Mastering Muramasa: The Demon Blade – Ultimate Walkthrough Guide – Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a visually stunning action RPG developed by Vanillaware, known for its hand-painted art style and fluid gameplay mechanics. Released for the Nintendo Wii and later ported to the PlayStation Vita as Muramasa Rebirth, the game immerses players in a world inspired by Japanese folklore. Whether you’re playing as Momohime or Kisuke, this ultimate walkthrough guide will help you navigate every twist, turn, and challenge.

Getting Started: Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the intricacies of the game, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with its mechanics:

Choose Your Character

• Momohime: A princess possessed by the spirit of Jinkuro, embarking on a journey to reclaim her body.
• Kisuke: An amnesiac ninja seeking to uncover his past.

Each character has their unique storylines and regions to explore, but the core gameplay remains similar.

Combat Mechanics

Muramasa offers fast-paced, hack-and-slash combat with an emphasis on timing and strategy. Key elements include:

• Blade Swapping: Switch between your three equipped swords to manage durability and unleash devastating combos.
• Soul Gauge: Depletes as you use your sword. When broken, the blade becomes weaker until repaired.
• Special Attacks: Each blade has a unique ability. Use these strategically to turn the tide of battle.

Items and Consumables

Stock up on healing items, buffs, and status effect cures to ensure survival during challenging encounters. Visit shops or cook food using ingredients gathered from battles and exploration.

Prologue and Early Game Tips

Navigating the Map

The world of Muramasa is divided into multiple interconnected regions. Use the map to:

• Track your objectives.
• Locate hidden paths and treasure.
• Fast travel between unlocked waypoints.

Leveling Up

Combat earns you experience points (EXP) and spirit energy. EXP increases your level, while spirit energy is vital for forging new swords. Aim to defeat as many enemies as possible and complete side quests for additional rewards.

Forging and Collecting Swords

Swords are the heart of Muramasa’s gameplay. Forge new blades using spirit energy and souls collected from fallen enemies. There are two main categories:

• Katana: Balanced weapons for quick attacks.
• Odachi: Heavy swords with slower but more powerful strikes.

Unlocking all 108 blades is one of the ultimate goals for completionists.

Walkthrough: Main Storyline

Chapter 1: Awakening

• Momohime’s Path: Escape the palace and navigate the Bamboo Forest. Boss fight: Yamato-no-Orochi. Dodge its tail swipes and aim for its head.
• Kisuke’s Path: Start in the mountains and journey toward Edo. Boss fight: Fudo-Myo. Use quick combos and avoid its area-of-effect (AoE) attacks.

Chapter 2: The Journey Expands

• Key Locations:
  • Edo Castle: Fight through hordes of samurai and ninjas.
  • Dragon Caverns: Use double jumps to traverse platforms and avoid environmental hazards.
• Boss Tips:
  • Jinkuro (Momohime): Time your blocks and counterattacks to defeat this agile foe.
  • Tsukuyomi (Kisuke): Focus on avoiding its ranged attacks and striking during openings.

Side Quests and Optional Challenges

Village Requests

Throughout the game, villagers and NPCs will provide optional quests. Completing these:

• Rewards you with rare items and spirit energy.
• Enhances your understanding of the world and characters.

Caves of Evil

Scattered across the map, these challenging dungeons pit you against waves of enemies and bosses. Tips for success:

• Stock up on healing items before entering.
• Equip swords with high durability to withstand prolonged battles.
• Use combos and special attacks to manage groups of enemies efficiently.

Advanced Strategies

Mastering Blade Forging

To unlock the most powerful swords, you need both high levels of spirit energy and specific boss drops. Plan your forging path:

• Prioritize forging blades that complement your playstyle (e.g., speed vs. power).
• Revisit earlier areas to farm spirits and rare materials if needed.

Perfecting Combos

Chain attacks between your three swords for maximum damage. Example combo:

1. Start with a katana to deal quick initial damage.
2. Switch to an odachi for heavy strikes.
3. Finish with a katana’s special attack for a flashy finisher.

Boss Guide: Tips and Strategies

General Tips

• Learn boss patterns: Most bosses telegraph their moves, giving you a chance to dodge or block.
• Manage your soul gauge: Switch swords before they break to maintain your offensive power.

Notable Boss Fights

1. Raijin and Fujin:
   • Location: Thunder Plains.
   • Strategy: Focus on one at a time. Use ranged special attacks to deal with Raijin’s lightning strikes.
2. Izanami:
   • Location: Underworld.
   • Strategy: Keep moving to avoid her deathly grasp. Use high-damage odachi strikes when she’s stationary.
3. Final Boss (Momohime/Kisuke):
   • Study their move set and exploit their weaknesses.
   • Use your strongest swords and keep plenty of healing items ready.

Unlocking Endings

Muramasa features multiple endings for each character based on your progress and choices:

• Normal Ending: Complete the main storyline without all swords.
• True Ending: Collect all 108 blades and defeat the final bosses in their ultimate forms.

The True Ending unlocks additional content and offers closure to the characters’ arcs.

Tips for Completionists

Collecting All 108 Blades

• Revisit areas to find hidden bosses and treasure chests containing rare materials.
• Complete all side quests to earn extra spirit energy.

Trophies and Achievements

If you’re playing Muramasa Rebirth, aim for these challenges:

• Speedrunner: Finish the game within a specific time frame.
• Sword Collector: Forge every blade.
• Completionist: Unlock every ending.

Conclusion

Mastering Muramasa: The Demon Blade requires patience, skill, and exploration. With its breathtaking visuals, engaging combat, and deep lore, the game remains a standout title for action RPG fans. Whether you’re chasing every ending or simply enjoying the ride, this guide ensures you’re well-prepared to conquer the challenges ahead.

Good luck, and may your blades never dull!