Since man first realized that swinging a stick or throwing a rock could inflict bodily harm, there has been fighting. As these fights became more and more important, so too did the sticks and rocks. I have decided to start a several part post on the history and myth behind legendary weapons in some of our favorite video games to get a better appreciation for the thought that goes into weapon design.

Part II –Katana

The development of the sword in Japan is quite unique in that the end result, the katana, is arguably the most deadly melee weapon man has ever created. Each sword being meticulously folded and pounded creating a perfect balance of blade flexibility and sharpness. So much work went into the construction of a katana, that it was believed that a bit of the bladesmith’s soul inhabited the weapon. For this reason many blades were simply named after the forger. Two of the most famous bladesmith’s had a bit of history, for this reason I will lump them into their own category:

The Legend of Masamune and Muramasa

A legend tells of a test where Muramasa challenged his master, Masamune, to see who could make a finer sword. They both worked tirelessly and eventually, when both swords were finished, they decided to test the results. The contest was for each to suspend the blades in a small creek with the cutting edge facing the current. Muramasa’s sword, the Juuchi Fuyu (10,000 Winters) cut everything that passed its way; fish, leaves floating down the river, the very air which blew on it. Highly impressed with his pupil’s work, Masamune lowered his sword, the Yawaraka-Te (Tender Hands), into the current and waited patiently. Not a leaf was cut, the fish swam right up to it, and the air hissed as it gently blew by the blade. After a while, Muramasa began to scoff at his master for his apparent lack of skill in the making of his sword. Smiling to himself, Masamune pulled up his sword, dried it, and sheathed it. All the while, Muramasa was heckling him for his sword’s inability to cut anything. A monk, who had been watching the whole ordeal, walked over and bowed low to the two sword masters. He then began to explain what he had seen.

“The first of the swords was by all accounts a fine sword, however it is a blood thirsty, evil blade as it doesn’t discriminate as to who or what it will cut. It may just as well be cutting down butterflies as severing heads. The second was by far the finer of the two, as it doesn’t needlessly cut that which is innocent and undeserving.”

This simple story reflects on the Japanese duality of the weapon. Should it be used for protection or for killing?

• Masamune(正宗): A blade typically representing holiness or the pinnacle of Katana craftsmanship.
• Found in: Final Fantasy VII, wielded by the games major villain, Sephiroth. Obviously Sephiroth does not represent holiness in any form. However, his ideals of cleansing the world of humans by summoning a meteor, could be seen as considering himself to be like a God. These delusions of grandeur stem from his lineage with the Ancients, a race of nomadic people in the world of the game.

• Muramasa(村正): A blade said to be cursed with a never ending blood-thirst.
• Found in: Final Fantasy Tactics, the blade, when equipped is a crimson red color. The Iado (or draw out) ability of the Muramasa causes the souls of each person who died to the sword to attack the enemy, and cause confusion and death sentance. The Samurai who uses the ability shouts: “Summon all ghosts of the sword! Attack! Muramasa!”(刀に宿りし幾千の、亡霊の呼びて いざ抜かん！　村正！) In comparison the Masamune when drawn out casts haste and regen on allys within range.

If this article interested you, come back next Wednesday for the third installment of History of Video Game Weapons: Part III – Ninja Gear!

Previous articles:
- History of Video Games Part 1: Lances and Spears

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