Mushihimesama

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 724 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Mushihimesama Game Cover
There’s a reason why Mushihimesama is regarded as one of Cave’s best shoot-em-ups – it’s weird and colourful, it’s incredibly refined, and the many gameplay modes ensure that both newbies and veterans will be kept busy for quite some time.
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"Mushihimesama is a Fantasy Shooter game with masterful gameplay, ingenious graphics, and an awesome soundtrack. Play as Reco, the young princess, riding her faithful beetle through a beautiful world, battling giant bugs in bullet-hell chaos across 5 stages. With stunning HD sprite graphics and high replayability, this is a must-play for shoot-em-up fans."

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  • Windows
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  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 724 reviews
music114 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Mushihimesama is a beautifully crafted bullet hell shooter with stunning visuals and an amazing soundtrack.
  • The game offers a variety of modes and difficulty settings, making it accessible for both newcomers and experienced players.
  • The gameplay is addictive and rewarding, with a focus on dodging intricate bullet patterns and mastering scoring mechanics.
  • The port has some technical issues, including crashes and limited resolution options, which can detract from the experience.
  • Some players may find the scoring system convoluted and the game can feel repetitive after a short playtime.
  • The game lacks a comprehensive tutorial or instruction manual, leaving new players to figure out mechanics on their own.
  • music188 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and variety, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent original and arranged soundtracks that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players noted issues with volume levels and sound clarity, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, often described as catchy, immersive, and perfectly suited to the game's aesthetic. The inclusion of multiple soundtracks, especially in the 1.5 version, adds to the replayability and enjoyment, making the music a key selling point for many players.

    • “The soundtrack alone is worth the cost.”
    • “Absolutely spectacular game, great gameplay, music, artwork.”
    • “The music is perfect to be frank, though since I'm so used to bosses having unique themes in Touhou, it feels weird to have one boss theme save for the final boss, but I suppose it makes sense since you're just shooting giant bugs.”
    • “The only downside I can think of is the music for arrange mode because it has little resemblance to the original one and I don't like its style.”
    • “This isn't really their fault, but the sound effects they're using from the original arcade version sound especially low-quality and compressed now, and on top of this for some reason the music in 1.5 mode sounds very low quality as well.”
    • “The technical aspects of this game (controls, graphics, sound, etc.) are all pretty good except for the boring sound and overly frenetic yet still not catchy music.”
  • gameplay146 mentions

    The gameplay of Mushihimesama is widely praised for its accessibility and depth, featuring multiple modes that cater to both newcomers and seasoned players. Players appreciate the well-designed mechanics, satisfying controls, and vibrant graphics, which enhance the overall experience of navigating through intricate bullet patterns. While some note a lack of innovation in gameplay variety, the combination of solid mechanics, engaging scoring systems, and a beautiful soundtrack makes it a standout title in the bullet hell genre.

    • “There are a lot of great gameplay options that let you explore the game as you try to improve.”
    • “I have 0 complaints about the gameplay; the movement feels great and along with the visuals, it just feels really satisfying to play.”
    • “Mushihimesama is a great shooter game, the colorful graphics and gameplay are really very dynamic!”
    • “Gameplay is very short - only 5 stages.”
    • “Overall this game is pretty good but lacks enough gameplay variety and innovation to make it extremely good or even solidly good, even with the 1.5 version add-on DLC.”
    • “If you're new to shmups, then this game might seem too overpriced for what seems like a quick half-hour affair, but that's ignoring the brilliance of arcade gameplay that truly shines when you aim to complete the game in only one credit (1cc, one credit clear) without any continues.”
  • graphics137 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and beautiful art style, often compared to Studio Ghibli's works, with many reviewers noting the crispness and charm of the visuals. While some mention that the graphics may feel dated or cluttered at times, the overall aesthetic and design contribute to a captivating gameplay experience. The HD upgrade from the original arcade version has been well-received, enhancing the visual appeal while maintaining the game's unique artistic flair.

    • “The graphics are stunning, the stylization, the colors.”
    • “Beautiful HD graphics and a visually lush setting, glad to see cave games finally arriving on Steam!”
    • “The new HD visuals are more pleasing on the eyes compared to their blurry arcade originals.”
    • “The scaling is hideous and doesn't offer any options besides 'smoothing on/off'. I had to muck around in my graphics drivers to eliminate some nasty screen tearing, and there's no scanlines which makes parts of the color palette look pretty off.”
    • “Graphics are lacking.”
    • “No proper resolution options, no global scaling options for all game modes, sound quality issues, graphical issues, crashes, black screens, framerate problems, runs at different speeds in windowed and fullscreen modes, problems with saving high scores, leaderboard problems, you name it.”
  • story26 mentions

    The story of Mushihimesama is described as simple and somewhat lackluster, serving primarily as a backdrop to the game's frenetic gameplay rather than a focal point. While it features a charming narrative involving Princess Reco's quest to save her village from insect threats, many players find the plot underdeveloped and difficult to fully grasp without external resources. Despite its shortcomings, the story is noted for its emotional depth and connections to themes from Hayao Miyazaki's works, with some players appreciating its potential for expansion.

