If you have an impression like, ”A Japanese-style action RPG seems to have a good atmosphere, but looks difficult...”, ”Oboro Muramasa Kaikitan” is a title you should definitely touch. This work is a piece that combines the gorgeous picture scroll Japanese-style action RPG ”Oboro Muramasa” and the DLC ”Genroku Kaikitan” developed as its side story into one, and further polished it. The scenery of Japan drawn in high definition is not just beautiful. Moving through quiet mountain paths and mysterious lands, there is a unique air that naturally makes you want to step forward, thinking, ”What is waiting ahead?” Materials such as monsters, cursed swords, fate, love, and revenge blend in there, creating a world that makes you feel somewhere uneasy behind the splendor.

”Isn't there only one protagonist?”—Yes, what is depicted in this work is the story of six people. The stage is Genroku era Japan where strange monsters prevail. Starting with Kisuke and Momohime, characters with different circumstances and goals appear, including Okoi, Gonbe, Arashimaru, and Rajaki. While there is someone fascinated by the cursed sword Muramasa, there is also someone throwing themselves into avenging their master. Furthermore, there is even someone driven by feelings of love, and even if called a ”story of strange occurrences” in a word, its flavor is truly varied. Moreover, because each story is independent, there is no need to worry about ”Who should I start from?” You can just jump in from the protagonist you are interested in. This freedom leads to the fun of savoring the six stories in your own order.

Regarding combat, the more you are a person thinking ”Is it okay even if I am not good at action?”, the more you should pay attention. Just continuing normal attacks connects continuous attacks smoothly, and if you add dashes and jumps there, you can lightly run around from the ground to the air, and from the air to the back of the enemy line. What is even more interesting is being able to parry an enemy's blow with the same button as attacking. Depending on the timing, you can even bounce back long-range attacks, so it does not become defense-only, and there is a swordplay-like pleasantness of ”protecting while attacking”. Although the controls themselves are easy to understand, as you get used to it, the way you fight becomes increasingly brilliant. Having many moments that make you think, ”Wasn't that movement just now a bit cool?”, is likely a charm unique to this work.

And what makes combat even hotter is the ”Secret Technique”. Roles are diverse such as an intense blow, a technique involving a wide area, and an attack targeting a distant opponent, and you can activate them with one button. You might think, ”Should I just fire strong techniques repeatedly?”, but the real fun is the combination with normal attacks. By inserting a secret technique in the middle of continuous attacks and connecting further attacks, you can create a surging attack that gives the enemy no opening to counterattack. In the case of Kisuke and Momohime, by equipping swords and continuing to fight, it is possible to master the secret technique dwelling in that sword. Learned techniques can be registered up to three each for ground use and air use, and can be used properly in combination with directional keys. Moreover, if used extensively, proficiency rises and performance may improve, so even the fun of raising your favorite technique is prepared.

Growth elements also have individualities for each protagonist. Kisuke and Momohime create swords dwelling new secret techniques through ”Forging” by the power of swordsmith Muramasa. On the other hand, Okoi, Gonbe, Arashimaru, and Rajaki can acquire skills through ”Training”, or make ”Talismans” that give special effects to appearance or weapons. Therefore, the interesting point is being able to grow while thinking, ”What shall I learn next?” or ”If I incorporate this secret technique, it might be easy to fight”, rather than simply raising numerical values. Because ”Souls” obtained from enemies are necessary for strengthening, collecting them diligently along the way is also important. The more you fight, the more choices increase, and those choices lead to new tactics. This cycle is truly pleasant, making you accidentally aim for the next strengthening.

The charm of ”Oboro Muramasa Kaikitan” lies in the fact that a beautiful Japanese world, a story depicting the life of each of the six people, and swordplay that is intuitive yet becomes deeper the more you pursue it, are skillfully tied together as one work. ”I want to enjoy the scenery”, ”I like stories where monsters and cursed swords appear”, ”I want to land exhilarating continuous attacks”, ”I want to think of my own technique composition”—it is a work that accepts such desires altogether. For people visiting this world for the first time, it can be enjoyed as a vivid Japanese picture scroll, and for people who know the original work, as a polished new experience. Now, whose story among the six will you start from? Already from there, your own strange tale has begun.