In case you didn’t know, personally, I have a thing for mythology or folklore or culture to put it simply and Japanese yokai is on a whole different level. It’s one of the many reasons why I love Ghostwire: Tokyo to begin with. But during Gamescom Asia 2024, Capcom showcased Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, a game that’s out and available for purchase. Sure, they did have other games on the floor like the upcoming Monster Hunter Wild which you can read about it here – but after the demo with Kunitsu-Gami, I honestly want more of it.
Gamescom Asia 2024 Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
A Little bit about the Story
To keep it short and sweet, you – the player will play the character Soh who guides Maiden Yoshiro throughout the village that’s been affected by a defilement – which corrupts the entire Mountain Kafuku with evil lurking around – in the form of yokai. Your task is to find the two masks containing the power of the Goddess, and with the help of that – work with the rescued villagers to purge the defilement by a ritual to bring harmony. You will go through the night and day cycle as you fulfil your mission by bringing that peace to the entire mountain.
What I Enjoyed during the Demo
The Concept of Kagura Present in the Game
As I said before, I have a huge appreciation towards games that are rich in culture and Kagura is a beautiful form of art that’s used to entertain the gods (or in Japanese, Kami) where they use music and dance to honour the gods – specifically performed during Shinto religious ceremonies. Now, throughout the game demo, we noticed Maiden Yoshiro and every move she makes is delicate, beautiful and mesmerizing in every way possible. The designers did an absolutely stellar job of capturing her movements and not rushing the process of it. The Demo on Steam we checked after showcases that a lot better than the one on the floor as it was combat-heavy.
Every move, though it can be time-consuming in certain ways, especially when you see the Day and Night time factor affecting the gameplay – you could just sit down, and relax yourself while she sways to the music and moves as Soh creates the path for her. I have a thing for a person’s eye because a person’s eye speaks volumes even when they don’t say a word. Yoshiro’s eyes give a divine and mystique feel that I have not come across any other game character so far. There’s a calming sense of feeling and playing as Soh, I want to make sure that I protect her with all my heart.
The Unique Combat Mechanism
My first ever console was the PS2, and I remember a bunch of Capcom titles back then (Devil May Cry being my Favourite) where the combat was not just fast but equally strategic, which keeps you on the toe throughout the game – really does test your reflexes and your critical thinking. I experienced exactly that with the Kunitsu-Gami. During the demo, we ventured into this area where there’s a Corrupted Tori Gate which has this arachnid-like enclosure which spews out The Seethe, the creature you will fight throughout the game – and some mini-bosses here and there.
So, throughout the demo, it teaches you to perform combo attacks if you press certain buttons, similar to games like Devil May Cry for instance. Throughout the combat, it felt pretty amazing as you do need to be fast before it starts attacking Yoshiro – and more importantly, save yourself and the other villagers who are helping you to fight the monster. But what I didn’t expect is the POV of the game – it isn’t limited to a certain plane.
You can move the camera around to give a completely different experience to the game, like from a 2.5D plane to a 3D plane of sorts. That change in perspective alone was a huge wow factor for me. With that and the combat combination, it took the experience to a whole new level. When Soh’s Katana swishes while you attack, the trail of light visuals is so beautiful to look at. You will be awed by the details in the game – trust us. It’s just that beautiful.
What We Didn’t Get to Experience in the Demo
The game brings more Japanese-rich Culture to the players and that benefits your gameplay as you go along such as the Stamp Book, Musubi Upgrades, Sweets, Tsuba Guards, Dance Attacks, Archery Skills, Talismans and the Emaki Scrolls. So, you are expecting quite a solid game right here – as it doesn’t limit to a certain play.
But that said…
For a single-player game, based on the demo, which lasted 15 minutes and I went through a lot faster than I expected – I just wanted more out of the game. Little did I know that it’s been out for a while and on Steam, you can pick up Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess with a 20% discount until 29th October 2024. So, if you enjoy a unique gameplay experience that brings you back in time during the era of PS2 with elements of Japanese Mythology and the absolutely beautiful art that captivated your eyes, I have a good feeling – this is a game you should give it a go. Or perhaps, try the Demo that’s available on Steam.
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