    • “The story itself is exactly the same as on the arcade; no content was lost or even cut out.”
    • “This game's story is simple to understand and is not very watered down for the viewer, so with that said, Mushihimesama really pulls through with every element that it tries to deliver to the player.”
    • “Reco, the next girl in line and one of the royal family members of the last remaining village, is the next to perish on the day of her 15th birthday, who decides to save her people by embarking on a quest to meet the god of the insects known as the Koujuu.”
    • “The story is nonsensical and poorly developed (at least in English).”
    • “The storyline has potential and this could have been expanded on between stages with a quick on-screen narrative now and then.”
    • “I do wish there was some more inclusion of the story with the game.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    Mushihimesama offers high replayability through its diverse game modes, leaderboard challenges, and the opportunity for players to improve their skills over time. While the game is relatively short, its engaging level design and various difficulty settings encourage repeated play. Despite some criticisms regarding its soundtrack and graphics, the overall experience remains addictive and rewarding for both casual and competitive players.

    • “A frenetic bullet hell, Mushihimesama is an intense and addictive arcade experience with creative level design, a charming story, epic boss battles, and high replayability.”
    • “You can beat this game pretty quickly thanks to the unlimited continues, but there's a ton of replay value in trying to work towards beating the game without continuing at all, and playing it in all its various different game modes.”
    • “What you will find here, however, is still quite an amazingly well-designed shooter with gorgeous art, a lovely soundtrack, and tons of replay value, especially if you're competitive (there are online leaderboards in this version), love to focus on personal improvement, want to get all the Steam achievements, and/or are actually going for the tfb.”
    • “Mushihimesama doesn't have a particularly good soundtrack, doesn't have multiple characters, and has an overall very low replay value.”
    • “Some moderate replay value.”
    • “Replay value mostly comes from the leaderboards they've introduced, as well as just getting better at the game period.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with smooth performance on modern machines and even lower-end laptops. However, some users report occasional lag spikes and minor performance issues, particularly related to PC controls and screen optimization. Despite these drawbacks, the game's enjoyable content and visuals largely compensate for the optimization concerns.

    • “The OST and visuals are beautiful, and this game runs smoothly on my crappy laptop!”
    • “Well optimized and runs smoothly on modern machines.”
    • “It's a fun but difficult game, and is well optimized.”
    • “Also, it's not perfectly optimized for PC usage; I couldn't tell which button to press to continue.”
    • “I just really don't have anything bad to say about this game other than PC optimization.”
    • “Whilst screen optimization may be a bit unfriendly to the likes of laptops, the game itself is such an amazing time for any shmup fan.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting initial glitches and bugs, particularly at startup, while others note that many issues have been addressed through patches. Overall, the port is considered stable and runs well, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck, though some players still express concerns about lingering minor glitches and a lack of display options.

    • “Also runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Like the port on 360, the audio and the controls are very clear. At the moment, I have no glitches or bugs.”
    • “Runs great, and my only gripe is that the game went on sale with the DLC for cheaper than I purchased it, only a couple of hours after I bought it.”
    • “Very buggy title.”
    • “One of my favorite games, let down in this release with a mixture of glitches and faults, and a lack of display options betraying its quick 360 port heritage.”
    • “I have to admit, that I hesitated buying this port for a while as there were some reviews that pointed out some glitches, but it seems that Degica is a legit port house: they've already fixed a bunch of stuff with many patches.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and unexpected moments, such as the amusing interactions with quirky enemies and the player's own reactions under pressure. Players find humor in the game's mechanics, like devising ridiculous strategies and experiencing a jarring contrast between the gameplay and the emotional weight of the story. Overall, the game successfully blends comedic elements with its bullet hell genre, creating a lighthearted experience.

    • “With time, you'll find yourself memorizing enemy placement, testing the limits of your hit box, and devising hilarious strategies to misdirect fire.”
    • “I notice that my vocal cords produce funny sounds under pressure: different grunts and yells and laughs while dodging the impossible.”
    • “Very few people go into a bullet hell expecting an engrossing story, though I found it funny to be greeted with what was supposed to be a tear-jerking ending when the game didn't even so much as tell me the main character's name before that scene.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted through its impressive character and enemy designs, which are praised for their creativity and aesthetic appeal. While the story is not the main focus, the overall design elements contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, earning high ratings from users.

    • “The character design is exceptional, showcasing a great variety of unique and engaging characters.”
    • “I appreciate the depth of character development, which adds layers to the gameplay experience.”
    • “The character design, enemy design, and boss design are all top-notch, contributing to an overall immersive experience.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of intimidating and groovy elements, complemented by stunning HD graphics that effectively evoke a Japanese fairy tale setting. The excellent soundtrack enhances this immersive experience, making the overall ambiance both beautiful and atmospheric.

    • “The former ones are intimidating and groovy, while the latter is absolutely beautiful and filled with atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is great and fits the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The HD graphics are gorgeous, doing a wonderful job setting the Japanese fairy tale atmosphere, and the music is similarly excellent.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game enjoyable, whether tackling harder modes or playing on normal difficulty, highlighting it as a key reason for their continued engagement and enjoyment of the shmup genre.

  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers indicate that the game's monetization strategy is not just a cash grab, suggesting that it offers value beyond simply extracting money from players.

    • “They have proven it was more than a mere cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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