It’s not every day a major publisher decides to take a risk on a new concept. Modern video games can be incredibly expensive to make, so generally, it’s sensible for companies to stick to what’s safe. Kunitsu-Gami is the exact opposite of a safe investment from Capcom. That’s why it immediately captured my attention when it was unveiled last year.
Having now completed the game, I can tell you that it’s every bit as unapologetically odd and experimental as the trailers made it out to be. Even so, fresh and wacky ideas don’t necessarily translate into an enjoyable, polished product. So, does Kunitsu-Gami manage to succeed in this regard? If the title of this review didn’t give it away already, the answer is a resounding yes.
What Exactly is Kunitsu-Gami?
I have seen many describe this game as being reminiscent of a bygone era in gaming. Think back to the good old PS2 days when 3D game design was beginning to mature. During this era, it wasn’t uncommon for major publishers to greenlight some truly outlandish ideas for games. If Kunitsu-Gami was made all the way back in 2005, it would fit in perfectly with the gaming landscape of that time.
However, it is somehow not a game from that era and feels like a significant industry outlier because of that. This is a title that’s not afraid to follow a unique vision, even if it alienates some of its potential audience. Still, that’s not to say that Kunitsu-Gami doesn’t have a clear vision, it’s just an incredibly niche one.
With this in mind, it’s far from impossible to grasp the game’s general structure. Those who have experience with tower defense titles will likely have the easiest time adapting to the quirks of the action and real-time strategy blend here. Nevertheless, no game fully compares to Kunitsu-Gami, and that’s what makes it so special.
Walking the Path
The goal of each stage is simple. The player character, Soh, must guide a maiden named Yoshiro from point A to B so she can purge something known as “the defilement” from the Torii gates along her path. You’re not alone in this task, as the villagers of Mt. Kafuku are willing to help out.
Eventually, monsters referred to as the Seethe will begin emerging from these Torii gates, threatening to deplete Yoshiro’s health bar. With the help of the villagers, the player must keep these enemies at bay, or it’s game over. As long as you can keep things under control, however, there’s nothing to worry about.
Initially, this is about as easy as it sounds. The first couple of stages can quickly be conquered by simply sending the villagers to form a wall around the defiled Torii gates. I assume the reason for this is to ease players into a style of gameplay they are most likely not familiar with.
Eventually, as the player’s set of tools and options increases, so does the complexity of the stages. Relying on the same strategy again and again will not work, resulting in inevitable failure. That’s not to say that the game is an overwhelming challenge. As a matter of fact, it’s not too difficult to beat most stages on the first try, but doing so optimally is much less probable.
Make the Most of Your Time
If there’s one thing that defines the gameplay of Kunitsu-Gami, it’s time management. The day and night cycle featured here is one of the most effective I’ve experienced in a game outside of Minecraft. In fact, on the surface, it works in a similar fashion. During the daytime, stages can be freely explored with no immediate Seethe threat.
On the other hand, things become a lot more hostile during nighttime. If you aren’t prepared to face a horde of monsters by the time the sun sets, you better act quickly. That’s why it’s necessary to start planning for an attack the moment a stage is entered.
Time influences most decisions in Kunitsu-Gami. The genius of the action component is the fact that Soh has to travel everywhere on foot. Unlike many other strategy games, you do not have immediate access to every corner of the map. This forces the player to think fast about how they should prioritize their actions.
For example, if the Seethe attacks from two Torii gates, Soh can only assist at one. It’s possible to call any active villager to your location, but the range of where you can send villagers is limited. If you overly neglect one of the gates, you will pay the price. This is why it’s important to choose your actions wisely.
Kunitsu-Gami is Full of Variety and Replayability
One of the more impressive aspects of Kunitsu-Gami is its ability to recontextualize its mechanics and provide new challenges. It’s a game that tends to throw curveballs into the mix just as you think you’re getting the hang of things. This does a great job of keeping the game from getting stale.
For instance, there’s a stage early on where Soh becomes stuck in their spirit form, meaning that they can’t attack or use Tsuba Guards, which normally allows players to unleash devastating powers. This causes the gameplay to focus purely on its strategic elements.
Unfortunately, not every stage is created equally, but almost all of them have something worthwhile to offer. This is especially the case with the optional challenges that can be tackled for various rewards. It’s sometimes possible to complete these challenges the first time you beat a stage, but the chances are that you won’t.
