Capcom has been on a roll the last few years. There was a bleak period for the company, but I feel since the release of “Monster Hunter: World” the company has been on a constant upward trajectory that has gotten so high they’ve garnered the reputation of untouchable at this point. Not that everything they release is a complete banger, but they are at a point where they can take risks and try things that are more unique. “Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess” is very much one of these titles. This game is a genre that isn’t well known in the AAA space, but often mostly in smaller indies or even mobile games. If I had to boil it down, it’s essentially a tower defense game, but with Capcom’s backing and budget they really put a lot of polish into this to make this feel like a grander experience, while this genre isn’t necessarily my favorite, it was hard to ignore the fun that can be had here and how much that was gotten right.
The game unfolds on the once serene Mt. Kafuku, a land blessed by nature and protected by sacred masks infused with the Goddess’ powers. This tranquility is shattered when a dark force known as the “defilement” corrupts the mountain, stealing the sacred masks and spreading despair among the villagers. Gameplay is divided into two dynamic phases. By day, you enter a preparatory phase where our lead Soh must explore the transformed village, rescue villagers, and set up defensive contraptions. As night descends, malevolent spirits called the “Seethe” invade through Torii gates, and here you must ally with the rescued villagers to defend Yorshiro from these hostile forces until dawn.
Strategic placement and role assignment of villagers are crucial. A woodcutter becomes a formidable melee attacker, while an archer offers vital ranged support. Soh and the villagers can be equipped with one of twelve masks, each bestowing divine powers to aid in their defense. Villager roles and positions can be adjusted during combat to respond to the evolving threat. In the heat of battle, if Soh is severely injured, he enters “Spirit mode,” allowing him to continue directing the villagers. This epic journey is not only a fight against external darkness but also a quest for inner strength and enlightenment, aiming to restore Mt. Kafuku’s natural harmony and return the villagers to their peaceful existence under the Goddess’ protection.
While “Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess” is a great game, it’s not without some faults. The skillsets you start out with feel very limiting for a significant amount of the game, it’s not until after purifying the sixth village where you can finally access your skill tree and unlock some things that feel like basic fundamentals such as quick attack or parrying. Mileage of this game will vary depending on how much you like the genre, I often don’t like tower defense games due to them stressing me out, but the fun hack and slash nature of this gameplay really helped me power through and got me addicted to its gameplay loop. If you’re on the fence on checking this one out, I highly suggest you at the very least download the free demo that Capcom released just to see if this is your cup of tea.
8/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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