WarCry227
1 review liked by WarCry227
M.U.S.H.A.
1990
I think what stunned me the most about M.U.S.H.A. (MUSHA) is just how stunning it's opening looks. If there is any SHMUP out there that will sell itself within minutes, MUSHA would be it. Honestly, MUSHA seemed like it was something out of an anime or something, then when I got to the actual gameplay I kinda forgot what it was. Like I want to say it was a pretty great '90s shmup classic, but when I look back on it, all I can think about is how muddle everything is together.
Not to say, MUSHA did anything bad with it's gameplay, it's more a matter of what it didn't do that really makes it forgettable to me. From the music blending together, to the backgrounds being fairly dark or the enemies not really "popping" from the screen. There is just a lot that happens in MUSHA, most of which happens fast, and it just doesn't stick to memory. I think, largely this just has to do with MUSHA being a little too crunched on the screen, and if the ship was smaller or the screen were bigger, I think it could have made a better impression with it's enemies compared to them being blasted off the screen before you can see them. As well, the backgrounds rarely have something that captivate me, often just being blue goo or dark abysses, that it just doesn't make me interested in it. And honestly I think that's just the problem with MUSHA, there just isn't many interesting things to it. Any that do happen blend too much or are small in comparison that I really couldn't say it's worth playing because of it.
This isn't to say that MUSHA is bad though, there are a few bright spots in MUSHA that do make me wish we got more of it. There is a whole level where you are passing through the skies, and the effects are really neat and kinda jaw dropping in the '90s. Then you have little things like the floor collapsing to transition to the next level, or a segment where you are rushing through gaps to get through a cave. Not to mention, a lot of the weapons and power ups for MUSHA are fun to use. Not only are they fairly overpowered so even beginners have a easier time, but it's often to the point that you just don't see enemies on the screen with how fast you destroy them. MUSHA really does make you feel good regardless of mastery of the SHMUP genre. And it's effectively these bright spots that make me understand how people could love this game as much as they do. I wouldn't say MUSHA is fully dependent of nostalgia to be as good as it is, but it certainly has it's fans that perhaps favor the game more than they should due to their memories with this game.
MUSHA probably isn't a classic that some of it's fans make it out to be, but it's by no means a bad game either. It's fairly down the middle with some neat spots between the gameplay, and largely was entertaining throughout my play through of it. Just don't expect it to be blowing your mind or anything.
Not to say, MUSHA did anything bad with it's gameplay, it's more a matter of what it didn't do that really makes it forgettable to me. From the music blending together, to the backgrounds being fairly dark or the enemies not really "popping" from the screen. There is just a lot that happens in MUSHA, most of which happens fast, and it just doesn't stick to memory. I think, largely this just has to do with MUSHA being a little too crunched on the screen, and if the ship was smaller or the screen were bigger, I think it could have made a better impression with it's enemies compared to them being blasted off the screen before you can see them. As well, the backgrounds rarely have something that captivate me, often just being blue goo or dark abysses, that it just doesn't make me interested in it. And honestly I think that's just the problem with MUSHA, there just isn't many interesting things to it. Any that do happen blend too much or are small in comparison that I really couldn't say it's worth playing because of it.
This isn't to say that MUSHA is bad though, there are a few bright spots in MUSHA that do make me wish we got more of it. There is a whole level where you are passing through the skies, and the effects are really neat and kinda jaw dropping in the '90s. Then you have little things like the floor collapsing to transition to the next level, or a segment where you are rushing through gaps to get through a cave. Not to mention, a lot of the weapons and power ups for MUSHA are fun to use. Not only are they fairly overpowered so even beginners have a easier time, but it's often to the point that you just don't see enemies on the screen with how fast you destroy them. MUSHA really does make you feel good regardless of mastery of the SHMUP genre. And it's effectively these bright spots that make me understand how people could love this game as much as they do. I wouldn't say MUSHA is fully dependent of nostalgia to be as good as it is, but it certainly has it's fans that perhaps favor the game more than they should due to their memories with this game.
MUSHA probably isn't a classic that some of it's fans make it out to be, but it's by no means a bad game either. It's fairly down the middle with some neat spots between the gameplay, and largely was entertaining throughout my play through of it. Just don't expect it to be blowing your mind or anything.