Musashi: Samurai Legend
Encyclopedia
Musashi: Samurai Legend, known in Japan as , is a third-person action game
developed and published by Square Enix
in 2005 for Sony
's PlayStation 2
. Much like its predecessor, Brave Fencer Musashi
, the game involves real-time combat in a 3D environment, and character designs by Tetsuya Nomura
.
The game was released in North America, Japan and Europe. Strangely, while the game is not referenced on the Australian PlayStation site nor on the OFLC site, the game was indeed released in Australia, printed with an OFLC "Parental Guidance" (PG) rating.
Unfortunately for Musashi, President Gandrake kidnaps the Princess again to further the plots of his evil corporation
to excavate the world's supply of nebulite and use the Mystics
power to power his nebulium engine. To stop Gandrake, and ensure that he can return to his world, Musashi goes in search of the five Maidens that protect the five magic sword
s that have been lost in order to restore power to a mythical creature known as the Anthedon, which houses the city of Antheum. Along the way, Musashi will have to smash his way through Gandrake Enterprises's endless swarms of killer robots and directors, as well as native monstrosities, but also an ancient evil waiting to plunge the world in eternal darkness.
and Junya Nakano
, with a few contributions from Wavelink Zeal.
The Surf Coasters
, a Japanese surf band, provided the main theme tune, "Samurai Struck". (They also released an album by this same title, which featured a full version of the tune.)
, a famous Japan
ese swordsman, though the game's plot is unrelated to Miyamoto's life.
Another example is that in Musashi: Samurai Legend the secondary weapon of choice is called "The Great Oar," which is based upon the oar that Miyamoto Musashi used in one of his more famous battles, against Sasaki Kojiro
.
Gandrake's revealed name was based on Sasaki Kojirō
's samurai name, Ganryu, and the attack he used to incapacitate Musashi is called the "Swallow's Tail," a reference to Sasaki Kojiro's most famous technique, the "Swallow's tail strike." Also, the five swords Musashi must collect over the course of the game are possibly a reference to The Book of Five Rings
, the Five Rings being Ground, Water, Fire, Wind and Void, based on the classical elements
of Japanese philosophy. This is supported by the fact that the five maidens are rescued in the same order as the elements are presented in the Book.
There is also the reference behind the AK47 a real life weapon while Malbec(one of the games final bosses) wields a cannon called the AK4D7.
Mycella, Burrini, Fontina, Mirabo, Maribo, Istara and Clochette, are all in fact different kinds of cheese. There is even a dog named Asiago, which is a sharp Italian cheese and a cat named Tomme, a common type of cheese produced in the French alps.
The villains on the other hand, have wine-related names. Rothschild is more than likely named after Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Late famous Bordeaux winemaker and owner of the Château Mouton Rothschild), Glogg is a Scandinavian mulled wine
, Riesling gets his name from the German/Alsatian white grape varietal while Shiraz and Malbec are red grape varietals.
There is a tribute/in game joke at the end of the game when Gandrake is impatiently waiting for Musashi just as he did in real life at the beginning and there is also a hint that the duel had already taken place in Musashi's homeworld when Gandrake says "I never thought we would repeat those words again"
The game has received mixed reviews from critics, currently holding a score of 64 out of 100 on Metacritic
and a 65% on Game Rankings
.
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
developed and published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
in 2005 for Sony
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
's PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. Much like its predecessor, Brave Fencer Musashi
Brave Fencer Musashi
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 1998 for the Sony PlayStation. The game involves real-time combat in a 3D environment, and features voice overs for most dialogue. Brave Fencer Musashi was scored by Tsuyoshi Sekito, a former Konami employee...
, the game involves real-time combat in a 3D environment, and character designs by Tetsuya Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
.
The game was released in North America, Japan and Europe. Strangely, while the game is not referenced on the Australian PlayStation site nor on the OFLC site, the game was indeed released in Australia, printed with an OFLC "Parental Guidance" (PG) rating.
