Murasaki

“In many ways Murasaki is the duo expanding upon their ideas, as they've always done, but this time they've taken it to whole new heights. Iriisu Syndrome's DNA can be felt all over this game. The amazing composer Takeaki Watanabe returns from Iriisu Syndrome and once again it's a huge highlight. He gets to spread his wings, making far more chaotic and energetic music and it's a delight to listen to.”

“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-ass jazzy/funky tunes to straight up techno/house beats, and all of them are catchy as hell.”

“The actual game progression centers around missions represented as a gigantic wall of tiles, each corresponding to a specific objective. Completing each mission awards you with either a sound test song or a piece of trivia/story about the game's world, revealing information and unlock requirements for adjacent missions.”

“The narrative gradually reveals itself through brief conversations, boss encounters, and unlockable story segments as players progress, allowing the action to remain the central focus while giving hints about the characters’ motivations and the strange forces shaping their world.”

“Interesting lore and backstory unfold in a mysterious world threatened by encroaching darkness, with story bits gradually unlocked through achievements and challenges, rewarding players who explore beyond basic gameplay.”

“Visually, Murasaki adopts a minimalist but stylish aesthetic that prioritizes clarity during chaotic gameplay.”

“The character portraits feature expressive anime-inspired artwork, while the in-game graphics focus on clean bullet patterns and bright explosions that remain readable even when the screen becomes crowded with enemies.”

“The art style and soundtrack are both amazing here and help to set an unforgettable atmosphere.”

“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.”

“It's a little sad, a little serious, and a little funny.”

“The way that a certain stage starts out is frankly hilarious.”

“The most common ones are these funny white thingies with flowers on their heads!”

“The characters feel very different to play and add a ton of replay value.”

“Replay value is strengthened by the presence of two characters, unlockable story fragments, and various challenge conditions that encourage players to revisit earlier stages.”

“Despite only being 6 stages long, there is a lot of replayability with the various achievements and score incentives you can shoot for.”

“Character designs are pretty cool too.”

“Character design is solid, and I love the banter between the player characters and the stage bosses.”

“The scenery and beautiful music by Watson help fill in some of the gaps left by the game's limited text and deliver an emotional experience.”