Muramasa Rebirth

Combining 2D platforming, hack and slash action, and RPG elements, this title is sure to appeal to a broad variety of gamers looking for an adventure that is both accessible for long grinds or quick pick up and play bouts.

A super slick and highly entertaining side-scrolling hack-'n'-slash game. Your Vita needs this game.

Muramasa: Rebirth was a great game on the Wii but on the Vita, it is a masterpiece. Excellent and engaging gameplay, enjoyable stories (yes, multiple), and one of the most visually appealing art styles ever used in a video game combine for an adventure that every Vita owner should take.

For those that own a Vita I suggest picking up Vanillaware’s entry on the machine. It is gorgeous, with stylistic and deep combat, and just plain enjoyable. Anyone clamoring for more software on Sony’s portable should look no further.

This small Vanillaware pearl is a must have not only for its spectacular graphics, but also for a well crafted gameplay, scratched only by too lengthy and boring backtracking phases.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade's a piece of art, or art by itself. It's a simple beat 'em up that's set on the early Japanese history, mainly focused on the personal story of two wanderers that're trying to earn a living smashing every enemy that's set on their way. Improved with HD graphics in this Vita version.

Muramasa Rebirth is a gorgeous, action-packed, fairly lengthy adventure that looks, sounds, and plays better than ever.

Muramasa Rebirth is about as good a remake as one could realistically hope for on the Vita and a must-buy for anyone who enjoyed the original release but wished it controlled better than it did.

Muramasa: Rebirth seems to find itself much more at home on the Vita, and can be called an essential title in anyone's collection. It's not without faults, however, as the new localization brings an unwanted focus to the dull story, and the lengthy campaigns can leave the title feeling overall long in the tooth. Despite this, it's more aptly considered Muramasa+; a port that's slightly more recommended than whatever people had to say about the Wii release.

Muramasa Rebirth is a showcase for what visuals the PS Vita can produce. It does have solid gameplay, but lacks enough variation to be an absolute must have purchase. There is fun to be had for sure though and would be a solid introduction to the genre thanks to the simple to use mechanics that take plenty of mastering.

The nimble combat system keeps it exciting. [Issue#234, p.82]

Muramasa is twenty hours well spent amongst some of the most breathtaking visuals and sound on PS Vita. Unsheath your wallet and ninjadash your way to the store now. [July 2013, p76]

For fans of Vanillaware’s games, this is a no-brainer. Muramasa Rebirth is the more complete version of its Wii predecessor. With an amazing art style, fast action, and even some humor, sidescroller fighting game fans will find a lot to like here. This is one of the Vita’s prettiest games, and is fun to boot!

Between gorgeous visuals, engaging combat—on Chaos mode, at least—a sizable chunk of Genroku-era Japan to soak in and wander about, and a solid length (anything between eight to 12 hours, depending on how much exploring you do), Muramasa Rebirth is well worth any Vita owner’s time.

On that note, Muramasa Rebirth comes highly recommended, as it provides a visually striking journey through demon-infested Japan. With two characters to play and a wealth of swords to unlock, you'll find plenty to love about this addictive game.

Thanks to its new localization and higher resolution, Rebirth is unquestionably the definitive version of the game, and anyone who enjoyed the original would be foolish to not experience this improved version.

A fine showcase of what the PS Vita and developers can do to make each other look good. The artistic direction and arcade gameplay style will bring you back to Muramasa Rebirth again and again, even if the map is cumbersome.

Thus, if you haven’t had the pleasure of playing Muramasa before, and you have a Vita, Rebirth is wholeheartedly worth playing. It’s breathtakingly beautiful in all aspects — from its combat to graphics to soundtrack to the sword forging mechanic, this is just an immensely enjoyable game, even in spite of its repetitious combat and under-emphasized story.

It’s not only Vita’s prettiest game; it’s also a hell of a lot of fun to play. Immersive, stylish, and full of action, Muramasa Rebirth’s twin campaigns, multiple endings, hidden Demon Swords, massive exploration and other optional goodies are enough to keep you busy for a good long while.

If you've already played Muramasa to death, I doubt you'll find anything worth paying full price for in Rebirth (yet), but for those of you who haven't experienced it and haven't played a Vanillaware game, this is a great way to see that beautiful art everyone keeps talking about.

Muramasa Rebirth is gorgeous, action packed, and regularly delightful, but its charm cannot entirely compensate for its repetitive nature.

Visually, Muramasa Rebirth is stunning. The Vita's sharp screen enhances the already gorgeous graphics and rewarding gameplay, resulting in fast-paced combat and satisfying boss battles that have never looked better. Although backtracking and repetition will eventually take their toll, it's still a fine choice for your portable action-RPG fix.

Yes, the art and animation are even more gorgeous, but none of the core design problems from the original version were addressed. The result is a familiar experience that feels both faithful and flawed.

One of the most beautiful video games ever made, but the gameplay is a far less attractive proposition – especially in this barely-altered remake.