Murasaki

About

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

Murasaki combines bullet hell mechanics with puzzle elements, creating a unique and engaging gameplay experience that rewards strategic thinking and precision.
The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring a variety of genres that enhance the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
The game offers a satisfying challenge with a good balance of difficulty, allowing players of varying skill levels to enjoy the main story while providing tougher post-game content for veterans.

The game can feel unbalanced at times, particularly with the second stage being significantly harder than the others, which may frustrate new players.
Some players may find the lack of clear instructions and the need to discover mechanics on their own to be confusing and off-putting.
The visual design, particularly the enemy sprites, is considered by some to be lacking in variety and polish, which detracts from the overall presentation.

gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
7%
The gameplay of Murasaki is characterized by its easy-to-learn mechanics that offer significant depth, blending bullet hell and puzzle elements in a unique way. Players navigate through a colorful bullet-filled environment while utilizing a single-shot mechanic to clear obstacles, which encourages strategic thinking and mastery over time. The game is complemented by an exceptional soundtrack and a compelling story, enhancing the overall experience while maintaining a fair difficulty curve.
- “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.”
- “With such simple mechanics, there is so much depth.”
- “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.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
33%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its astonishing quality and diverse influences, including jazz fusion, funk, and classical elements. The soundtrack not only enhances the gameplay experience but also contributes significantly to the game's emotional atmosphere, making it a standout feature that many players find memorable and enjoyable. Overall, the music is described as sublime, catchy, and integral to the game's appeal, often elevating the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “Combine this with Watson’s amazing music and you end up with an intriguing somber atmosphere that’s difficult to find elsewhere.”
- “The music is nothing special.”
- “Even if you're not a fan of the gameplay itself, the music might surprise you.”
- “The biggest draw though... the music.”
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 feel disjointed and open to interpretation, it adds depth and intrigue, rewarding players for their exploration and engagement. The combination of hand-drawn art and a compelling soundtrack further enriches the atmosphere, making the story a significant, albeit secondary, aspect of the game.
- “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.”
- “In addition, there is a deep story that you can uncover as you clear stages and fulfill achievement conditions.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the artwork and character design, particularly the fuzzy textures of clothing, while others criticize the overall visual quality as poor. While the portrait artwork is noted as being appealing, the general consensus suggests that the graphics do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.
- “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).”
- “I really like the art style and how fuzzy the character's clothes look.”
- “The portrait artwork is pretty good.”
- “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).”
- “I really like the art style and how fuzzy the character's clothes look, but that has nothing to do with gameplay.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its beautiful hand-drawn character portraits and an exceptional soundtrack that together create an elegant, mysterious, and melancholic experience. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of beauty and tragedy, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a captivating ambiance.
- “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.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers significant replayability despite its short length of six stages, thanks to 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 limited textual narrative and creating a more immersive 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.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 adds a playful charm to the overall experience.
- “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 characters have such quirky personalities; their interactions are filled with hilarious moments that make the gameplay even more enjoyable.”