Story
In the city of Antheum, carried by a magical beast called Anthedon (a large skybound whale), young Princess Mycella prayed in the mystic Chamber of Rites to summon a hero who will save her world from the growing threat posed by Gandrake Enterprises. However, Rothschild interrupts the ritual, which causes the summoned hero – Musashi – to land just a bit off course. He's found by old martial artist Master Mew, who immediately takes him under his wing. Once Musashi's ready, Master Mew sends him into the heart of evil Gandrake Enterprises to rescue the captured Princess and thereby save the world.Unfortunately for Musashi, President Gandrake kidnaps the Princess again to further the plots of his evil corporation
Evil corporation
An evil corporation is a staple of science fiction , usually a big multinational company which values profits over ethics....
to excavate the world's supply of nebulite and use the Mystics
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
power to power his nebulium engine. To stop Gandrake, and ensure that he can return to his world, Musashi goes in search of the five Maidens that protect the five magic sword
Magic sword
The term magic sword refers to any kind of mythological or fictional sword imbued with magical power to increase its strength or grant it other supernatural qualities. The archetype originated in myth and legend, and occurs regularly in fantasy fiction....
s that have been lost in order to restore power to a mythical creature known as the Anthedon, which houses the city of Antheum. Along the way, Musashi will have to smash his way through Gandrake Enterprises's endless swarms of killer robots and directors, as well as native monstrosities, but also an ancient evil waiting to plunge the world in eternal darkness.
Characters
- Musashi: A young samuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
summoned by Mycella to save Antheum from Gandrake Enterprises. - Princess Mycella: Princess of the magical realm of Antheum; she's the one who summons Musashi at the beginning of the game.
- Five Maidens: The girls who help Musashi, by powering his sword with their abilities.
- Burrini: A kind-hearted girl who worked in Tunnbrod's Bakery. Possesses the power of EarthEarth (classical element)Earth, home and origin of humanity, has often been worshipped in its own right with its own unique spiritual tradition.-European tradition:Earth is one of the four classical elements in ancient Greek philosophy and science. It was commonly associated with qualities of heaviness, matter and the...
. In Japanese version, her name is Tamie. - Fontina: The wise maiden of all Mystics and a librarian in the archives. She's the only person who objects to Mycella's idea to summon Musashi and believes the maidens can handle the swords and rescue Mycella, but Musashi proves her wrong. Possesses the power of WaterWater (classical element)Water is one of the elements in ancient Greek philosophy, in the Asian Indian system Panchamahabhuta, and in the Chinese cosmological and physiological system Wu Xing...
. In Japanese version, her name is Licotta. - Mirabo and Maribo: Twin sisters who possess the power of FireFire (classical element)Fire has been an important part of all cultures and religions from pre-history to modern day and was vital to the development of civilization. It has been regarded in many different contexts throughout history, but especially as a metaphysical constant of the world.-Greek and Roman tradition:Fire...
. Mirabo's personality is spunky and energetic (while she had a schoolgirl crush on Musashi), while Maribo's personality is calm and clever. Their power cannot be used unless the twins are synchronizing together. - Istara: The guardian of Picodon Jungle and a swordswoman who possesses the power of Wind. She's an optional opponent in the game that Musashi can challenge her in the Arena. In Japanese version, her name is Maki.
- Clochette: The only maiden who left Antheum and betrayed the Mystics as she sided with Gandrake and became his assistance. She kidnapped Mycella the second time, ordered by Gandrake, and later she betrayed by Gandrake when he revealed she's the maiden. She later sided with the Mystics again to atone her mistakes. Possesses the power of VoidAether (classical element)According to ancient and medieval science aether , also spelled æther or ether, is the material that fills the region of the universe above the terrestrial sphere.-Mythological origins:...
.
- Burrini: A kind-hearted girl who worked in Tunnbrod's Bakery. Possesses the power of Earth
- Master Mew: Old cat-like martial arts master. He discovers Musashi after the summoning deposits him in the new world, unconscious. Teaches Musashi the "Way of the Stray Cat". In Japanese version, his name is Mao.
