Though it's been quite awhile since I actually played this game, I still remember it quite vividly. One of the last RPGs Square made that was ONLY 1 disc in length, I enjoyed it wholeheartedly and with much more satisfaction than most other longer and more in-depth RPGs (read: FFVIII). The fantasy story of Musashi being brought into the kingdom of Allucaneet and utilizing his legendary powers to free everyone, though not original in itself, does become most entertaining and humorous once you really get into the game. It's a standard fare plot, but because of the varied and colorful characters introduced in it, it distinguishes itself from the rest of the crowd.

This game is not for those seeking complex, overly challenging mazes, puzzles or bosses. One of Musashi's greater redeeming qualities is in its simplicity in both introduction and execution. It's easy enough for young'ins to pick it up and not be frustrated with countless options, but hard enough for the seasoned veteran to master within a few hours (the mechanics of the game engine, not the game itself). And because it is an action-rpg, hit detection is very crucial, especially in boss fights. Thankfully, this game's hit detection is top notch. Many a game have succumbed to the 'average' rating simply because this area faltered greatly. I'm glad Square is making sequels to this game, and I do hope they retain these shining qualities unto its brethren of the series.

Let's do this traditional style…

First, graphics - 85%

No hardware pushing in this game at all. The backgrounds and enemies have a fair amount of detail to them, and there is almost no clipping (if any) and no pop-up polygons at all. Zoomed-in images do have rough edges, but as said already, this isn't a game played for its graphics. Where the graphics really shine, though, is in the unique character design for the townspeople, enemies, and main bosses you fight. They each have their own unique appeal and color, and that adds a lot to a game. I don't know if it's me, but the "no nose" look of the characters seems to be picking up popularity with their games, and I personally love it. As in FF Tactics, the facial structure of each character is more or less flat within the nasal region, creating a very unique, and original, look for characters. Another noteworthy feature is how the real-time sequence changes the game's surroundings depending upon the time of day or night (not inside dugeons, caves, etc.). A very smooth transition of lights to darks gives it a natural feeling to the shifting of time; it's a small but outstanding bonus. The above score is for the general graphic standards for when it was released, since if it were placed up against today's standards would receive about 10-15 points less.

Then, control - 95%

Now this was a sigh of relief. Near flawless controls make your life a lot easier navigating through this 2 1/2D world. From the simple jumps to running to stopping, it is just sensitive enough without making you break a sweat in a stressful situation. The combo attacks with your sword are simple as well, utilizing only the pushes of two buttons and occasional directions. It saves you parsing through complex charts of attacks. And it's the perfect fighting style for an action RPG. The game flows between fighting in a straight out 2D fashion, and the angled 2.5D. Either mode had the same feel to your movements with the controller. As said above, hit detection was a blessing in this game, and that adds much to overall control. You KNOW when you hit something right on the money. The only issue I had regarding control was fighting the last boss. When he swipes his arm down to grab you, it seemed more like a crapshoot to avoid it. Maybe it's just me, but that in no way detracted from the overall feel of the game. Responsive, tight controls really do a game justice. The only reason the control isn't a perfect score is, well, nothing's perfect, as everyone has their own take on control issues.

Onto sound/music - 95%

This is where Squaresoft shines, and this game is no exception. An excellent soundtrack comprised of varied themes and tunes depending on your character's situation or location. Plus, the music fits in very well with the theme it tries to represent. From the soft, pleasant hum of the village track, to the haunting Vambee's, to Topo's bubbly, pop song will really give your face a smile as audio and video seamlessly blend. The voice acting even holds its own, which is rare in most games these days. Each voice contains its own personality and flavor. Musashi's young and brash voice, the toy collector's grumpy-old-man style, Ed's stuttering and Ben's dumb-as-a-doornail voices are downright funny to listen to; it's done with taste. This isn't "Metal Gear Solid" voice acting, but then again, it's not total cheese. I seriously recommend buying the soundtrack just for the music. It's that enjoyable.

Now we go to storyline - 75%

It's your basic hero-saves-kingdom-from-evil type of plot, so there's very little to say. But searching for the Binchot fields and Minka's adds more to the game than the actual story, though more of it unfolds depending on whom you rescue, as certain upgrades can be made to your armor and weapons. One of the more interesting notes of the story is how each of the characters you rescue affect other characters in the game, and where they fit into the scheme of things overall. It makes it more worth saving everyone, since each seems to be a piece of the whole puzzle; though no one is really essential in the advancement of the game, it's worth doing regardless.

Gameplay gets - 100%

This game is so hot-damn fun to play. That's a given. You can bowl your enemies down. You Bust-A-Groove (tm) with Topo on her playstation-esque dance floor. You guide a raft down a turbulent river trying to snag money in the process. You run and slash like there's no tomorrow. And having real-time day and night sequences (which each have their own benefits and disadvantages on where you can go) really keeps scenarios fresh, as certain elements are triggered by what time of day it is. Did I mention you can buy action figures of most of the characters in the game? Hell's yeah! It has absolutely no importance to the actual game, but if you're a collector fanatic, this bonus only fuels that obsession. Simple, addictive gameplay fused with near flawless controls. Winner in my book.

Overall - 90%

I took little interest in this game with the demo disc, but once I actually borrowed it from a friend, I was instantly hooked. This is not a long game (20 - 25 hrs. if you really push it) but is worth every second. Not overly difficult, but challenging enough searching for all the items in the game. The enemies really shine with their own distinct personas and reasons for being. You won't be bored for a second. Oh, and if you have the money, buy the soundtrack. Beautiful pieces of music. And I'll say it again, simplicity rules! With a learning curve of about an hour or two to get a good feel for how the game plays, you'll be thanking Buddha that it's so easy to pick up and learn. Too bad most games aren't this overall enjoyable.

--by the Taunt Master