The Mysterious Murasame Castle

File:Nazo no murasame-jo screenshot1.PNG

The Mysterious Murasame Castle is an action-adventure game where the player controls Takamaru, who is tasked with traveling through four castles, consisting of Aosame Castle, Akasame Castle, Ryokusame Castle, and Momosame Castle, to obtain the four gems from the castle lords and reach the titular Murasame Castle to defeat the alien entity inside it. The player moves from different directions in a top-down view with no side-scrolling. The game only has a limited number of power-ups, forcing players to rely on their own action skills more than anything else.

The game world has scrolls scattered throughout the castles for Takamaru to collect, and special raccoon suits may reveal power-ups. Players are given a certain number of lives, and may gain additional lives by rescuing the castles' princesses and playing through bonus rounds after completing the first half of each level. One life is lost when Takamaru's health gauge runs out or if the time expires. When all lives are lost at any point, the game over screen will appear, in which the player can continue or save their progress.

The appearance of enemy characters (including samurai, ninja and hannya) borrows heavily from existing Japanese culture. Each level, divided into two parts: the path to the castle, and the castle itself, is of considerable size, and Takamaru must defeat generic enemy characters to reach the innermost region where the castle-lord resides.

The player's only weapons are a katana and shurikens; upgrades to the shuriken can be obtained, but are lost whenever Takamaru dies. The katana can only be used when Takamaru is close to an enemy or projectile (excluding fireballs), while the shurikens can only be used when he is further away. The katana can also be used to deflect projectiles. Other items include fireballs, which are more powerful than the shurikens; a lightning-themed explosive, which inflicts heavy damage to every enemy on screen; and a cloak, which makes Takamaru invisible and invulnerable to enemies and objects for a short period of time. When Takamaru reaches more than 99 lives, he becomes invincible.

In Edo-period Japan, Murasame Castle houses a gigantic stone statue known as Murasame. The people lived peacefully until one stormy night, when a shining golden object fell onto the castle from the sky. Deafening shrieks arose from the castle, and the shining object is later revealed to be an alien creature who gives life to the stone statue Murasame and takes over the castle. The alien creature extends its power to four other neighboring castles, giving the daimyō lords each an evil sphere of power. The lords are taken over by the alien's evil power, and use the spheres to summon ninja armies and monsters to attack villagers. Hearing of these strange occurrences, the shogunate led by Tokugawa Ietsuna sends Takamaru, a samurai apprentice, on a secret mission to investigate the castle. As Takamaru, the player must infiltrate the four castles to defeat each castle lord, before going on to face the alien entity itself.

Due to the game's initial obscurity, not much about its development is known, but Goichi Suda, in an interview with Nintendo Life, stated that Human Entertainment (where he started video game development) was involved in development of the game to some degree.{{Cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Thomas |date=2021-09-17 |title=SUDA51 Would Love To Revive A Lesser-Known Nintendo Classic |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/09/suda51_would_love_to_revive_a_lesser-known_nintendo_classic |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113150321/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/09/suda51_would_love_to_revive_a_lesser-known_nintendo_classic |url-status=live}}

The Mysterious Murasame Castle was released for the Famicom Disk System on April 14, 1986, in Japan. A one-shot television drama special of the same name was produced by Fuji Television in 1986 for the weekly series Monday Drama Land. The special featured a plot loosely based around that of the game, and starred Masaki Kyomoto alongside members of the all-girl J-Pop group Onyanko Club. The special was later released on DVD as part of a box set of other Monday Drama Land episodes in 2005.{{cite web |title=DVD「おニャン子クラブ in 月曜ドラマランド」発売イベント |url=http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20051122/pony.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060306123217/http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20051122/pony.htm |archive-date=2006-03-06 |access-date=2008-08-26 |work=AV Watch/Fuji Television}}{{cite web |title="Lost" TV Drama Based On 'The Mysterious Murasame Castle' Preserved Online |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/11/lost-tv-drama-based-on-the-mysterious-murasame-castle-preserved-online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108192016/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/11/lost-tv-drama-based-on-the-mysterious-murasame-castle-preserved-online |archive-date=2023-11-08 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Time Extension|date=7 November 2023}}