- Gandrake: The evil president of Gandrake Enterprises. He is actually a former Samurai from Musashi's world, known there as Ganryu. by the end of the game, he was absorbed into Amestris.
- Rothschild, Director of Administration: Leader of the Gandrake Gonin (Gandrake's Five Directors in English), his success comes from his cold, cunning tactics. While being well trusted, Rothschild mentions near the end of the game that he would rather take over Gandrake's company and even asks Musashi for assistance, but Musashi declines Rothschild's offer. Rothschild wields a green, wind-elemental rod with a golden knob at the end of the hilt that conceals a rapier-type sword and can conjure up tornadoes and can unleash a windy blast at will.
- Malbec, Director of Research and Development: An intelligent 10-year old boy and youngest of the Gandrake Gonin (Gandrake's Five Directors in English). Creates the robot bosses that Musashi has to deal with in his encounters with Gandrake. Malbec wields a mechanical backpack-like device with two extending arms, which holds his main weapon, a cannon-like firearm called "AK4D7". During the credits roll, Malbec is seen in the Academy, as he became a new student to Mirabo and Maribo. In Japanese version, his name is Albert.
- Shiraz, Director of Intelligence: A disturbing cyborg member of the Gandrake Gonin (Gandrake's Five Directors in English). His position is suited to his frugal use of words. He notes that he would eliminate any and all that oppose Gandrake, even if they are one of his co-workers. He seems to be somewhat of a cannibal, when he mentioned that he would actually "devour" Musashi and that the proteinProteinProteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
would be good for his tail and his nails, which are mechanical. Shiraz is a physical fighter, using hand-to-hand combat. - Riesling, Director of Security: Not the brightest of the Gandrake Gonin (Gandrake's Five Directors in English), and quick to anger. What he lacks in brains, he makes up in brawn. He frequently partners up with Glogg, although he prefers not to. Riesling is often the butt of many jokes made by the other members of Gandrake's group. Riesling wields an axe that has two chainsaw-like edges. In Japanese version, his name is Dio.
- Glogg, Director of Negotiations: His brute strength is unmatched among the Gandrake Gonin (Gandrake's Five Directors), using it in aggressive negotiations to secure his company's deals. Glogg partners up with Riesling, and he shows some dislike towards his partner, saying that he would gladly "wipe the smirk" from Riesling's face, but also mentions that they are an acceptable match in combat. Glogg wields an anchor for his weapon and swings it around the battle area with ease. In Japanese version, his name is Ducasse.
- The Goddess of Destruction: She is a demon (better known as Amestris) who was sealed within the archnebulus by the ancient hero using the Anthedon's power. Unbeknownst to everyone in modern times. Musashi and the five maidens unintentionally weakened the seal that bound her when they restored a swords' power and the anthedon's power. Amestris during Musashi's fight with Rothschild almost taken over Princess Mycella's body. At the end of the game, She broke free from the Archnebulus and absorbed/killed Gandrake (because she no longer had any use of him). During the fight Amestris shot a laser beam at Mycella killing her instantly. That enraged Musashi to face Amestris. She was soundly defeated after taking two other forms and destroyed for good.
Cast (English)
- Musashi: Lenne HardtLenne HardtLenne Hardt is a voice actress and ring announcer for Japanese mixed martial arts organizations including DREAM and the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships.-Biography:...
- Mycella: Jasmine Allen
- Gandrake: Douglas Kirk
- Fontina: Michele Stayner
- Mirabo & Maribo: Bianca Allen
- Istara: Gerri Sorrels
- Clochette: Rumiko Varnes
- Rothschild: Michael Rhys
- Glogg: Murray Johnson
- Riesling: Michael Naishtut
- Malbec: Yuko Yunokawa
- Shiraz: Jack Merluzzi
- Master Mew: Barry GjerdeBarry GjerdeBarry Gjerde was born Oddbjørn Egil Gjerde on August 13, 1951 in Vestnes, Norway. He has worked many years in Japan as a translator, mostly narrating various corporate projects and providing voice acting for video games. He is known to for his portrayal of the character Barry Burton in the original...
