Squaresoft unleashed what appeared to be a brawler-esque action-RPG with Brave Fencer Musashi, but the shallow combat and frantic scenes of its opening chapter are misleading: Theirs is de facto an action-adventure game that takes on many forms, graced by Square's elaborate production and a cheeky sense of humor. To start with, Musashi's flippant remarks and the caricatures surrounding him give an original twist to the format, defining a sort of over-the-top version of Alundra (and Link's Awakening by extension) as the former works a variety of odd-jobs around town. Variety is also the keyword for its gameplay. Far from just fighting and exploring, their dungeons contain all sorts of clever scenarios, utilizing bits of 3D platforming, Zelda-like tools & puzzles and some tough minigames, before concluding with tense (if occasionally unfair) boss battles. Its systems are equally as diverse, and the most unusual of the bunch: Skill mimicry a la Kirby, use-based stat exp and (above all) an in-game clock that affects everything from shops, area access, villager behavior, objectives, unlocks and even a fatigue system. If gameplay polish is not exactly their strong point, they at least excel at cross-pollinating genres and mechanics.

Progression is more of a mixed blessing - however. While getting lost is very likely - mainly due to the camera's short range and the lack of a permanent map, they offer a lot more clarity in terms of tasks and item usage, often guiding/instructing the player via menus or NPCs. In other words, there's difficulty in 'where to go' but rarely in 'what to do'. Only the final dungeon veers into truly vague and frustrating territory, and that's enough to end the playthrough on a sour note. But for the most part, each of these ideas coalesce into a lively, sprawling work that - in a sense, acts as a bridge between the RPG-spoofing of Mother and the incendiary whimsy of Disgaea.