Another Vanillaware RPG? (Muramasa)
 

Looked around and didn't see any mention of this, but apparently there's a scan of some new game headed for the Wii that has the same style as Odin Sphere (2D, side scrolling and apparently it's a hack 'n slash). If anyone's got any info on this one, I'd be glad to hear it.

Here's the scan (don't mind the shirtless ogre lady):

All I really know is that the game is called "Oboro Muramasa Youtouden", and that it's basically like Odin Sphere (probably using the same engine and all), but with a more Japanese feel--which I guess looking at the screenshots is pretty obvious. I'm already excited about it, anyway.

Ooh, so basically Odin Sphere but based on Japanese lore and stuff? Sounds cool, especially since there only seems to be 2 playable characters.

Most excellent. The Odin Sphere system on a more powerful platform, maybe there won't be as much crippling slowdown or ridiculously long load times this time around. (I'm looking at you, Pooka Kitchen and Cafe)

Also looking forward to the possibility of another amazing soundtrack.

If that's all they're doing to it, I'll pass. They need to fix some of the serious problems that were in Odin Sphere.

After reading about it some more apparently there will be two modes of play--"Light and easy" and "hardcore".

MORE UPDATES AS EVENTS UNFOLD

Err, is there a normal mode for normal folks? Unless Hardcore is supposed to be code for normal mode now, that is.

That was actually my first thought, since I usually play at normal mode unless I know the game is too easy on it or whatever. But what I'm guessing is that the light and easy mode is more aimed at like, children and casual gamers, while the hardcore mode is more like... People who have played Odin Sphere. :D

A neat guy at NeoGAF has blown up the screenshots:

Pretty cool looking so far I have to say!

Ah, looks like there's going to be a bit more jumping this time around. Looks nice and I see no circular stage map.

Bleh, for the Wii? I was really hoping to see Vanillawares next project would offer some high definition sprites considering how beautiful Odin Sphere was.

I don't know if Vanillaware could do that since they're like ten people or something. But yeah, it would be nice.

Wow, this is actually making me consider buying a Wii at some point. The setting looks very appealing to me and as Metal Sphere pointed out, there are no circular maps, which also makes me happy. Perhaps it will be a more fleshed out and less linear type of Odin Sphere, closer to what I was originally expected.

Very cool...

Really. You're telling me you'd still complain if it was on the PS2.

You'll have to forgive my skepticism, Cetra.

For a Vanillaware game, yeah I would. Let's be honest, the major aspect of Vanillaware games are in the graphics. It's not like Odin Sphere offers a spectacular level of gameplay rather it's major praise comes from how beautiful it was. This aspect could be brought out a lot better on the Xbox 360 or PS3 with 1080p sprites and backgrounds rather than 480p versions. That's all I really meant.

The screens make it look like it won't even be natively widescreen. :'(

A definite reason to buy a Wii at some point. Hopefully the control mechanics will be nifty and all of that. Want to see how the game will go with a remote and all of that.

Well, I wouldn't mind if they thought of something with the Wiimote+Nunchuck or they simply went with something a little tamer or traditional. It'd be pretty hard to fuck up a hack and slash, since what you do is hack... and slash (and some other things).

I don't know why they wouldn't make it 16:9 considering it's what the Wii accepts as well.

It's what Odin Sphere desperately needed.

Well, do most wii games sport true widescreen or is it all/mostly anamorphic? I don't have a wii so I really wouldn't know.

The screenshots for this game don't look like they are native. Infact many don't even look widescreen at all (though a couple look like they might be because they seem slightly wider). I mean, as long as it supports widescreen at all it'll look okay on my TV -- but games like these would benefit so much from the extra space that I really wish this would have wound up on the 360 or the PS3 just so I was sure it would sport true widescreen. Still looks good, though.

I'm just being nitpicky I guess.

Bioshock on Xbox 360 doesn't support true wide screen.... I believe it's up to the developers :P

No. That's called them being retarded and believe me, plenty of people are bitching and moaning about it online. Definitely not something that has or will happen often. Doesn't help that wide screen users actually see LESS in that than full screen users, but that's not really applicable to this topic. Point is, I doubt many devs will opt to take such a stupid and shitty stance on wide screen after the way 2K was treated over it.

I'll just say that I agree with Elixir, and that Odin Sphere would have been much better with more 'real estate' on the screen. When a game is completely side scrolling, the more space on the sides, the better. So that applies for this game too.

That's only true if it isn't true widescreen like many PS2 games' widescreen mode, which lop off a good bit of the picture.

That was my point. It was confirmed that Bioshock cropped off the top and bottom in widescreen; You can't see your wrists when you play in it. It's why people are so irritated with it, is not only is it not true wide screen, it isn't even just anamorphic -- it's cropped in addition. I think they said they were working on a patch before but I haven't been keeping up with any info about it since I beat the game.

This is $50 that will immediately go into Atlus' back pocket if this game is ever translated.

YouTube Video

Actually, I don't recommend watching the above. After seeing it in full glory on gametrailers, checking this out is an absolute must:

Gametrailers.com - Oboro Muramasa - TGS 07 Trailer