The Mysterious Murasame Castle was ported to Game Boy Advance on August 10, 2004, as part of the Famicom Mini Series in Japan. It was released on Virtual Console in Japan for the Wii on August 19, 2008, and for the Wii U on July 30, 2014.{{cite web|author1=津久井箇人|title=Wii Uバーチャルコンソール7月30日配信タイトル ―『弟切草』『謎の村雨城』『ニュートピアII』『BE BALL』『ロックマンエグゼ バトルチップGP』の5本|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/23/78804.html|website=インサイド|language=ja|date=23 July 2014|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511175050/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/23/78804.html|url-status=live}} The game was released outside Japan for the first time on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in Europe and Australia in May 2014{{cite web |url=http://www.thenintendochannel.com/news.php?n=855 |title=European download update revealed for May 29, 2014 |website=The Nintendo Channel |date=May 26, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2014 |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119003503/https://www.thenintendochannel.com/news.php?n=855 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Wassenaar|first1=Troy|title=Nintendo Download Update (29/5) - Gaining Traction - eShop News from Vooks|url=http://www.vooks.net/nintendo-download-update-295-gaining-traction/|website=Vooks|access-date=18 July 2017|date=29 May 2014|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921161647/https://www.vooks.net/nintendo-download-update-295-gaining-traction/|url-status=live}} and in North America in August.{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Chris|title=Mysterious Murasame Castle hitting the 3DS eShop next month|url=https://www.destructoid.com/mysterious-murasame-castle-hitting-the-3ds-eshop-next-month-278703.phtml|website=Destructoid|access-date=18 July 2017|language=en|date=28 July 2014|archive-date=July 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730065819/http://www.destructoid.com/mysterious-murasame-castle-hitting-the-3ds-eshop-next-month-278703.phtml|url-status=live}} It was added to the Nintendo Classics service on October 31, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Yin-Poole |first1=Wesley |title=Nintendo Switch Online Gets Two Obscure NES Games and a Castlevania Game Boy Game for Halloween |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-gets-two-obscure-nes-games-and-a-castlevania-game-boy-game-for-halloween |website=IGN |date=31 October 2023 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231107074259/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-gets-two-obscure-nes-games-and-a-castlevania-game-boy-game-for-halloween |url-status=live}}

In June 2010, the game was featured amongst others from the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES as part of a tech demo called Classic Games at E3 2010.{{cite web |author=6/18/10 5:00pm 6/18/10 5:00pm |url=http://kotaku.com/5566935/mega-man-2-yoshis-island-among-teased-3ds-sorta+remakes |title=Mega Man 2, Yoshi's Island Among Teased 3DS Sorta-Remakes |date=18 June 2010 |publisher=Kotaku.com |access-date=2014-06-16 |archive-date=June 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621132523/http://kotaku.com/5566935/mega-man-2-yoshis-island-among-teased-3ds-sorta%20remakes |url-status=live}}

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Nintendo Life{{'}}s Marcel van Duyn gave the 3DS Virtual Console re-release of The Mysterious Murasame Castle a rating of 8/10, noting its fast-paced gameplay and high degree of difficulty.{{Cite web |date=2014-06-05 |title=Review: The Mysterious Murasame Castle (3DS eShop / NES) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/mysterious_murasame_castle_nes |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014005920/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/mysterious_murasame_castle_nes |url-status=live}}

Den of Geek rated The Mysterious Murasame Castle 3.5/5 for the release of the 3DS Virtual Console version in North America.https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/the-mysterious-murasame-castle/238186/the-mysterious-murasame-castle-review {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726184739/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/the-mysterious-murasame-castle/238186/the-mysterious-murasame-castle-review|date=July 26, 2019}} Den of geek

While The Mysterious Murasame Castle was never officially released outside Japan in its original form, homages to it have appeared in other media by Nintendo.

