Kaizen Recreation Works first dropped on my radar with Paradise Killer–A story recreation from 2020 that was virtually as a lot enjoyable to discover as to learn its intoxicating prose whereas studying extra about its world and vibrant characters. At first, plainly their newest recreation, Promise Mascot Company, shares little of its DNA with Paradise Killer. Nonetheless, after spending virtually twenty hours in its pretty world, it’s clear that Kaizen Recreation Works is a studio that shouldn’t be judged by its cowl. Whereas Promise Mascot Company could reject any label utilized to it, I might heartily suggest it to anybody on the lookout for one thing wildly out of the odd and people who simply love good video games.
You play as Michi, higher identified by his yakuza title, The Janitor, who after failing a job miserably, is asserted useless by his mobster household and despatched away to a city that’s mentioned to have a curse that may kill any male yakuza visiting the place. This rural city within the Japanese province of Kyushu, Kaso-Machi, is residence to a failing mascot company that Michi is tasked with rejuvenating in order that he can repay his huge debt to the household. Now, you could surprise, what’s a mascot company? Effectively, you know the way mascots reside respiratory beings that are available in all styles and sizes? Sure, effectively they want employment too to advertise occasions and convey consideration to regardless of the employer wants. It’s your job, alongside your assistant Pinky–a mascot resembling a cut-off pinky finger–to make the Promise Mascot Company the best mascot company in Japan. All of the whereas you have to take care of the numerous secrets and techniques and tales of the residents of Kaso-Machi.
Often that is the half the place I have a tendency to attract comparisons between the sport I’m reviewing and different notable titles that you could be concentrate on. However Promise Mascot Company virtually defies being in comparison with the rest. In a way, it may be seen as a story journey recreation, the place you discover a compact open world and carry out duties for the group to recruit new mascots, improve the city of Kaso-Machi and help the mascots in fulfilling their desires. The predominant gameplay sees you driving round city in a beat-up truck to get to know the residents of this little village. There’s no getting out of your car, however you’ll by no means want to fret about fall injury or crashing into something. Upgrading the truck helps you get round as you’ll be leaping, boosting and driving your self off of hills or into the water. It’s all a part of the expertise as you get to know Kaso-Machi higher. The sport doesn’t simply lean into its absurdity however drenches itself in it, which finally ends up making the characters really feel extra relatable than I used to be anticipating. From mascots like Trororo, who’s coated in yam and has a singular dream, specifically selling the enjoyment of Grownup Movies (sure, actually), and even the people just like the trade instructor Miss. Wambui, who was assigned to this small rural city instructing English and might’t go away due to her love for the scholars and the countryside of Japan. The writing is great throughout the board and compliments the inventive design of all of the mascots, who grow to be memorable in their very own rights. It’s form of ingenious that as progress with the company, you’re requested to promote merchandise of your mascots to create further income sources, as a result of I now need nothing greater than merchandise for To-Fu, Neko Roll and Koke-Maru.
Everytime you ship out mascots on jobs, there’s a probability that issues will go improper, which is the place the sport transitions right into a minigame card-battler and also you’ll want to make use of the residents of Kaso-Machi as Help Heroes, who’re capable of take care of the issues. Issues vary from badly positioned packing containers, to defective merchandising machines and even obsessed followers that damage the occasion that the mascot is selling. You’ll get 60 seconds to lower the well being bar of the defective object by strategically taking part in playing cards with particular stats and actions. You solely get two action-points per battle, however as you chain collectively playing cards you may improve your actions to play costlier playing cards or draw new playing cards in your hand. At first these issues might be fairly a trouble, however you may improve your Help Heroes by serving to them with their issues by means of city quests or chatting with them commonly. As you progress by means of the sport, you begin to perceive how the programs interlink with each other. It’s not simply your earnings that start to soar as you develop and improve the Promise Mascot Company, however the city as effectively. Your connection to the city turns into central to the expertise. The sport could come off visually as darkish and brooding, however I discovered the expertise to show extremely healthful. Exploration felt simply nice as I discovered methods to finest navigate the city and perceive its routes and places.
