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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Shuichi Kawata
Producer(s)
  • Yoshiaki Hirabayashi
  • Masato Kumazawa
Designer(s)Maito Yamada
Artist(s)Shuichi Kawata
Composer(s)Chikara Aoshima
EngineRE Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseJuly 19, 2024
Genre(s)Action, strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an action-strategy game developed and published by Capcom. The game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on July 19, 2024. Upon release, it received generally positive reviews from critics, but failed to meet the sales expectations of Capcom.

Gameplay

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an action-strategy game played from a third-person perspective, and features elements from real-time strategy and tower defense games.[1][2] In the game, the player assumes control of Soh, who is tasked to protect a divine maiden named Yoshiro who must "purge and cleanse" villages of "defilement" and return the legendary Mt. Kafuku to peace.[3]

Gameplay is divided into two different parts. Daytime is the preparatory phase in which Soh must explore the village and rescue villagers, as well as setting up various contraptions. At night, evil spirits named the "Seethe" will invade the village from Torii gates, and the player must ally with the rescued villagers to defend Yoshiro from hostile attacks until sunrise.[4] Players can strategically place villagers in tactical positions, and assign them with different roles. For instance, a woodcutter is a powerful melee attacker, while an archer can provide ranged support. Players can also further equip Soh and the villagers with one of twelve masks that also grant them divine powers.[5] The position and the roles of the villagers can also be changed during combat.[6] If Soh becomes severely injured in the game, they will enter "Spirit mode", allowing them to continue issuing commands to other villagers.[3]

Development and release

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is developed by Capcom Development Division 1, the studio behind games such as Resident Evil and Devil May Cry.[7] Shuichi Kawata, who previously worked on Shinsekai: Into the Depths, is the game's lead director. Development of the game lasted for more than four years. Like Shinsekai and Ōkami, the game was heavily inspired by Japanese folklores.[8] Soh's combat was inspired by an ancient ceremonial form of dance named kagura, while enemy design was influenced by Japanese yokai.[9][10] The game is powered by Capcom's in-house RE Engine.[7]

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was officially revealed by Capcom in June 2023.[11] The game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on July 19, 2024, and was made available at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at launch. Players who pre-ordered the game received additional in-game items and an artbook.[3]

Capcom worked with Ningyo-Joruri Bunraku Theater supervising director Master Kanjuro Kiritake III to direct a bunraku prequel to the game.[12] It was released via YouTube on July 18, 2024 titled Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden’s Destiny.[13] According to Tairoku Nozoe, who wrote the script, it was the idea of Shuichi Kawata, game director, to have a prequel based on a bunraku due to Kawata being a fan.[14] Master Kanjuro agreed to help Kawata plan the bunraku despite his hesitation due to not having a concept idea in mind.[14]

In July 2024, the Capcom Next Summer livestream video on YouTube announced that a demo for the game was released with a collaboration alongside Ōkami until July 17, using costumes, weapons and music from the game.[15]

Folklore

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Seethe

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Gaki

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Gaki have an in-game description: Unable to eat as everything turns to dust in their mouths, Gaki are constantly suffering from never-ending hunger and thirst. They try to devour anything living in hopes of alleviating their appetites, using their senses of taste and sound to seek out traces of humans. Gaki are based on the Yōkai of the same name, which originated from Buddhist cosmology as Preta.[16]

Collectibles

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Ema Plaques

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Ema plaques are an in-game representation of Ema, a wooden board in which Shinto worshippers write prayers or wishes. Ema plaques serve a different purpose in game, however, instead serving as collectible descriptions of various characters/enemies you meet throughout the story. [17]

Emaki Scrolls

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Emaki scrolls are an in-game representation of Emakimono, traditional Japanese narrative scrolls, which consist of illustrations and calligraphy with the goal of telling a story. Emaki scrolls serve the same purpose in game, telling the story of Kunitsu-Gami through a unique medium.[18]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[19] The game was nominated for "Best Sim/Strategy Game" at The Game Awards 2024.[20]

Sales

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In November 2024, Capcom said that Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess had failed to meet sales expectations.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Fenlon, Wes (7 March 2024). "Hold on, is Capcom pulling a Brutal Legend with its new action game?". PC Gamer. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  2. ^ Higham, Michael (8 June 2024). "Action Tactics Game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Gets Release Date". IGN. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Romano, Sal (7 June 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess adds PS4 and Xbox One versions, launches July 19". Gematsu. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. ^ Ngan, Liv (6 March 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess reveals first gameplay at Xbox Partner Direct". Eurogamer. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  5. ^ Bailey, Kat (21 March 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Is Secretly a Real-Time Strategy Game - Xbox Partner Preview 2024". IGN. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  6. ^ Kamazawa, Masato (7 June 2024). "Breaking Down the New Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Trailer – Arriving July 19, Pre-Orders Open Now". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Ngan, Liv (14 June 2023). "Capcom give us some more breadcrumbs on the gorgeous Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  8. ^ Bonk, Lawrence (7 March 2024). "Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is officially arriving this year". Engadget. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. ^ Cope, Alexander (8 June 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess FAQ: Xbox Game Pass, gameplay, and everything else you need to know". Windows Central. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  10. ^ Kumazawa, Masato (6 March 2024). "Xbox Partner Preview – Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the Newest Action Strategy Game from Capcom, Releases Later This Year". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  11. ^ Barbosa, Alessandro (11 June 2023). "Capcom Reveals New Onimusha-Like Action Game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess". GameSpot. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Bunraku, traditional Japanese puppet theater, and gaming come together in the Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess prequel bunraku play 'Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny,' available for free now!". Kunitsu-Gami.com. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  13. ^ "A Blending of Traditional Arts Symbolic of Japan with Video Games: Launching tomorrow, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess also featured in a Unique Collaboration with Ningyo Joruri Bunraku Puppet Theatre!" (PDF). Capcom. 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b Yamaguchi, Sebastian (18 July 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess: How Capcom Created a Prequel Story Through Traditional Japanese Puppeteering". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  15. ^ Liu, Stephanie (2 July 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami Demo With Okami Collaboration Now Available". Siliconera.
  16. ^ McNicholl, Adeana (22 August 2024). "Of Ancestors and Ghosts: How Preta Narratives Constructed Buddhist Cosmology and Shaped Buddhist Ethics". Oxford Academic. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  17. ^ O'Connell, Ronan (31 December 2021). "How these Japanese prayer plaques became symbols of hope". National Geographic. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  18. ^ Willmann, Anna (November 2012). "Japanese Illustrated Handscrolls". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  20. ^ Jackson, Destiny (18 November 2024). "The Game Award Nominations: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' Slices Its Way To Victory With Seven Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  21. ^ V, Amber (18 November 2024). "Capcom's new IP Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess missed sales targets despite high reviews". AUTOMATON WEST. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
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