Muramasa: A Full-Fledged Masterpiece (Retrospective & Analysis)

[@adoraewenpoh2079]

Nice review, although to comment on the VN's untranslated 'epilogue', from what I know, it wasn't written by Narahara but was basically a fan story that was so good Nitro+ decided to make a full VN version of it. But the ending that you get within the FMDM VN is the ending that Narahara himself intended for the story. Personally I think FMDM's ending is perfect since it leaves Kageaki's fate open to interpretation -- you yourself can decide whether he manages to manifest the Law of Balance in the world or whether his actions are ultimately futile and all he'll accomplish is more meaningless death before dying himself as another 'villain' among the world's many villains. Kageaki's tragedy is that the Law of Balance is both probably the correct view of the world and yet an impossible ideal to live by or manifest, since it is hard or plain impossible for humans to discard their own egoism and self-righteousness without falling into madness. Sorimachi is such a good foil because he represents sort of a stance of pure nihilism, believing in no ideals, and merely living our lives as humans struggling for survival and enjoying the moment -- and IMO he seems to be the character that Narahara intended as a sort of personal mouthpiece. Even then, VN's strength is that it merely sets up all these debates and their logical endpoints and leaves you to come up with your own conclusions: whether you still decide to believe that Ichijou's ideals are correct, or whether you choose to believe in the Law of Balance, or embrace nihilism -- at least you will have chosen your stance after interrogating the foundations of your own beliefs or your own 'self-righteousness' through the VN. Such an amazing story.

[@conorkopp6427]

An absolutely fantastic take on this masterpiece’s ending. You hit it right on the head. The reality is humans are too flawed to ever end conflict entirely. I imagine Kageaki as a sort of Sisyphus- pushing the boulder up the mountain for eternity.

[@therappingrooster8]

The ending of chapter one where SPOILERS Kageaki kills Yuhi has got to be one of the greatest hooks of all time

[@kobal6525]

Yes, it was amazing after the 5 hours slog of the intro, made it all worth it after that azing and epic fight scene too.

[@whiteyakshasakata4257]

Thanks for the most useless spoiler warning ever

[@intelligenceincarnate7873]

This is the video I’ve been looking for. Thanks 🫡

[@TheRingerer1113]

Nice retrospective, though I think you should have explored some of the more brutal/tragic implications of the fact that Kageaki is his 'sister's' father and how adds some layers to the characters. The brief flashback where we see basically get him robbed of ever being truly the father of his daughter likely had a lot of impact to his psyche and why he was so fixated on stopping her. Also has a nice sense of irony with the parallel of her being robbed a father and Kageaki being denied the role of a father. It does add a darker shade to his adoptive mother (since he would have been a young boy and all when Hikaru was born) and the psychological pain, manipulation and grief that would obviously come with it.

[@kobal6525]

Definitely agree, I watched the video and went in the comments to see if he even picked up on that fact lol. I know I did not really realize he was her father until the very end and even then I was not sure, so I had to look online to find confirmation, I do not like how the game never says it outright or even tells us how Hikaru would have even know about this.

[@floppyearfriend]

Hey, watching the video rn but little correction before I forget, "daemon" is pronounced the exact same way as "demon", not as "daymon". Understandable mistake but just wanted to put that out there. Anyway, I finished the visual novel last night and the ending really blew me away. I really wanna hear what other people think.

[@kloa4219]

Hero route is a fav of mine, I thought that it was going to be generic marvel (no offense) stuff but it subverted my expectations entirely and gave me a new perspective. I like that they incorporated the joke/gag about getting lost all the way through into the ending. Shows how her pursuit of justice was aimless.

[@zidanerhaznable4102]

Greatest piece in fiction

[@liamkopp]

I absolutely love this game and agreed with everything in this analysis. I wish there were more analysis videos about this game on here. I might need to make one...

[@DALpropaganda]

Hey great review feel like you explored and touched upon a lot of the elements really well. Chacha is best girl though just a minor complaint there. Haha anyways this really is one of the best visual novels ever made as I do believe not only are the routes as perfect as they could be the characters are super explored and well written. The thing that stands out to me the most which you talk about in the start of the video that many people miss or don't understand is Kageki's ideals. As I do believe there's no right or wrong answer with justice. It's completely opinionated if you agree with Kageki's idea of justice. Do you disagree that the law of balance is the right way to go here? Oh, you do....? Cool that doesnt mean you're wrong or it takes away from the story they're telling here. You can still appreciate the law of balance and the story that the novel is telling. This is where I feel it really shines in the fact there's no right or wrong answer. Take what you get how you will, as a few years down the line I believe I will continue to ask myself the same question. What kind of justice is truly righteous.....? And the answer....well....probably none.....

[@zidanerhaznable4102]

Some thèmes you may missed in thé video are Imperialism Post-colonialism Moral delima

[@alexoatures6484]

Great video. I’ve been wanting to play this but how bad are the r scenes? They kinda make question whether it is worth it

[@the_jingo]

Sorimachi really is the joker of MC batman considering you get an option to kill him BUT just like batman killing joker always lead to smt bad

[@broom_404]

I cannot play this vn past the prologue story. What happened to those students on the prologue made me feel like shit, if that's how I'd feel throughout the entire VN, i don't have the heart to do it. But even from that I feel like they really did a good job writing a story of "what if people with heroic heart doesn't exist" bc damn do i feel like I really long for a hero to appear on that prologue story. my take on a hero is, just like human nature, there's no such thing as inherently righteous man or evil man. what exist is just a man that do righteous thing at that moment and a man that do evil at that moment. There's no hero, but a man that do heroic deed even if on daily life they are deemed a bad guy surely will always exist.

[@AngeVNs]

I like Muramasa but I still think they could have at least reduced the "fight explaining" by at least 10-25% Also I do agree most the dark scenes have a purpose but many of them still have an element of going too far over the top AND go on for too long to make its point.

[@kloa4219]

i loved it, the author was drawing from his real experiences