- Amestris: Kether DonahueKether DonahueKether Donahue is an American actress and voice actress who was born and raised in New York City. She is best known for the voice of the temperamental divaesque Lily on the Nicktoons Network "anime" series Kappa Mikey, Angela Rains on Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, and Zoe and Chomp on Dinosaur King...
Cast (Japanese)
- Musashi: Yuki KaidaYuki Kaidais a voice actress and radio personality from Tokyo, Japan. Although she has an extensive vocal range, voicing a large variety of characters throughout her career, she is commonly typecasted as young males, achieving mainstream success as her roles in Hunter × Hunter as Kurapika, The Prince of...
- Mycella: Miwa Kouzuki
- Gandrake: Takehito KoyasuTakehito Koyasuis a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro...
- Tamie: Nanri Yuuka
- Licotta: Miyu MatsukiMiyu Matsukiis a Japanese voice actress. Her hometown is Hiroshima Japan.-Anime cast in:*Ayakashi as Hime Yakushiji*ARIA The NATURAL as Ayano *Binchō-tan as Pukashuu*Claymore as Flora*D.C. ~Da Capo~ as Yoriko Sagisawa*D.C.S.S...
- Mirabo & Maribo: Misato FukuenMisato Fukuenis a voice actress born on January 10, 1982. She is affiliated with Sigma Seven.-Outline, career, and person:* Formed a vocal group called TAMAGO in 2004 with fellow seiyū Mai Kadowaki....
- Maki: Yuki MatsuokaYuki Matsuokais a voice actress from the Hirano-ku ward of Osaka. She graduated from Otemae Women's University in Nishinomiya. She is affiliated with Production Baobab.- 2001 :*Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi *Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san...
- Mao: Takeshi AonoTakeshi Aonois a Japanese voice actor and actor from Asahikawa, Hokkaidō affiliated with Aoni Production. He graduated from Hokkaidō Asahikawa Higashi High School....
- Clochette: Ai OrikasaAi Orikasais a popular Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She works for Production Baobab. Orikasa is also the Japanese dub voice for Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Her debut work was Shoukoushi Cedie in 1988...
- Rothschild: Ryotaro OkiayuRyotaro Okiayuis a Japanese voice actor, who was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, and raised in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture. He has been active since 1989, and is currently affiliated with Aoni Production....
- Ducasse: Kenta MiyakeKenta Miyakeis a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with 81 Produce.He is known for his unusually low voice .After the death of Hirotaka Suzuoki in 2006, Kenta took over the role of Giovanni during Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. He has since expanded this role into the new series, Pokemon Best Wishes...
- Dio: Hiroki TakahashiHiroki Takahashiis a Japanese voice actor best known for the role of Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis, Kenji Harima in School Rumble and Katsuya Jonouchi in Yu-Gi-Oh. He works at Big Shot/Interchannel. He also has voice acted in some yaoi Drama CD's such as Love Neco, and Koi cha no Osahou...
- Albert: Yumiko KobayashiYumiko Kobayashiis a Japanese voice actress. She is currently a freelance voice actor but until August 2007 was affiliated with Arts Vision.She and fellow Excel Saga voice actress Mikako Takahashi are known as the duo "The Excel Girls"...
- Shiiraz: Ryuusei Nakao
- Amestris: Ikue OtaniIkue Otaniis a Japanese actress and voice actress from Tokyo, most famous as the voice of Pikachu in the Pokémon anime series and products and the voice of Tony Tony Chopper in the manga and anime series One Piece. She is currently attached to Mausu Promotion...
