Mushihimesama

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 (“Bug Princess” in English) is a vertical shooting game set in a beautiful fantasy world. Huge insect-like creatures called Koju roam the forest outside the village of Hoshifuri. When Reco's people fall to a mysterious sickness, the young princess decides to leave the village and meet the God of the Koju, who may provide a cure. Riding her faithful Golden Beetle friend Kiniro, Reco m…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 636 reviews

music92 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Mushihimesama features stunning graphics and a beautiful soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
The game offers a variety of modes and difficulty settings, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced players.
The gameplay is smooth and responsive, with well-designed bullet patterns that provide a satisfying challenge.

The game is locked at 720p resolution, which may not be ideal for modern displays.
There have been reports of technical issues, including crashes and inconsistent framerate during gameplay.
Some players may find the scoring system and mechanics complex without adequate in-game explanations.

music
155 mentions
59 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its stunning quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as catchy, soothing, and perfectly complements the game's visuals and gameplay, with additional arrangements available through DLC. Players particularly enjoy the option to mix and match different soundtracks, making the auditory experience both diverse and engaging.
- “The soundtrack is also stunning.”
- “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 music alone is worth buying it; the graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is really smooth, there are many versions and difficulty levels to be played so the game will not get boring for you.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
gameplay
123 mentions
33 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Mushihimesama is widely praised for its accessibility, smooth mechanics, and engaging bullet hell action, making it suitable for both newcomers and seasoned players. With multiple modes, including novice and arrange options, players can enjoy a variety of challenges and scoring systems, all complemented by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. Overall, the game offers a satisfying and addictive experience, with a perfect balance of simplicity and depth in its mechanics.
- “I have 0 complaints about the gameplay; the movement feels great and along with the visuals, it just feels really satisfying to play.”
- “The gameplay is so good that I actually played this game over and over again because it is so fun.”
- “Mushihimesama is one of those arcade games that excel in every category; graphics are charming, music is amazing, and the gameplay is fun if you want to play casually and very good if you want to play hardcore and go for 1cc.”
- “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 get into it, you will spend inordinate amounts of time playing small stretches of gameplay over and over again, slowly memorizing each and every bullet pattern, enemy placement, and necessary positioning in order to survive said patterns.”
- “Credits are unlimited; anything beyond a self-imposed 1cc rule offers nothing of real value or satisfaction and for a game rooted so heavily in a gameplay-centric genre, it more or less results in creative suicide.”
graphics
121 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and unique art style, drawing inspiration from Studio Ghibli's works, particularly "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind." While some users noted issues with scaling and screen tearing, the overall aesthetic is described as beautiful and engaging, enhancing the gameplay experience. The combination of crisp graphics, imaginative designs, and a captivating soundtrack contributes to a visually rich and immersive environment that appeals to both casual and hardcore players.
- “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 hd graphics are gorgeous, doing a wonderful job setting the Japanese fairy tale atmosphere, and the music is similarly excellent.”
- “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.”
replayability
22 mentions
55 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Mushihimesama offers high replayability through its diverse game modes, difficulty levels, and leaderboard features, appealing to both casual players and competitive enthusiasts. While some reviews note its shorter playtime, the game's design encourages repeated play for skill improvement and exploration of alternate playstyles. Overall, it is regarded as a highly replayable bullet hell shooter with engaging gameplay and visuals.
- “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.”
- “The different modes keep you on your toes and make for excellent replayability.”
- “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.”
story
19 mentions
32 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The story of Mushihimesama is generally regarded as simple and somewhat lackluster, serving more as a backdrop to the game's frenetic gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate its emotional depth and homage to works like "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind," others find it nonsensical and poorly developed, particularly in its English localization. Overall, the narrative is not the main draw of the game, with many players prioritizing the engaging mechanics and design over the storyline.
- “Story is surprisingly sad.”
- “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.”
- “Simple but interesting story which pays tribute to 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' by Hayao Miyazaki.”
- “Simple and short story, a little lackluster but clearly it isn't the main focus of the game.”
- “The story is nonsensical and poorly developed (at least in English).”
- “The plot makes no sense to me at all and I don't know why it's got such a weird resolution restriction.”
optimization
7 mentions
71 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance on modern machines and even lower-end laptops. However, some users report occasional lag spikes and performance issues, particularly with screen optimization on laptops. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game is considered well-optimized and enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “The OST and visuals are beautiful, and this game runs smoothly on my crappy laptop!”
- “Well optimized and runs smooth on modern machines.”
- “It's a fun but difficult game, and is well optimized.”
- “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.”
stability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
57 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting significant bugs and glitches, while others note that recent patches have improved performance. Overall, it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, and many players appreciate the developers' efforts to address issues post-launch. However, concerns about its initial stability and display options persist, reflecting its origins as a quick port from the Xbox 360.
- “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, so I finally bought it and man did it deliver (hint: it really did).”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and unexpected moments, such as players developing comical strategies and vocalizing funny sounds under pressure. Additionally, the contrast between the game's lack of narrative depth and its attempt at an emotional ending adds to the humor, creating a lighthearted experience amidst the chaos of gameplay.
- “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 development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through its impressive character and enemy designs, which receive high praise from users. While the story is not the main focus, the overall aesthetic and concept contribute to a strong visual and thematic experience, earning a solid 9/10 rating for design elements.
- “The character design is stunning, and it really enhances the overall experience of the game.”
- “While the story isn't the main focus, the character development is impressive, earning a solid 9/10 for its creativity and execution.”
- “The combination of beautiful music and cool character design creates an immersive atmosphere that elevates the gameplay.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of intimidating and groovy elements, complemented by stunning HD graphics that evoke a beautiful Japanese fairy tale setting. The excellent soundtrack enhances this immersive experience, perfectly aligning with the game's overall ambiance.
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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.
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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.”