Unicorn Overlord: Vanillaware’s Epic Mastery Unfolds at Closure

In 2009, as the holiday season approached, I recall intently examining a recent issue of Loyal Nintendo Magazine, searching for games I might want for the festivities. As I flipped through the pages, absorbing every detail, one particular review caught my attention. The art style was something I had never encountered in a video game before. At that time, I was intrigued by Japanese mythology. Although the gameplay sounded somewhat familiar, it truly satisfied my craving for a 2D action-platformer.

This review was for Muramasa: The Demon Blade, marking my initial experience with Vanillaware. My admiration for the Osaka-based developer and this game in particular is well-documented, but it began at the very moment I first glimpsed Muramasa on the television screen, showcasing Edo Japan in stunning watercolor art. Vanillaware has always been recognized as the studio that creates beautiful games with luscious visuals – and, on occasion, the studio that introduces us to, uh, highly stylized art – but over the last four years, I’ve witnessed a significant change in appreciation that I had long hoped for.