I never planned to rave about a game that boils down to pushing colored blocks and dodging bullets. Yet Murasaki, the 2016 puzzler-shmup mashup by Katatema (yes, the same team behind Irisu Syndrome), quietly nailed a surprising feat. It fuses frantic dodging with head-scratching combos, all under a mournful soundtrack by Watson. If you thought shooters had no room for puzzle finesse, this’ll make you eat your words—and probably some enemy fire. Here’s my take.
Overall Impressions
Murasaki stands out by refusing to spam you with weapon upgrades or flashy special attacks. You control one bullet at a time. You push, ricochet, and chain-explode colored blocks to clear levels. That pared-back design keeps you laser-focused. Compared to bullet-hell stalwarts like Ikaruga or Touhou, this feels less overtly grandiose and more intimate. It lacks bomb-hail theatrics, but it rewards clever planning. Where it stumbles is in its narrative delivery. Its cryptic clues and sparse dialog hint at a deeper story, but they rarely coalesce into emotional investment. In short, you’ll love the gameplay. You might shrug at the plot.
Gameplay Mechanics
You move with the arrow keys and fire or charge with Z and X. Firing both removes weak bullets and nudges blocks. Matching at least two identically colored blocks triggers an explosion. Larger chains mean bigger blasts and more damage. This core loop feels novel and weighty. One moment I carefully lined up a red block chain to obliterate a boss’s bullet curtain. The next moment, I flatlined because I treated it like a plain shmup. As players noted, if you assault it like a classic shooter, the relentless projectiles will consume you. You must play smart. You must plan combos on the fly while weaving through patterns. And yes, it gets punishing. Users laud the extra Stage 6 and endless mode for their brutal elegance. I can confirm both demand the patience of a puzzle savant and the reflexes of a veteran pilot.
Story and Characters
Murasaki’s narrative arrives in smeared brushstrokes rather than full canvas. You pilot either Kairi (long-range, slow-fire) or Satsuki (short-range, faster shots). Their sparse interactions occur only during duels, which change dialog if you interrupt foes mid-speech. It’s a playful touch, but it never quite transcends novelty. Most world-building lurks in level layouts and cryptic in-game text. If you crave a tightly woven saga, you’ll find little here. If you appreciate mood-driven minimalism that trusts you to fill the gaps, you’ll find intrigue.
Visuals and Graphics
Katatema opted for crisp pixel art and stark color contrasts. Blocks glow in saturated hues that pop against dark backdrops. Enemy sprites stay small, keeping the screen uncluttered. Explosions bloom in wide-angle flashes that feel substantial despite the retro polish. Occasionally I wished for a bit more environmental variety. Yet the consistent style enforces focus on mechanic and mood. It never resorts to gratuitous flair, and that restraint suits the game’s cerebral bent.
Sound and Music
Watson’s soundtrack shines. Chill stage music soothes as you labyrinth through puzzle-combat. Boss themes ratchet up tension just when you’d otherwise relax. I especially appreciated the track sync in the true Route of Stage 5; it feels like the music and on-screen chaos are in lockstep. Sound effects—bullet zips, block clinks, explosive booms—land with satisfying weight. No voice acting graces the game, but you won’t miss it. The audio design never overshadows gameplay; it underscores every critical moment.
Difficulty and Replayability
Murasaki never handholds. The normal mode already challenges seasoned players. Hard mode transforms the first five stages into mini-extra Stages. Then there’s Stage 6, which feels more like a final exam than bonus content. Endless mode keeps blocks spawning until you collapse. Leaderboards? Absent. Yet every run invites optimization—faster clears, bigger combos, tighter survival. Players praising the “joy of smart play” aren’t joking. Each failed attempt teaches a micro-lesson. And when you finally pull off a 10-block chain, you’ll grin like it’s your first win.
Trivia and Behind-the-Scenes
Murasaki began life as a free Japanese release. Its Steam arrival in May 2016 introduced it to a wider audience under PLAYISM’s banner. Developer Tetsu still sprinkles secrets throughout stages—hidden paths and unlockable duels reward the curious. If you explore every nook, you’ll unearth small narrative vignettes and character art.
Final Verdict: 4 out of 5 Stars
Murasaki mixes mind-bending puzzles and bullet-hell thrills into a neat, austere package. It shines brightest when you embrace strategy over spray-and-pray. It falters only in its elusive storytelling and occasional visual sameness. If you want a fresh take on the shmup genre, one that forces your brain and thumbs to collaborate, this is a rare find. Just don’t treat it like a typical shooter—unless you secretly enjoy dying with style.
This innovative puzzle–shmup fusion game captivates players with crisp pixel art, an intuitive UI, and a memorable soundtrack backed by tight audio design, while offering high replay value through extra and hard modes plus an endless stage; secrets and duels further reward exploration. However, its sparse, cryptic narrative can leave some players wanting more story context, and limited environmental variety may make levels feel repetitive. Additionally, the absence of leaderboards means competitive spirits won’t find official rankings to chase. Despite these drawbacks, the compelling mechanics and polished presentation ensure a thrilling experience for fans of action-packed puzzle shooters.