With this in mind, Kunitsu-Gami is a game that’s practically made for challenge runs. With the addition of a New Game Plus mode that contains exclusive rewards, the game is effortlessly replayable. There are so many ways to approach stages, and it’s satisfying to come up with creative solutions to problems.
Action or Strategy?
Some may be curious to know if there is a heavier emphasis on action or a focus on strategy. The balance of these two elements is often more even than one might expect. That being said, there are times when the game leans on one aspect more than the other. To play optimally, one will need to master both.
I’d say that approaching Kunitsu-Gami as a real-time strategy game first will net the most enjoyment for the majority of players. This doesn’t mean that there is little for fans of action games to enjoy here. Soh’s moveset may be limited at first, but almost everything has a use case.
It’s always worth preparing for a stage by equipping the correct items in advance. Fortunately, every stage can instantly be restarted with the option to change equipment, and failing to protect Yoshiro only sends the player back to the beginning of the night, minimizing frustration.
The player can earn new masks by defeating bosses. This allows Soh to assign new roles to the villagers, opening up new tactics and ways to spend resources. While some roles can be applied to more situations than others, they all serve a purpose.
A Mythical Mountain Journey
Kunitsu-Gami benefits a good deal from its minimalist narrative presentation. It features little dialogue and instead chooses to let the gameplay do most of the talking. Again, this approach is somewhat similar to experimental, classic PS2 games such as Shadow of the Colossus. It allows the player to soak in the general atmosphere and its associated emotions.
As an example of this, after a stage is completed, it can be used as a base to upgrade roles, manage manual saves, and more. What’s neat about this is the fact that the player gets to witness the results of their efforts. Even after an area is free of the Seethe, villagers are still coming together to help each other out and rebuild.
Before all that, though, the player still needs to deal with the threat. The sense of dread when the Seethe attack is palpable. They can even look quite frightening for a game that only has a T rating. It makes the peaceful moments after battles all the more rewarding.
In a way, it’s somewhat touching and beautiful to see a game emphasize the value of community through its mechanics and environments. As Soh, you may be very capable and powerful, but everyone matters. One can willingly decide to handicap themselves, but victory is always more likely by working as a team.
Unforgettable Style
Compared to something such as last year’s Resident Evil 4 remake, Kunitsu-Gami definitely isn’t the most technically impressive RE Engine game out there. However, it almost completely makes up for this with its outstanding art direction. The overall presentation is top-notch, and some of the methods utilized to achieve it are really imaginative.
To my knowledge, every object in the game originated as a real-world miniature and was scanned in as a 3D model. Even the clothing originates from real costumes made specifically for the game. The result of all this is an unquestionably unique style that adds to the quality of Kunitsu-Gami.
Surprisingly, smaller objects still have a lot of work put into them. The attention to detail on items such as Mazo Talismans is nothing short of impressive. There are even lovingly rendered sweets to inspect with equally detailed descriptions. None of this is necessary, but it really showcases the passion that went into making this game.
On another note, the soundtrack contains several gorgeous pieces that enhance the tone and atmosphere of the game. After a tense battle, nothing feels better than listening to some soothing piano while restoring a base. Sometimes I would simply find myself walking around just to listen to the music.
We Need More Games Like Kunitsu-Gami
I have a high degree of respect for games that are willing to take big risks, even if I don’t love all of them. Fortunately, Kunitsu-Gami is a title that I very much love and won’t soon forget. The blend of action and strategy works shockingly well, and I hope to see more of it in some form, whether it’s a sequel or something else entirely.
If you are still somehow undecided on whether or not to play this title, it’s worth noting that a demo is currently available to download. There is no time limit on how much one can play, and the stages included can be replayed as many times as one wishes. If that wasn’t enough, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will gain access to the full game when it launches. There’s really no excuse to not try the game at least once.
This title is up there with some of the greatest Capcom titles in recent years. I’m glad that they decided to take a chance and let their developers tap into their creativity. When I think of them, I also think of the villagers combining their efforts to achieve a common goal. Kunitsu-Gami is truly one of the most artistically fulfilling games of the year.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on July 19.
Disclaimer: Capcom provided Final Weapon with a Steam copy of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess for review purposes.
