Vanillaware is bringing its beloved action-platformer series Muramasa to modern consoles with Muramasa: Revenant Blades, a comprehensive 4K remaster package. This new version aims to be the definitive way to experience the game, combining the original Muramasa: The Demon Blade, previously a Nintendo Wii exclusive, with its PlayStation Vita remaster, Muramasa Rebirth, and the Genroku Legends DLC. The collection is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC on February 4, 2027.
During a preview, the game was experienced on a Switch 2, with roughly an hour of gameplay focusing on the first two acts on the "Moral" (hard) difficulty. The challenging combat pushed the player to pay close attention to the intricate mechanics of this classic Vanillaware title. The overall impression was one of anticipation for further engagement with the game.
Muramasa has long been celebrated for its striking visual presentation, and Revenant Blades elevates this with a complete redraw by Vanillaware's artists for a 4K presentation. Set in Japan's Edo period, the game's feudal Japanese aesthetic is richly detailed, blending traditional imagery with Japanese folklore, demons, and fantastical elements. Players navigate meticulously crafted environments, from towering mountains in the background to intricately designed Machiya-style houses that can be entered, all contributing to a labyrinthine feel.
The combat system, described as a frenetic hack-and-slash experience that plays like a beat 'em up, remains a core draw. It offers accessible controls with significant depth for mastery. The Revenant Blades package boasts over 100 swords to forge and numerous skills to unlock and upgrade. Enhanced controls aim to improve the overall feel of play, making combat reminiscent of 2D fighters with its emphasis on aerial combos, counter-attacks, and precise blade clashes.
Encountered bosses during the preview included Kurozaru, a large and swift foe utilizing shurikens and area-of-effect attacks, and giant centipedes that required precise targeting of different body parts across the level. The preview showcased only a portion of the game's content, with several other stories, each featuring new localization and English voiceovers, additional skills, and katanas yet to be discovered.
Despite not seeing all the game has to offer, the hands-on experience with Muramasa: Revenant Blades has generated significant excitement for its upcoming release, positioning it as the ideal way to revisit or discover this acclaimed action title.