In the GameCube game Pikmin 2, one of the objects found in the game is The Mysterious Murasame Castle game disk.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} Takamaru appears as a supporting character in Captain Rainbow alongside a plethora of "forgotten" Nintendo characters.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Siliconera |date=2008-08-08 |title=See these Nintendo characters in Captain Rainbow |url=https://www.siliconera.com/see-these-nintendo-characters-in-captain-rainbow/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Siliconera |language=en-US}} A microgame inspired by this game appeared in the Japanese version of WarioWare D.I.Y., which was replaced with a Pikmin microgame in non-Japanese versions.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} Takamaru (voiced by Hiroshi Okamoto in Japanese and Darrel Guilbeau in English) appears in Samurai Warriors 3 as a bonus character in the "Murasame Castle" mode; it is exclusive to the Wii release which was published worldwide by Nintendo.{{Cite web |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=2009-08-05 |title=Samurai Warriors 3 Detailed |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/05/samurai-warriors-3-detailed |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715030713/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/05/samurai-warriors-3-detailed |url-status=live}} In the Wii U game Nintendo Land, the minigame Takamaru's Ninja Castle is based on The Mysterious Murasame Castle.{{Cite web |last=Stortzum |first=Phillip |date=2012-11-17 |title=Attractive Attractions: Most Anticipated Nintendo Land Games |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/32505/attractive-attractions-most-anticipated-nintendo-land-games |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715030713/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/32505/attractive-attractions-most-anticipated-nintendo-land-games |url-status=live}} In Super Mario Maker 2, the "Ninja Attack!" sound effect causes Takamaru and ninja enemies from the game to appear on-screen.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

Goichi Suda, a former employee of developer Human Entertainment, expressed interest to remake the game for modern times.

In the Wii game Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a song titled "Nazo no Murasamejo - Douchuumen", based on the overworld theme heard before entering the castles, appears as an unlockable song for the Mario Bros. stage, along with Takamaru himself as one of the many unlockable stickers.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Takamaru appears as an Assist Trophy and is voiced by Tomokazu Sugita; when summoned, he uses his signature Multidirectional Pinwheel Knife Rook Attack. Takamaru was originally considered as a possible playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, but was cut because he was not recognized as much as other Nintendo characters,{{cite web|last1=Osborn|first1=Alex|title=Takamaru Originally Planned as Playable Character in Super Smash Bros.|url=http://ign.com/articles/2015/03/23/takamaru-originally-planned-as-playable-character-in-super-smash-bros|publisher=IGN|access-date=1 April 2015|date=March 23, 2015}} with his main theme being used in the Duck Hunt stage. During a 2015 Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U presentation, a downloadable Mii Fighter costume based on Takamaru for the Mii Swordfighter was revealed. It was released alongside the rest of the DLC in February 2016.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Takamaru's assist trophy and Mii costume returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/466597-smash-ultimate-assist-trophy-list|title=Smash Ultimate Assist Trophy List - Complete List of Assist Trophies|last=Saunders|first=Toby|date=2018-12-06|website=GameRevolution|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005193534/https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/466597-smash-ultimate-assist-trophy-list|archive-date=2019-10-05|access-date=2019-10-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/here-are-all-the-mii-fighter-costumes-available-in-super-smash-bros-ultimate|title=Here are all the Mii Fighter costumes available in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|last=Newell|first=Adam|date=2018-12-06|website=Dot Esports|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117165016/https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/here-are-all-the-mii-fighter-costumes-available-in-super-smash-bros-ultimate|archive-date=2019-01-17|access-date=2019-10-05}} He also appears as a Spirit, one of the game's collectibles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/smash-ultimate-spirit-event-update-1277545|title=Spirits from the NES and Famicom era get the spotlight in latest 'Smash Ultimate' event|last=EST|first=Phillip Martinez On 1/2/19 at 4:06 PM|date=2019-01-02|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=2019-10-05}}

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/20010000006266 Official Wii U Virtual Console version website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_nmj/index.html Official Wii Virtual Console version website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/fmk3/murasamejyo/index.html Official GBA version website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.nintendo.com/jp/famicom/software/fmc-nmj/index.html The Mysterious Murasame Castle] on the Famicom 40th Anniversary page {{in lang|ja}}

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Category:1986 video games

Category:Action-adventure games

Category:Famicom Disk System games

Category:Game Boy Advance games

Category:Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development games

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Category:Video games developed in Japan

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