Kunitsu-Gami Review: Capcom’s blend of action and strategy in a Japanese folklore setting.
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Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess Review – Danse Macabre
Capcom’s latest original game strikes a commendable balance between action and strategy, despite some elements that occasionally detract from the experience. At first glance, Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess feels like the embodiment of spinning plates, requiring you to purge supernatural rot, rescue villagers, build traps, and fend off waves of demons. All of this is in service of aiding a divine maiden in her quest to cleanse Mt. Kafuku of a plague. The game’s mechanics come together to create a unique and engaging experience in the gaming landscape this year.
Kunitsu-Gami continuously tests your combat skills, strategic thinking, and ability to adapt quickly. While some moments of demon-slaying action are interspersed with more mundane tasks, these do not overshadow the overall experience. The game stands out as a refreshing addition to Capcom’s lineup, showcasing an engaging gameplay loop.
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The Setting and Premise
In this adventure, you play as Soh, a samurai warrior sworn to protect Yoshiro, the divine maiden. Their home, Mt. Kafuku, has been invaded by the Seethe, a demonic force spreading a hideous plague of “defilement” throughout the land. Soh must lead Yoshiro through each town and village on the mountain, protecting her as she purges the defilement.
The deep Japanese cultural influence is immediately apparent, with ceremonial garb, traditional dancing, and musical choices that immerse you in a piece of Japanese folklore. Remarkably, the game achieves this with minimal dialogue, relying on the actions of the characters to pull you in.
Gameplay Mechanics
Kunitsu-Gami’s gameplay is divided into distinct day and night cycles, each offering unique challenges and mechanics.
Day Cycle: Strategy and Preparation
During the day, you scout areas, rescue villagers, and purge smaller, contained areas of defilement. Cleaning up these areas earns you crystals, which you can use to carve paths through the rot for Yoshiro and assign jobs to the villagers you rescue. Successfully purging an area unlocks shrines and rewards.
The day cycle is characterized by strategic decision-making. Crystals are a finite resource, and how you spend them—whether on villagers for defense or carving paths for Yoshiro—affects your success. The tension and exhilaration of these decisions build as day turns into night.
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Night Cycle: Action and Combat
Once night falls, the focus shifts to hack-and-slash combat as Soh and his allies fend off the Seethe hordes. The number of enemies increases as the night progresses, and without a solid strategy, you can easily become overwhelmed. Each stage introduces new types of Seethe, each with unique abilities and weaknesses, adding variety to the combat.
Despite some AI issues where certain Seethe enemies may corner themselves, breaking the flow, the nighttime combat remains intense and satisfying. Slashing through waves of demons provides constant action and opportunities to earn crystals for the next day cycle.
The Core Loop and Its Appeal
The interplay between the day and night cycles is Kunitsu-Gami’s core loop. Your daytime preparations directly impact your nighttime success, creating an immediate payoff that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. This dynamic keeps you engaged, as every decision can lead to success or force you to adapt your strategy on the fly.
Boss Battles and Special Stages
In addition to the standard stages, Kunitsu-Gami features boss battles and unique stages that deviate from the core loop. Boss battles are a highlight, offering some of the best encounters in the game. These battles require deft dodging, well-timed parries, and strategic attacks, with each victory unlocking new jobs for villagers, adding depth to the gameplay.
Special stages introduce new scenarios, such as protecting a boat from Seethe attacks or managing villagers while Soh is incapacitated. These stages add variety and keep the gameplay fresh.
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Base-Building Mechanics
Outside the core loop, Kunitsu-Gami includes a base-building mechanic where Soh can instruct villagers to rebuild areas destroyed by the Seethe. This aspect is less engaging and can feel mundane compared to the rest of the game. However, completing these tasks rewards you with musubi, a crucial material for upgrading Soh and the villagers.
The requirement to backtrack and complete these base-building tasks can bog down the experience, and the implementation feels cumbersome. Ideally, these tasks could be managed through menus, allowing you to focus more on the action.
Visuals and Audio
Kunitsu-Gami excels in its presentation, with stunning visuals that bring the Japanese cultural elements to life. The ceremonial garb, traditional dances, and atmospheric music create an immersive experience. The game’s art direction and character design are noteworthy, enhancing the storytelling and overall appeal.
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The Good and the Bad
The Good
- Balanced Gameplay: The mixture of action and strategy creates a fun and intense experience.
- Variety: The gameplay variety, including different stages and boss battles, keeps the core loop from growing stagnant.
- Cultural Immersion: The deep Japanese cultural influence is beautifully realized.
The Bad
- Base-Building Implementation: The base-building mechanics are poorly integrated and could have been managed through menus.
- AI Issues: The Seethe AI sometimes sabotages itself, breaking the flow of combat.
Conclusion
Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess is a refreshing addition to Capcom’s repertoire, offering a unique blend of action and strategy. Despite some flaws, particularly in the base-building mechanics, the game’s engaging core loop and cultural richness make it a standout experience. Capcom has once again demonstrated its ability to innovate and create compelling new IPs. Kunitsu-Gami may well be the start of the next great Capcom franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess about?
A: Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess is an action-strategy game where you play as Soh, a samurai protecting a divine maiden, Yoshiro, as she purges a demonic plague from Mt. Kafuku. The game combines combat, strategy, and base-building elements in a Japanese folklore-inspired setting.
Q: What are the main gameplay mechanics in Kunitsu-Gami?
A: The game features a day/night cycle. During the day, you rescue villagers, purge defilement, and prepare defenses. At night, you engage in hack-and-slash combat against waves of demons. Additionally, there are base-building mechanics for upgrading your character and villagers.
Q: How does the day/night cycle work?
A: During the day, you focus on strategy, such as rescuing villagers and preparing for the night. At night, the game shifts to action-packed combat, where you defend against waves of enemies. Your daytime preparations impact your nighttime success.
Q: What are the main challenges in the game?
A: The main challenges include strategic resource management during the day, intense combat at night, and dealing with various types of demons. Additionally, base-building tasks require you to revisit and rebuild areas, which can be tedious.
Q: How is the cultural influence depicted in the game?
A: The game draws heavily from Japanese culture, featuring traditional ceremonial garb, dances, and music. The visuals and audio work together to create an immersive experience that feels like a piece of Japanese folklore.
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Q: Are there boss battles in Kunitsu-Gami?
A: Yes, the game includes boss battles that are among the best encounters. These battles require skillful dodging, parrying, and strategic attacks. Defeating bosses unlocks new jobs for villagers, adding depth to the gameplay.
Q: What are the weaknesses of Kunitsu-Gami?
A: The main weaknesses are the poorly implemented base-building mechanics, which can feel mundane and drag down the pace, and occasional AI issues with the Seethe enemies that break the flow of combat.
Q: Is Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess worth playing?
A: Despite some flaws, Kunitsu-Gami offers a unique and engaging experience with its blend of action and strategy, cultural richness, and varied gameplay. It is a notable addition to Capcom’s lineup and worth playing for fans of the genre.