It’s particularly the small particulars that Promise Mascot Company does proper. Whereas not the vast majority of the textual content is voice-acted, all of the cutscenes are totally voiced, in addition to the introductions to mascots, giving a lot character to everybody you meet alongside the best way. I particularly love that everytime you get to choose as Michi, you’re not instructed the road that Michi will reply with, however fairly the emotion or intent behind the dialogue. It’s one thing I desperately need to see in different narrative pushed video games, as I’ve come throughout video games so usually the place I wished to reply positively, however the opposing character would react in surprising methods. Right here no matter Michi will say I do know he’ll be both [supportive], [reassuring] or [direct]. It leaves the participant with freedom of selection in addition to giving the writers the liberty as to methods to painting Michi and whomever he’s speaking to. As I used to be taking part in Promise Mascot Company it began to present me the identical emotions as Paradise Killer, which might be the best praise I may give it. Kaizen Recreation Works has embraced its identification, and I feel that Promise Mascot Company is even higher than their earlier title. And my god, its soundtrack is very incredible. Using the artist Alpha Crome Yayo who has this incredible mix of lo-fi, Japanese Metropolis Pop and this ‘90s arcade really feel that matches the ambiance of Kaso-Machi completely at each flip. It’s the cherry on prime of this extraordinarily enjoyable sundae.
The most important downer right here is that the Nintendo Change model might be an absolute mess at instances. An inconsistent framerate, a delay in rendering of both 2D or 3D belongings, loading instances and particularly pop-in when driving across the open world make it a tough promote for anybody who can solely be taking part in this recreation on the Nintendo Change. Whereas I feel it nonetheless suffices and doesn’t detract from the expertise, in the event you occur to have one other platform out there to you, I’d suggest going with that. Simply because the sport seems like an homage to a distinct period of video games doesn’t imply it’s best to essentially need the sport to appear to be that. Two software program crashes occurred for me whereas taking part in and the ultimate act of the sport particularly suffered much more from stuttering framerates and small bugs and glitches.
Lastly, whereas I get pleasure from that the sport helps you to free to sort out the chapters and major quests everytime you need, I did discover myself having a lot enjoyable driving round and finishing all of the aspect aims early that I blazed by means of the final three chapters as soon as the company was working at most effectivity. Promise Mascot Company doesn’t essentially gate development, however for anybody on the market who’s involved in taking part in this recreation, don’t go away the principle quest hanging and goal to work together together with your mascots every time they’ve a ‘life satisfaction assessment’. I did all of those in a row (for all mascots) close to the top of the sport, and that’s one thing I wouldn’t essentially suggest to the vast majority of gamers. Technically it is a little bit because of an abundance of programs that may be overwhelming to maintain monitor of at first. So take your time, speak to Pinky usually when driving across the overworld and chat with individuals of curiosity you come throughout in your journey as quickly as you may.
Promise Mascot Company seems like a cult-game that was launched within the PS2 and GameCube period. I say this with nothing however love, as you may inform that a lot coronary heart went into conveying a enjoyable story, with lovable characters and a splendidly designed explorable world. It’s uncommon to return throughout video games lately that dare to be completely different: video games that don’t default to evaluating themselves to different video games or studios. In an business that’s turning into increasingly risk-averse, I used to be shocked by how refreshing Promise Mascot Company feels. However above all that, Promise Mascot Company is assured: assured in its capacity to decide to its weird world and gameplay that defies norms with a narrative that’s all about one fulfilling their very own desires. Whereas taking part in I might really feel the enjoyment the creators had in making this world and shaping its characters. Promise Mascot Company is not like something you’ve performed earlier than, however in the event you let it into your coronary heart (and select one other platform if potential) it’s an expertise that may stick with you for some time to return.