Music
The score for Musashi: Samurai Legend was primarily a joint venture between Masashi HamauzuMasashi Hamauzu
is a Japanese video game composer who was employed at Square Enix from 1996 to 2010. He is best known for his work on the Final Fantasy and SaGa series. Born into a musical family in Germany, Hamauzu was raised in Japan...
and Junya Nakano
Junya Nakano
is a Japanese video game composer who was employed at Square Enix from 1995 to 2009. He is best known for scoring Threads of Fate and co-composing Final Fantasy X. He has also worked as an arranger for Dawn of Mana and the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy IV...
, with a few contributions from Wavelink Zeal.
The Surf Coasters
Surf Coasters
The Surf Coasters are a Japanese surf band, started by Shigeo Naka in 1994.-History:The band became known with their stint on the talent show television program, Ebisu-Onsen, a show very similar in concept to the American program, Star Search), on which the winning band would receive a recording...
, a Japanese surf band, provided the main theme tune, "Samurai Struck". (They also released an album by this same title, which featured a full version of the tune.)
Cultural references
Several elements of Brave Fencer: Musashi and Musashi: Samurai Legend are superficially derived from the legend of Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
, a famous Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese swordsman, though the game's plot is unrelated to Miyamoto's life.
Another example is that in Musashi: Samurai Legend the secondary weapon of choice is called "The Great Oar," which is based upon the oar that Miyamoto Musashi used in one of his more famous battles, against Sasaki Kojiro
Sasaki Kojiro
was a prominent Japanese swordsman widely considered as a Kensei, born in Fukui Prefecture. He lived during the Sengoku and early Edo periods and is most remembered for his death while battling Miyamoto Musashi in 1612.-History:...
.
Gandrake's revealed name was based on Sasaki Kojirō
Sasaki Kojiro
was a prominent Japanese swordsman widely considered as a Kensei, born in Fukui Prefecture. He lived during the Sengoku and early Edo periods and is most remembered for his death while battling Miyamoto Musashi in 1612.-History:...
's samurai name, Ganryu, and the attack he used to incapacitate Musashi is called the "Swallow's Tail," a reference to Sasaki Kojiro's most famous technique, the "Swallow's tail strike." Also, the five swords Musashi must collect over the course of the game are possibly a reference to The Book of Five Rings
The Book of Five Rings
is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. There have been various translations made over the years, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its...
, the Five Rings being Ground, Water, Fire, Wind and Void, based on the classical elements
Five elements (Japanese philosophy)
One may encounter two kinds of five elements philosophy in Japan. One is called, in Japanese, gogyō , having its backgrounds in the Chinese five elements, and the other is called godai . Godai is usually regarded as a Buddhism term in Japan, with certain influences from Hinduism. The following...
of Japanese philosophy. This is supported by the fact that the five maidens are rescued in the same order as the elements are presented in the Book.
There is also the reference behind the AK47 a real life weapon while Malbec(one of the games final bosses) wields a cannon called the AK4D7.
Mycella, Burrini, Fontina, Mirabo, Maribo, Istara and Clochette, are all in fact different kinds of cheese. There is even a dog named Asiago, which is a sharp Italian cheese and a cat named Tomme, a common type of cheese produced in the French alps.
The villains on the other hand, have wine-related names. Rothschild is more than likely named after Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Late famous Bordeaux winemaker and owner of the Château Mouton Rothschild), Glogg is a Scandinavian mulled wine
Mulled wine
Mulled wine, variations of which are popular in Europe, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas and Halloween.-Glühwein:...
, Riesling gets his name from the German/Alsatian white grape varietal while Shiraz and Malbec are red grape varietals.
There is a tribute/in game joke at the end of the game when Gandrake is impatiently waiting for Musashi just as he did in real life at the beginning and there is also a hint that the duel had already taken place in Musashi's homeworld when Gandrake says "I never thought we would repeat those words again"
Reception
Musashi: Samurai Legend sold approximately 57,916 copies during the week of its release in Japan. As of August 31, 2005, the game has sold 80,000 units in Japan.The game has received mixed reviews from critics, currently holding a score of 64 out of 100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
and a 65% on Game Rankings
Game Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
.