Not everyone will enjoy this game, but patient players are most likely get the best out of it.
- Great amount of techniques, including a copying enemy ones
- Pleasant music
- Has got some style
- Starts with a tutorial
Negative
- Pace and combat are a bit slow
- Character models don't look good
- Voice acting is poor
Musashi is more style than substance, but the style found here is good enough to sustain throughout the whole game. Those looking for a fast paced, exciting game will be way disappointing considering how much the pace is tedious here, and the combat is shallow and slow.
After a cutscene in the beginning where a princess uses here powers underneath a crystal to make a summon, and the person summoned was Musashi. Hoping he would save her after taken away by the enemy. Anyways after a week from that event the game starts with a tutorial which basically shows all moves.
Combat is fun but certainly not the best considering the speed. Use the square button to perform a normal attack, X to jump and the usual analog sticks to move and move the camera. Several special attacks can be performed such as the Maelstrom, by holding the L2 and pressing the triangle after. The level of challenge is generally easy, although the enemy reappear after you leave the area.
Almost all the areas in the game are tight, so you won't have much space to move freely. You have to kill most of the enemies and you get something out of them, either HP or MP, or money. More than one enemy can be trouble, since normal attacks only attack one. The duplicating skill is one of the best in the game. By pressing and holding the R1, Musashi can target an enemy and when it's full you can get hit and quickly pressing the square button you can copy his skill, works something like that. There are times where you have to save people by carrying them. When in this situation you can't use normal attacks. You can either drop the person, or launch him/her in the air and attack. It's a good system of how you should take care of people. When you level up, you can access the menu, and choose whether to upgrade your offense, defense and others.
From the graphical front, Musashi has that anime style which gives the game an identity. Though the character models aren't great at all, seeing the outlines will make you remember that there are much, much better character models all over the platform. The environments look good at least. For some odd reason, no character moves their mouth when talking. Levels are made of tight areas normally.
Music is pleasant, but the voice acting is poor. Seeing how the character talk is at times irritating. The cutscenes aren't always supported by voice acting, which by the way can't be skipped and some of them are long. About saving, at first you have to crawl through the first stage. And then save in Antheum.
Musashi: Samurai Legend doesn't offer fast-paced action as people would have wanted it. Instead it's hold back with tedious combat and pace, but it unique style add something here. It's difficult to recommend for most people, but those patient enough will still be able to find a fun, entertaining game, as long as you don't expect to much from it.
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Graphics = 7.0
Has a unique anime and manga feel. The human character models are fairly good, just by watching their outline. The outline is simply to tick. The environments are colorful and pretty but a bit repeated.
Sound = 6.5
Pleasant music almost everywhere accompanied by some mediocre voice acting. Sound effects consist of enemy cries and sword slashing.
Presentation = 6.7
Decent cutscenes which vary in length. Pace can be tedious at times and finding the first checkpoint in the game takes a bit too long. The main menu is fine, and pause menu is equally good. The camera can be moved freely.
Gameplay = 6.0
For some reason moves at a slow pace and the areas are almost all tight. There are some cool moves but not enough to overshadow the tedious problems.
Story = 6.6
The characters are at least interesting, but the poor voice acting lowers the impact of the story, some rather uneven cutscenes continues to diminish the value. The game isn't very long.
OVERALL = 6.6 / 10
Not everyone will enjoy Musashi, but it does have some style. With some much better action RPGs on the PS2, it doesn't seem worth it, but it's not a common RPG, it does involve saving a princess but Musashi has got style which is rare to find in a role-playing game.