Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is likely one of the most original video games of 2024, mixing numerous completely different gameplay genres right into a cohesive bundle.
The actual-time motion, real-time technique, and tower-defense mechanics work surprisingly effectively collectively. With its attractive traditional Japanese folklore aesthetic, it’s simply as pleasing to take a look at as it’s enjoyable to play.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess plot
The sport follows two characters: Soh, the warrior, and Yoshiro, the Maiden of Mt. Kafuku. Someday, monsters known as “The Seethe” take excessive of Mt. Kafuku and overpower each of them, prompting them to must make their means down the mountain and purify areas alongside the best way.
Path of the Goddess is comparatively mild on story points and feels extra like background with a purpose to give attention to the gameplay. In reality, there’s completely no spoken dialogue in anyway, and any story bits are advised by synopsis. It’s a pleasant change of tempo to not be slowed down with dialogue and simply let Soh and Yoshiro’s physique language do the speaking.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess characters
Soh and Yoshiro are actually the one characters which have any form of persona in any respect, with Soh defending her as she makes her means down the mountain. Each of them don’t actually undergo any character growth, and the villagers that they rescue are actually faceless minions.
Credit score: Capcom
Nevertheless, the absence of characterization didn’t trouble me in the long term as a result of sport’s distinctive gameplay loop. The Japanese yokai impressed bosses are a giant spotlight, too. What they lack in persona, they make up for grand spectacle and inventive design.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess mechanics
In Path of the Goddess, gameplay is break up into two day time and nighttime components. Throughout the day, Soh prepares for battle by rescuing villagers and turning them into their very own troopers. Alongside the best way, you discover crystals that assist Yoshiro forge a path for her to slowly stroll to the tip of the map and purify the exit.
Credit score: Capcom
Even the preparation has an air of rigidity as a result of Soh is on a clock, and it’s a must to prioritize whether or not you wish to discover the entire villagers first or purify completely different aspect areas of the stage first. Extra villagers means extra allies to battle with, however unlocking aspect areas results in discovering extra tools and gadgets. It’s a good way to maintain gamers on their toes all through your entire time — not simply the battles.
The villagers may be turned into completely different roles, corresponding to healer or marksman, by spending crystals discovered all through the stage. The roles you choose are essential to your success at night time when the monsters come out. The method is enjoyable as a result of you possibly can swap their roles on the fly and experiment.
At night time, Soh’s aim is to protect Yoshiro and battle off the monsters till dawn. What makes Path of the Goddess completely different from different tower protection video games is that Soh isn’t a passive observer. Whereas the villagers auto-attack incoming enemies, Soh is free to run round and be part of within the fights. He may give instructions to villagers to both collect round Yoshiro to guard her or individually place them all through the stage. All of those completely different mechanics saved me engaged in each single stage in a means that related video games haven’t. I used to be actively enjoying a task slightly than simply sitting again and letting the auto-attacks do all of the work for me.
Credit score: Capcom
After purifying a stage, Soh can go to them in particular person and rebuild the village in that space to earn rewards corresponding to extra Musabi, that are ability factors. It’s a good way to decelerate and reset the sport’s pacing in between battles. I additionally recognize how easy the development is. You should use ability factors you’ve earned to improve roles, corresponding to giving your Sumo extra assault energy — and even have Soh study new strikes, together with the flexibility to make use of a bow and arrow to hit flying enemies. It’s an extremely easy system that retains Path of the Goddess enjoyable to play with out unnecessarily complicated mechanics
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess graphics
Path of the Goddess has attractive artwork route impressed by Japanese folklore. The monster and boss designs are memorable, with loads of selection in addition. You battle every part from ghosts to large frogs, and the distinct Japanese folklore fashion makes Path of the Goddess distinct.
Credit score: Capcom
Nevertheless, a few of the sport’s environmental graphical textures have low high quality and determination. They aren’t very detailed and it appears like I used to be enjoying a Nintendo Change sport slightly than a PS5 title.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess soundtrack and audio
Since Path of the Goddess options no spoken dialogue, it’s as much as the sport’s audio and music to do numerous heavy lifting. Fortunately, the soundtrack sounds nice with its emphasis on flutes and drums. This may be heard most prominently throughout the battle theme, the place the drums go into overdrive, making me really feel like I’m commanding a military.
Credit score: Capcom
The soundtrack additionally strays away from modern-day devices, like electrical guitars, with a purpose to preserve the genuine Japanese folklore aesthetic. My private favourite monitor is the one which performs whereas Soh is attending to bases in between missions and rebuilding them. It is extremely stripped again and naked with easy piano melodies, and it actually stands out amongst the remainder of the tracks that characteristic heavy instrumentation.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess problem and problem
Path of the Goddess isn’t notably troublesome so long as you put together for the upcoming night time.
Credit score: Capcom
Whether or not you succeed is all depending on the place you place your villagers to battle again in opposition to the monsters. In the event you’re having bother, typically simply choosing the right class would possibly make the distinction between successful and dropping.
A few of the non-compulsory targets in levels may be troublesome to attain throughout your first time enjoying them, however you possibly can all the time come again with stronger items afterward and full them.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess efficiency
Path of the Goddess runs effectively with little or no efficiency points. The loading screens take a bit extra time to load up then I’d like (round 9-10 seconds), however it’s probably not value worrying about an excessive amount of.
Is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess value getting?
For the principle story, you’re round 10 to fifteen hours to succeed in the tip. A $50 price ticket could sound hefty, however Path of the Goddess has loads of replay worth as you possibly can return to earlier levels to finish non-compulsory targets. There’s additionally a New Sport Plus if you end the sport for the primary time, and there are rewards that may solely be unlocked when replaying it.
There are just a few tech points right here and there, however with its nice artwork route and robust gameplay loop, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a standout title in 2024.
