Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess looks like a throwback to an earlier time within the recreation trade. The experimental age of the 2000s the place builders had the liberty to fiddle with style conference and aesthetics. The period that spawned cult hits like God Hand, Okami, and Onimusha. In that spirit, Capcom has developed a recreation that blends two disparate genres, leading to one among 2024’s most nice surprises.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Evaluate – Following The Path
The set-up for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess performs out like a people story. A mountain has develop into infested with a demonic pressure often known as the Seethe. The one one who can purify the mountain is a priestess named Yoshiro. Given how deadly the Seethe is, Yoshiro summons a spirit warrior named Soh to guard her and supply steering. However Soh is only one warrior. In the event that they intend to save lots of the mountain and its individuals, Soh should strategically recruit and command native villagers to guard Yoshiro and purify the land one step at a time.
With that easy premise, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess frames its complete gameplay loop: a mixture of third-person motion, and real-time tower protection. You discover the map by day, purifying areas, recruiting villagers, and guiding Yoshiro in the direction of a torii gate. By evening, you and the villagers defend Yoshiro from waves of Seethe. Get Yoshiro to purify all torii gates within the space and also you full the extent.
The concept of mixing tactical technique and fast-paced motion is not precisely new in video games however Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess ‘gameplay demonstrates a excessive degree of polish and intentional design.
That is most obvious in the way it melds motion and technique collectively. Usually, Soh’s fight prowess isn’t any totally different from different hack-and-slash protagonists. Gentle assault, heavy assault, block, and dodge. However enemy waves are aggressive and quite a few.
You may feasibly bottleneck one wave of Seethe with a string of lethal assaults, however what in regards to the two different waves coming elsewhere? You may slice by ground-based enemies, however what in regards to the lethal aerial assassins? What occurs when Seethe makes it to Yoshiro and also you’re on the opposite aspect of the map? What occurs whenever you get overwhelmed?
Enter the real-time protection components. Purifying an space grants you crystals. Crystals can be utilized to assign villagers totally different roles. These roles can vary from easy axe fighters and archers to extra complicated sumo wrestlers and cannoneers. Crystals additionally purify Yoshiro’s path to the torii gates, letting her progress. Do you attempt to get Yoshiro to the aim rapidly, or do you spend money on sturdy defenses and take your time?
The time and useful resource administration in these ranges compounds with the introduction of the craftsman. The craftsman can restore areas or traps in a degree, which may both decelerate Seethe or improve your allies. This results in loads of small tactical choices that may imply victory or defeat through the day. A single harm entice can imply the distinction between being overwhelmed and attending to the tip.
Just like the motion sections, the technique components of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess are easy in isolation. If you happen to’re acquainted with the style, varied staples are current and accounted for – low cost dependable melee and ranged models, pricey help models, expensive devoted models, and so forth.. However when mixed with the strong enemy selection and Soh’s responsive fight, the complete expertise is an electrical rush of time administration and intense sieges.
It’s a implausible gameplay basis made juicier with considerate degree design. Every map within the recreation is compact; you’ll be able to go from finish to finish in a couple of minute. Every component of the map is deliberately positioned – each fork within the path, each branching path, each bottleneck. Moreover, each single map has some distinctive environmental or architectural twist – managing visibility in a darkish cave, coordinating naval fight on a storm-ridden lake, the checklist goes on.
However the greatest draw by far is how refined and easy unit administration is. Place a unit in an space, and they’ll assault something inside a sure space. If they are a protection unit they’ll buff, debuff, or heal the identical means. It might not be as complicated as Command & Conquer, however for one thing extra fast-paced it really works.
If there may be one space the place the sport’s fight stretches too skinny, it’s within the boss fights. They will vary from complicated multi-level assessments of spatial reasoning and ways to annoying well being sponges with tedious unblockable assaults; the supply of some ragequits.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Evaluate – Restoring The Mountain
Along with satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess’ macro development is nice. Clearing ranges earns you Musubi, which can be utilized to enhance the stats of various unit varieties or unlock extra talents for Soh. These enhancements vary from easy well being and harm will increase to unlocking extra complicated instructions to your models.
Each Musubi and crystals you earn carry over between ranges, including a layer of long-term administration. There have been quite a lot of events the place I needed to make due with primary axemen and archers as a result of I blew my crystal finances on riflemen and spearmen in a boss combat. Conversely, I put my Musubi into maxing out the essential melee and ranged models then put the rest into Soh’s tactical fight choices. It let me get essentially the most out of the most cost effective choices in addition to present a useful resource reserve if I needed to indulge in additional experimental configurations.
Musubi and crystals will also be earned by some gentle base administration. Finishing a degree unlocks a purified model of it on the world map. These are hub areas the place you’ll be able to assign villagers to totally different renovation tasks like fixing up a shrine or restoring destroyed jizo statues. These tasks end whenever you full a sure variety of ranges. Due to this, you might be inspired to verify again in every space, organising new assignments and amassing rewards.
What stops these sections from changing into a tedious slog is the presentation. It is the sport expressing the Shinto perception of cherishing nature in addition to exhibiting the clear progress you are having in restoring order.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Evaluate – The Similar Story Informed As soon as Extra
If there may be an space the place Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is missing, it’s in narrative storytelling. Gameplay-wise, the marketing campaign is well-paced and full of twists and turns. However when it comes to story and character, it’s largely wordless cutscenes.
It largely works because of the sport’s dedication to sensation. All the things from the kaleidoscopic artwork route to the expressive dancing efficiency seize to the moody acoustic soundtrack is really elevating. It’s a vibe-driven expertise, and the vibes are sturdy.
Simply how rewarding is that this gameplay? Upon ending the story, New Sport Plus mode unlocked, and I instantly began it. That could be a testomony to the craftsmanship and care Capcom put into this title, and I am hoping it’s the begin of a brand new sequence.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Evaluate | Closing Ideas
A barebones story and a few annoying boss fights apart, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a daring, assured mixture of fast-paced motion and thrilling tactical administration. If you happen to love motion or technique, this recreation is a must-play. Test it out.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was reviewed on PlayStation 5 with a duplicate offered by Capcom over the course of 19 hours of gameplay – all screenshots had been taken through the technique of assessment.