Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review – A Stylish and Heavily Japanese-Influenced Take on the Tower Defense Genre

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess stands out as a Japanese-inspired single-player Kagura Action strategy game. Set on a defiled mountain, the game was completed in approximately 16 hours, offering a well-balanced experience that blends tower defense and action elements. However, its narrative and genre may leave room for improvement. This game is Capcom’s take on the tower defense genre which was previously mentioned in a hands-on preview.

Story

In the game, you’ll witness the shrine of Maiden Yoshiro gets consumed by an unknown creature, prompting our awakening as the protagonist Soh. Despite our efforts to protect the Maiden, both Soh’s power and a villager mask are absorbed by the creature.

Unable to confront the enemy, we retreat from the mountain summit, embarking on a journey to reclaim Soh’s abilities and the mask. Throughout the game, the focus remains on rescuing villagers, purging defilement, battling bosses, and recovering masks. While steeped in Japanese mythology and folklore, the story itself feels somewhat linear and predictable. The relationship between Soh and Maiden lacks depth, with Soh primarily acting as her guardian rather than an active participant in the narrative.

Besides the main storyline, Kunitsu-Gami excels in integrating elements of Japanese mythology and folklore. The enemies, such as the Seethe and bosses, draw inspiration from real monsters in folklore like the Kamaitachi. Traditionally depicted as cute weasels, Kunitsu-Gami transforms them into horrifying and menacing creatures, creating a fresh and intense horror atmosphere. While these designs are visually striking, the game falls short in providing clear motivations for their presence. The narrative lacks explanations for their appearance and what occurs after their defeat.

Overall, while the storyline remains somewhat plain, the game benefits greatly from Capcom’s Re Engine, which enhances character designs and environments.

Gameplay

Gameplay revolves around two phases: preparation and defense. By day, players purify villagers and gather resources, preparing for nightly defenses against the Seethe. Each stage of preparation presents unique challenges, with diverse environments that influence strategic choices. Some stages offer branching paths, each with its own set of risks and rewards, including opportunities to build defenses or repair structures. This variability encourages replayability, ensuring a fresh experience with each attempt.

During the defense phase of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess players must review and adapt to evolving waves of enemies. They can opt to position villagers strategically or take risks by using the main character to maneuver across the map. Essential tools like Tsuba Guards and Mazo Talisman play crucial roles, allowing for adjustments mid-stage without losing progress. Notably, saving progress at night eliminates the need to restart entire stages, ensuring fluid gameplay.

Beyond traditional tower defense, the game features distinctive boss battles that diverge into action-oriented gameplay. While players still develop villagers, these encounters unfold on expansive battlefields where bosses move dynamically. This dynamic requires strategic decision-making regarding attack and defense commands. Soh typically leads the charge against bosses, demanding precise timing for dodging, parrying, and exploiting weaknesses—a tougher challenge compared to standard tower defense stages.

The game also emphasizes base management. Each completed stage becomes a new base, necessitating reconstruction and offering rewards like Musubi for upgrading Soh and the villagers. The upgrade system is straightforward yet robust and allows players to enhance various skills and attributes. Villagers can unlock new abilities through six upgrades, while four additional upgrades focus on enhancing attack and health. Soh benefits from upgrades in sword styles, archery, and additional buffs, ensuring a balanced and accessible progression system.

Japanese Culture

Another standout feature of this game is definitely the portrayal of Japanese culture. The art style and music beautifully evoke Japanese mythology and folklore, reminiscent of Capcom’s Okami. The game’s environments and the design of the Seethe creates a sense of horror intertwined with the essence of Japanese folklore and Yokai. The art direction blends modern game design with elements of Ukiyo-e, noticeable in details such as the villagers depicted on the command screen. While not as extensively used as in Okami, Ukiyo-e influences are integrated throughout the game, adding to its charm and appeal.

Further enriching the cultural experience are Japanese traditional sweets, known as Wagashi, which players can obtain as rewards for base rebuilding. These sweets serve as a delightful interaction element with the Maiden, offering players a glimpse into Japanese culinary culture and the opportunity to observe her enjoying different varieties.

The game’s commitment to Japanese culture is also evident in its music, featuring traditional instruments like Taiko drums, Shamisen, Koto, and Shakuhachi. This eclectic mix sets a peaceful tone during preparation phases and intensifies the battle atmosphere during defense phases. For enthusiasts of traditional Japanese music, the game provides a rich auditory experience. Additionally, the developers skillfully blend modern instruments into certain stages and boss battles, adding energy and diversity to the soundtrack while maintaining specific themes.

Points of Improvement

As players progress through the game, they’ll notice a significant increase in difficulty. This escalation encourages strategic thinking as players must carefully plan each stage, adjust equipment, and experiment with different character classes to find optimal strategies. Successfully overcoming these hurdles rewards players with Musubi, which can be used to enhance Soh and villagers, motivating replay of previous stages for further progression.

However, throughout the review of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess there are occasional issues with the villagers’ AI. For instance, despite the presence of hazardous areas near gates that cause damage, villagers may sometimes venture into these zones. Addressing these AI quirks would enhance gameplay consistency.

Despite its strengths in blending tower defense with action elements, the game may struggle to attract newcomers to the tower defense genre. Nonetheless, Capcom’s expertise in action game mechanics shines through, evident in the game’s smooth animations and engaging combat sequences. For players seeking a hybrid experience that challenges both strategic thinking and reflexes, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess can deliver a compelling adventure.

Verdict

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess shines as a remarkable game that celebrates Japanese culture through its art style, music, and even the subtle details like traditional Japanese sweets. Capcom’s meticulous attention to detail, evident in the 3D modeling and smooth animations of Soh, underscores their commitment to delivering a polished action experience. Despite these strengths, the game’s limited variety in sword styles is a drawback, limiting the exploration of different playstyles. On the upside, the game features an accessible system that is easy to grasp without overwhelming complexity.

As someone who values storytelling, I found the narrative and genre implementation to be part of its weaker aspects. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic about the game’s potential to evolve into a cornerstone IP for Capcom in the future. A demo of the game is currently available on Steam. For more gaming reviews similar to the Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review, check here.

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