absurd situations that never fail to bring a smile to my face.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by solid character designs and engaging interactions, particularly the witty banter between player characters and stage bosses, which adds depth to their personalities.
- “Character design is solid, and I love the banter between the player characters and the stage bosses.”
- “Character designs are pretty cool too.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Despite its short length of six stages, the game offers significant replayability through a variety of achievements and score incentives that encourage players to revisit and improve their performance.
- “Despite only being 6 stages long, there is a lot of replayability with the various achievements and score incentives you can aim for.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate how the stunning scenery and evocative music enhance the emotional depth of the game, compensating for its sparse dialogue and creating a resonant experience.
- “The scenery and beautiful music by Watson helps fill in some of the gaps left by the game's limited text and delivers an emotional experience.”