MURI
- December 6, 2013
- Ludosity
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"MURI" is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer game with a good plot and compelling game mechanics. After the colonization of Mars, a powerful armor suit causes conflict among factions, and when Mars mysteriously vanishes, one woman embarks on a journey to discover humanity's fate. Inspired by '80s games, MURI features PC speaker music, 16-color EGA graphics, and an optional TURBO mode, providing an authentic '80s gaming experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- MURI perfectly captures the nostalgia of classic DOS platformers like Duke Nukem and Commander Keen, with authentic graphics and sound.
- The level design is engaging, featuring numerous secrets and collectibles that encourage exploration.
- The game offers a fun and straightforward gameplay experience, making it accessible for both retro gamers and newcomers.
- The game is quite short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- There is no save feature, which can be frustrating for players who prefer to take breaks between levels.
- The controls can feel clunky at times, particularly the jumping mechanics, which may take some getting used to.
- story89 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and satisfying, while others describe it as convoluted, confusing, and poorly executed. Many appreciate the retro aesthetic and the attempt at a deeper narrative, but feel that the plot often lacks coherence and meaningful payoff. Overall, while the story has its moments and can be intriguing, it tends to be overshadowed by gameplay and aesthetic elements, leaving some players scratching their heads.
“It's plagued with secrets, and when you start to understand their logic, you can't stop. It is so satisfying getting to uncover all the secrets and unravel its exciting story... I beat it in my first sitting and had a total blast.”
“Muri manages to combine an interesting and concisely told story with the simple and challenging gameplay of yore.”
“Muri is a special game that does everything right; the MS-DOS feel and aesthetic is beyond perfect, the story is original, and the sound effects and what little music there is, is spot on.”
“The story is extremely confusing.”
“The basic plot just does not make much sense and is spoken under the assumption that the player already thoroughly understands the nature of the world and its systems; which is impossible.”
“The plot goes all over the place soon, and it's hard to tell who's who and what's supposed to be where.”
- graphics84 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are intentionally designed to evoke nostalgia for the DOS era, featuring a charming yet simplistic EGA aesthetic that successfully captures the look and feel of classic platformers. While some players appreciate the authentic retro style and limited color palette, others criticize it for being too dated or lacking in detail. Overall, the visuals are seen as a fitting homage to old-school gaming, though opinions vary on their execution and appeal.
“Graphically, it authentically recaptures the lo-fi DOS look without any of the awkward screen scrolling or sprite pop-in, and as a result, it's quite pleasant on the eyes.”
“The graphics are well drawn and use a fairly restricted color palette, simulating the early DOS games with EGA graphics card.”
“Muri nails the visuals, audio, and gameplay, making it a fantastic tribute to classic DOS platformers.”
“The downside is that the developers seemed to have gone for the 'poorly-translated Japanese game' aesthetic.”
“The graphics are a bit ugly for 'EGA', as if they were trying to make it look retro but went too far.”
“A very mediocre retro 2D indie shooter/platformer/ripoff of the old 2D Duke Nukem games from Apogee, with EGA graphics and everything, only worse than the games it's ripping off.”
- gameplay73 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Muri is a nostalgic homage to classic DOS platformers, featuring straightforward run-and-gun mechanics, tight controls, and a charming retro aesthetic. While some players appreciate its simplicity and engaging level design, others feel it lacks depth and modern gameplay standards, with limited mechanics and a somewhat disorganized plot. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit brief, experience for fans of the genre, though it may not satisfy those seeking more contemporary gameplay complexity.
“Muri is a jump n' shoot platformer with tight controls, well-done gameplay, and level design, and an art style reminiscent of games from the DOS era, like Commander Keen.”
“The gameplay is very faithful to classic EGA platformers, capturing the nostalgic feel and mechanics that fans of the genre will appreciate.”
“This game beautifully captures the early DOS-style platforming gameplay, perfectly reproducing the look, sound, and feel of classic titles.”
“The game itself is incredibly retro - so retro, that you can't select what key does what action, so there's a very strange way to move, shoot etc. which does not really make sense to me and kind of kills the gameplay.”
“The story wasn't engaging, the gameplay was light, there just isn't enough meat on this bone to make me able to recommend it.”
“It's also a fairly simple game, with few player or stage mechanics to make it more than a basic shooting platformer.”
- music58 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of in-game music, noting that only a simple title screen theme is present. While some appreciate the nostalgic sound effects reminiscent of classic DOS games, the lack of a soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the atmosphere and overall experience. Players suggest that the game could benefit from a more modern musical accompaniment, despite its homage to retro gaming traditions.
“The lack of a save point can be annoying to some modern players and the game could have benefited from some music to add a little more atmosphere, but overall this is a great little game.”
“Muri is a special game that does everything right; the MS-DOS feel and aesthetic is beyond perfect, the story is original, and the sound effects and what little music there is, is spot on.”
“While I do like the DOS sound effects, I’m disappointed that there’s no music besides the main menu.”
“The lack of music diminishes the experience and cuts out most of the potential for atmosphere, even if that is authentic to the times.”
“Yes, I know the games it's based off didn't have background music, but I still find a game without music unnerving.”
“The audio design is mediocre and doesn't have any music, which I find to be a strange decision, especially since it could have helped grow the community and given the game more replay value.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, "muri" offers a solid replayability factor despite its short playtime of around 2-3 hours. Players can enjoy multiple difficulty settings, high score challenges, and hidden secrets that encourage exploration and repeated playthroughs. While some reviewers noted a lack of online leaderboards and limited replay value after completing the game, many still found the experience engaging enough to warrant multiple runs, especially for those who enjoy score hunting and tackling tougher challenges.
“Should have given it a thumbs up a long time ago, but this is a fun and very replayable retro platformer.”
“Although a fairly short game, it offers a lot of replay value in the form of exploration and many difficulty settings.”
“It definitely has replay value, especially with higher difficulties and 100% playthroughs, so if you're into that kind of thing, this game will certainly be worth the $4.”
“It's pretty short, and lacks replay value, but it's an excellent game nonetheless.”
“I cannot recommend muri enough, however I don't see there being any replayability once you finish it once, and the story mode took me about three hours to complete.”
“However with a score system, it does receive some mild replayability, albeit not as much as could be done.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Muri is praised for its authentic evocation of the DOS era, effectively capturing the limitations and style of that time. However, some players feel that the absence of music and save points detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that these elements could enhance the game's atmosphere further. Despite these critiques, the game's retro graphics and sound effects contribute positively to its nostalgic charm.
“Muri is a platformer that, while short (1.5 hours), has a unique style and atmosphere.”
“The game evokes the atmosphere of the DOS era very well and is very faithful to the limitations of the platform.”
“It could almost be running via DOSBox, such is the atmosphere of the game.”
“Fun old school side-scrolling DOS gameplay, great music, sound effects, retro graphics, atmosphere, and just overall quality for what it is.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find that while the intricate levels encourage exploration, the puzzle-solving and back-and-forth segments can become tedious, leading to a grinding experience.
“The levels are intricate enough to foster exploration, while not being tedious labyrinths.”
“Grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each session brings me closer to unlocking new abilities and gear.”
“I appreciate how the grind is balanced; it encourages me to keep playing without feeling like a chore.”
“This can make doing the puzzle-solving and other back-and-forth segments of the game tedious.”
