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 is a fantastic homage to classic DOS platformers like Duke Nukem and Commander Keen, capturing the nostalgic feel and aesthetics perfectly.
- The level design is engaging, with plenty of secrets to discover and a satisfying exploration experience.
- The gameplay is tight and responsive, making it enjoyable to play through the short episodes.
- The game is quite short, taking only about 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 play in shorter sessions.
- The lack of background music during gameplay can make the experience feel a bit empty, despite the authentic sound effects.
- story62 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and satisfying to unravel, while others criticize it as confusing and poorly structured. Many appreciate the dark sci-fi elements and retro aesthetic, but note that the plot can be convoluted and lacks clarity, making it difficult to follow. Overall, while the story has its moments and adds to the game's charm, it often feels secondary to the gameplay experience.
“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.”
“The story felt personal, yet grand; it's straight-up fiction of the good kind.”
“Muri also features a dark and surprisingly engaging story told through cutscenes and dialogue.”
“The plot goes all over the place soon, and it's hard to tell who's who and what's supposed to be where.”
“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.”
“Muri makes an admirable attempt at a story that juxtaposes well with the DOS aesthetic, but unfortunately it ends up as difficult to follow.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of Muri are widely praised for their authentic recreation of the lo-fi DOS aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of classic EGA graphics while avoiding common pitfalls like screen scrolling issues. Reviewers appreciate the game's appealing art style, solid enemy variety, and nostalgic feel, although some note that certain elements may appear overly simplistic or "ugly" by modern standards. Overall, the visuals are considered a successful homage to retro gaming, enhancing the overall experience despite some minor criticisms.
“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 an EGA graphics card.”
“Everything in Muri - from sounds to graphics to gameplay - was crafted to remind you of those games, and fulfills that goal exceptionally.”
“The graphics are a bit ugly for 'EGA', as if they were trying to make it look retro but went too far.”
“16 frames a second, EGA graphics, almost PC speaker audio--the only things missing are DOS4GW, autoexec.”
“Second, I know the graphics and sound are supposed to be like an EGA game with PC speaker, but the music is just a rather dull theme song, then nothing.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Muri is a nostalgic homage to classic DOS platformers, featuring tight controls and straightforward run-and-shoot mechanics reminiscent of titles like Commander Keen and Duke Nukem. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetics and engaging level design, others note a lack of depth and variety in mechanics, leading to a somewhat simplistic experience. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of its inspirations, though it may feel limited to those seeking more complex gameplay elements.
“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.”
“This game beautifully captures the early DOS-style platforming gameplay.”
“I grew up on DOS platformers from Apogee (like Commander Keen and the original Duke Nukem) and this game not only perfectly recaptures the look and sound of those games, but also reproduces the gameplay feel and difficulty curve that made those games so endearing.”
“Sad, but the game lost different mechanics, such as higher jumps or climbing on ceilings.”
“Good retro clones add something to the genre, like better gameplay or plot, but this one doesn't.”
“The game itself is incredibly retro - so retro that you can't select what key does what action, leading to a very strange way to move and shoot, which doesn't really make sense and kind of kills the gameplay.”
- music36 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received significant criticism for its lack of a background soundtrack, with players noting that the only music present is a simple theme on the title screen. Many reviewers feel that this absence diminishes the overall atmosphere and experience, especially given the game's homage to classic titles that did feature soundtracks. While the sound effects are generally well-received, the consensus is that the game would greatly benefit from a more robust musical accompaniment.
“I get it, the main inspiration was Duke Nukem, and that didn't have a soundtrack due to most PCs not having sound cards when it released. But Duke Nukem 2 did have a soundtrack and it was actually pretty good, and given that this game is merely an homage and not something actually bound to the technical restrictions of the late 80s, it seems like a big spot of wasted potential to just forego having any tunes, especially when this developer has a bunch of other games with downright fantastic soundtracks.”
“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 lack of music also just 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.”
“While I do like the DOS sound effects, I’m disappointed that there’s no music besides the main menu.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, particularly for players who enjoy exploring different difficulty settings and aiming for high scores. While it is relatively short, the inclusion of secrets, challenges, and a scoring system enhances its replay value, making it appealing for those who appreciate retro platformers. However, some players noted a lack of online features, which could have further boosted community engagement and replayability.
“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.”
“The audio design is meh (doesn't have any music either) and I find the lack of online integration for leaderboards to be a strange decision, seeing how it would've helped grow the community and given the game more replay value, but it's nothing too bad.”
“However, with a score system, it does receive some mild replayability, albeit not as much as could be done.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while it effectively captures the essence of the DOS era with retro graphics and sound effects, some players feel that the absence of music diminishes the overall experience. Despite this, many appreciate the authentic feel and nostalgic gameplay, suggesting that the atmosphere aligns well with the game's design intentions.
“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.”
“The game evokes the atmosphere of the DOS era very well and is very faithful to the limitations of the platform.”
“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 the grinding aspect of the game can lead to tedious puzzle-solving and back-and-forth segments, although the intricate level design encourages exploration without becoming overly frustrating.
“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.”
