what more is there to say about one of the most highly lauded games of our time? well, one thing i can say is this was my third swing at it, both times previously i stopped playing (not really losing interest but got distracted) at the snowy tundra area within disc 2. finally beat it this time!

yeah i'll cave and say it is pretty spectacular, it is pretty much all that its hyped up to be, even with its shitty tower defense minigames and roblox character models. that final battle, holy shit man. was always sort of avoiding hearing one winged angel all my life because i knew i never got to experience the moment it actually occurred, and by the time it came around.. yeah. it did NOT disappoint in any way whatsoever

there is a part of me that wishes i experienced this on original hardware though, i've seen the comparisons online between playing this game in particular on a CRT and its seemingly night and day. most old games are but y'knowwww

i'd imagine experiencing this game as a kid is probably life altering in some way.

BEHOLD THE BUG MADNESS.

My first exposure to the intense miasma that is MUSHIHIMESAMA was the infamous "HARDEST BOSS EVER" vid that made its rounds back in the late 2000s. I was probably just ten years old, and vividly remember being stunned by just how impossible it all looked. I think around this time I was also learning of stuff like IWBTG and the speedfreak pros of Stepmania / ITG, but something about Mushi really left me in a state of wonderment. I remember barely being able to see what was happening on the monitor of my parents' family computer, a 240p mess, this complete incalculable warzone of the color purple enveloping the screen at constant. It was baffling.

Only two months ago did I learn that video was actually from Futari and not the original.. There were certain sounds unconsciously ingrained into my head that, playing the OG, never appeared. The laughs of Queen Larsa, the fucking insane music, etc etc. I still hope to one day snag an X360 copy.

Anyways. Yeah this rules. I tried writing at length but no words can really do it justice, as its a bit difficult to sum up succinctly. Nothing really looks or sounds similar.. Each of the five stages contain this profoundly inspired arcade beauty, richly manicured with alienlike flying insects looking to murder at every instance. Enemies you blast explode in a hellfire of amber gem pickups, inflicting this feeling of utter dopamine as you are tightly surrounded by fleets of endless shifting bullet walls. A gorgeous, mesmerizing apocalypse. Your movement and reflexes will be tested to maximum capacity. Patterns are an absolute joyride to learn and swerve throughout. Multiple modes are available here, most of which contain three difficulties, and three ships to use. The fun just does not wear, and the eye candy never becomes stale. Endlessly replayable. Its a total bargain and likely one of the best shmups ever created. Or in any genre for that matter. Play it.

Crazy to me that this was made largely using royalty free assets, the character models, music, everything. And yet it still has this really nice singular charm to it! If you yearn to play an RPG but are concerned about delving deep into world matters and story, don't worry this has you covered. Story aspects are largely barren but if you are going in looking for something like that this is perfect and real cozy.

One big part of the game is gaining new platforming upgrades, letting you navigate the world more. I love this mechanic. Grind some enemies, upgrade and change classes, search the area for little hidden rooms with treasure.. yeah. Really dig this. I think its pretty cheap too.