skorch82 plays Brave Fencer Musashi - Part 1 of 70

This RPG doesn't get enough love. That's too bad, really.

The game begins with Princess Fillet, Steward Ribson and Butler Livers. escaping deep into the castle to the Binchotite Crystal, which is larger than usual. Alchemist Leanman tells the Princess she must perform "Hero Summon." Scribe Shanky is also there, waiting to meet Brave Fencer Musashi.

The Princess successfully casts the spell, and everyone is disappointed that Musashi is not who they expected him to be. Musashi is asked to go to Spiral Tower to get Lumina before the enemy does. Musashi gets a samurai's blade known as Fusion. When it pierces an enemy, it absorbs and assimilates an enemy's power. You'll also get Lumina's sheath, which you'll need for Lumina.

Chapter 1: The Journey Begins

The controls are pretty simple. Press X to jump and Square to swing Fusion. If you hit an enemy, keep mashing Square and you'll be able to perform a four hit combo with it. Sometimes you can stun enemies, too. If you press Square while you're right on top of an enemy while it's stunned, you can pick them up and carry them around. Press Square again to throw the enemy forwards. Any enemies in the trajectory of the throw will also be bowled over.

As you fight enemies, you'll be able to pick up items. Coins will give you money, which are known as Drans in game. The larger the coin, the more it's worth. Hearts will restore some of your health, while the translucent yellow spheres will refill your Bincho Points, or BP. This is used for the abilities that you absorb from enemies with Fusion.

Your path will be blocked by three rocks. Move into the center rock and use the Control Pad to push it out of the way.

Watch out with some of the traps that the enemy soldiers have. Jump over the column lying on the ground that the three soldier push towards you, and keep going forward when the soldiers push the columns to your right down in an attempt to flatten you when you're near the end.

You'll come across a stream that's too wide to jump over. You'll soon learn the Assimilate ability at this point. To use it, hold R1 until the speed gauge at the lower-left corner of the screen is full, and press Square when you're facing the enemy you want to assimilate the ability of. Keep tapping Square repeatedly after the sword makes its mark, and you'll soon get the ability when the lower-left gauge is run. Here, you'll practice this against a blue soldier, who gives you the Gunshot ability when you assimilate him. Use Gunshot to hit the logs at the other end of the stream, and you'll knock the logs down to form a bridge. Strike the statue that blocks your path soon afterward with your sword to get rid of it.

You'll soon be at Spiral Tower, but there's no tower. Destroy the four statues surrounding the perimeter, and avoid being shot at by the rotating statue in the center. When you destroy a statue, a floor switch will be uncovered. Step on all four of them to make Spiral Tower rise up.