Musashi Samurai Legend

Attitude and humor mix to form a potent combination in the best action-RPG to hit the PS2 so far this year.

Five years ago, a sleeper hit made its way to the original PlayStation. Brave Fencer Musashi was a quirky, action-RPG that played on the age-old concept of an out-of-place hero doing his best to save the day. Musashi Samurai Legend takes the formula and updates it beautifully for the PS2.

Big-Haired Action Hero
Although it is heavy on the action, Musashi doesn't skimp on the story. The game is packed with numerous characters and plenty of little plot twists to keep things moving along. You always have the freedom to go adventure a bit, but never are you forced to spend mundane time leveling up.

Combat is well balanced, with the judicious use of magic serving as a counterpoint to the melee-heavy fighting that naturally flows forth when your hero is dual-wielding two swords. Movement is quick and easy and a well timed parry can fend off most attackers. One caveat, though: you cancel moves. If you start an attack and then decide to move, you have to wait for the attack animation to finish--leaving you wide open to counterattack.

Why is it Always the Camera?
The biggest issue with Legend is the camera system. Completely manual, the camera works well when adventuring outside, but fails to perform when you enter an arena-based boss battle. Instead of centering on Musashi's opponent, the camera often ends up facing away, leaving the boss in a blind spot. Experienced gamers will handle it well, but it is sure to be a point of frustration for novices.

Creature selection is diverse, with a number of anime-inspired critters looking like they just stepped out of a Macross video and into your game. Musashi uses an advanced form of cell shading, dubbed "manga shading" that gives the game a very stylized look. Heavy on the speed lines and character definition, it truly does bear the look of an anime film.

It's been a long time coming, but Musashi Samurai Legend offers an enticing blend of action and RPG adventure. The game mixes the best elements of both genres resulting in a title that is just a hair away from greatness. Musashi may not be Zelda's equal, but it sure is close.

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