I think one of the real challenges in making indie games that were either inspired by, or are at least very similar to, other titles is managing to differentiate yourself and then looking to improve on the formula. Honestly, if there’s already a decent game out there already showing how it’s done, if you’re not going to aim to knock it out there doesn’t seem to be much point in getting in the ring. Musashi vs Cthulhu seems to me to be gunning for the formula that One Finger Death Punch 2 pretty well nailed, and that’s a precision action game somewhat in the vein of a beat-em-up, but in only 2 dimensions. 

While Musashi vs Cthulhu may have some appeal with its added level of detail, creepier enemies, and tougher attack system, that doesn’t necessarily equate to a clear improvement. You’ll still need to be focused on enemy distance, your timing, and being sure not to button mash as enemies close in on either side of you. In addition to some enemies requiring more than one hit to be knocked out, you’ll also have to keep an eye out for where you’ll need to hit them, whether in the upper, middle, or lower section, using 3 different buttons and 3 different positions on your D-Pad to do this. There’s no doubt that this added layer of detail adds to your challenges, especially keeping track of where you’ll need to quickly hit enemies that are converging from either side. The question is whether this is an improvement or not.

The thing is, even if you could appreciate the added challenge, what stands out for me is how one-dimensional the play is otherwise. The fun of One Finger Death Punch 2 wasn’t just the action, it was the big picture of it all. Great animations and periodic over-the-top attacks, weapons, enhancements, and pretty consistent surprises were also a key part of the fun, and Musashi vs Cthulhu is pretty well missing all of that, meaning that much of the fun is also nowhere to be found. Yes, you could simply choose to enjoy the progressive challenges it throws at you, but lacking the value-added extras and unpredictability, it just falls a bit flat in maintaining the fun and desire to keep coming back to it.