Brave Fencer Musashi
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| Brave Fencer Musashi | |
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| Developer(s) | Square Electronic Arts |
| Publisher(s) | Square-Enix |
| Release date(s) | November 11, 1998 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
Brave Fencer Musashi (also known as Brave Fencer Musashiden) is a console role-playing game (RPG) published by Squaresoft in 1998 for the Sony PlayStation. The game involves real-time combat in a 3D environment, and features voice-overs for most dialogue. A playable demo of Final Fantasy VIII was also included on a second CD.
A PlayStation 2 sequel, titled Musashi: Samurai Legend (Blade Master Musashi in Japan) was developed by Square Enix and was released in the U.S. on March 15, 2005.
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Overview
The player controls Musashi, a boy summoned to the Allucaneet Kingdom by its Princess — named Fillet — to save it from the invading Thirstquencher Empire. Fillet's intention was to summon the legendary Brave Fencer Musashi, who had saved the kingdom from a monster called the Wizard of Darkness 150 years before; she is therefore disappointed when she gets a small boy instead. Nevertheless, Musashi is given the blade Fusion, and charged with the task of obtaining Brave Fencer Musashi's sword — Lumina, the Sword of Luminescence — before the Thirstquencher Army does.
The bulk of the game involves Musashi fighting a variety of enemies, using both Fusion and Lumina, to save the kingdom from various threats (which range from fires breaking out, to an invasion of half-vampire, half-zombie monsters called Vambees), and to acquire five scrolls which increase Lumina's strength and grant Musashi new abilities. There are also several minigames and puzzles scattered throughout which must be completed to advance the plot.
Characters
- Musashi: A young fencer summoned by Fillet to save Allucaneet Kingdom.
- Fillet: Princess of Allucaneet, kidnapped by the Thirstquencher Empire.
- Jon: Mysterious treasure hunter & owner of Leno, a sweethearted dog. He turns out to be the son of the previous rulers of the Thristquencher Empire, making him a prince and true heir to the throne. He posed as Colonel Capricciola to get his chance to extract revenge on Flatski for killing his family.
- Kojiro: Musashi's sworn rival. He goes to many extremes to battle Musashi.
- Thristquencher Empire: Originally a peaceful monarchy until Flatski took over.
- Flatski: Leader of the Thirstquencher Empire. He was after the power of Lumina and wanted to release the Wizard of Darnkess and use him to take over the entire world.
- Rootrick: Second Lieutenant of the Thirstquencher Empire. He was the one who kidnapped Fillet and turned out to be Flatski's son.
- Bubbles & Gingerelle: Beautiful First Lieutenants of the Thirstquencher Empire. They tend to compete with each other to be Flatski's righthand girl.
- Ed, Ben, & Topo: Members of Flatski's special forces called "Leader's Force". They all think they're the boss.
- The Wizard of Darkness: He is a demon known as Dark Lumina and was sealed within Lumina itself, though no one knew that until it was too late. Musashi unknowingly released him when he mastered the four scrolls. Upon its freedom, monster kills Flatski, then Jon after, and asborbed Kojiro. As a result, Dark-Lumina gained a "Must Kill Musashi" mentallity. He was defeated and once again sealed in Lumina.
Cast (English)
- Mona Marshall: Musashi
- Sandy Fox: Princess Fillet
- Steven Blum: Jon (Colonel Capricciola)
- Gary Michaels: Rootrick
- Lia Sargent: Bubbles
- Bambi Darro: Gingerelle
- George C. Cole: Fuhrer Flatski
- Kirk Thornton: Ed
- Joe Romersa: Ben
- J. Cooper: Topo
- Barbara Goodson: Kojiro
- William Knight: Steward Ribson
Cast (Japanese)
- Mitsuishi Kotono: Princess Fillet, Brandy Taii, Tumbler
Relationship to Miyamoto Musashi
Several elements of Brave Fencer Musashi are superficially derived from the legend of Miyamoto Musashi, a famous Japanese swordsman, though the game's plot is unrelated to Musashi's life.
Musashi's two-sword style of combat is the most obvious connection, as Miyamoto is known for his nitouichi (二刀一, "two swords as one") kenjutsu technique; however, Miyamoto used a katana and wakizashi, whereas in Brave Fencer Musashi, Musashi wields a katana and a sword with an extremely wide blade (causing it to somewhat resemble Cloud Strife's buster sword from Final Fantasy VII) which can also be considered a type of Zanbato which was an unsuccessful weapon from feudal Japan.
The game also includes its own interpretation of one of Miyamoto Musashi's most famous duels, against Sasaki Kojiro; the character Kojiro is introduced as Musashi's rival, who searches for him in the hopes of defeating him in a duel. In addition, Kojiro's main offensive technique is the "Swallow Wave," likely a nod to Sasaki Kojiro's trademark "Swallow's tail strike."
Furthermore, the five scrolls — the scrolls of Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Sky — which Musashi must find may be a reference to Miyamoto's The Book of Five Rings, in which he describes military strategy in terms of five rings: Ground, Water, Fire, Wind and the Void. However, artifacts or forces themed on these "elements" are common in RPGs, so the connection to The Book of Five Rings may not be intentional.