In film, practical effects are a sign that someone cared. While ultimately cheaper than CG, practical SFX requires greater preparation, greater consideration in filming, greater time spent in design. For all of that time and care, the reward is timeless beauty, unfettered by changing tides of taste.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is the only game I can describe in this way. The game is startlingly real, and startlingly beautiful. The clothing and food are real, and 3D-scanned into the game. The levels are massive model dioramas, photographed from every angle. The weapon and fire effects are real, crafted by film SFX teams. When you play Kunitsu-Gami, you are playing something unmistakably vibrant and authentic.
“Because we live in a world where many things are created with CG and computers,” said director Shuichi Kawata, “we wanted to bring a realistic touch to elevate the good and inspiring parts—even with some limitations—to incorporate reality, sensation, and excitement into this game.”
Kunitsu-Gami is also the first game that truly feels like it follows on from Okami, one of the greatest games ever made. Yes, the game does use some assets from Okami, and yes, there is free Okami DLC, but even with the shift in genre and tone the game carries a deeper spark of Okami’s ethos.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a strategy tower defense brawler. Your character, Soh, is an able and acrobatic defender, equipped with a wide variety of moves. But you are only one blade, and the corrupted enemies approach from all angles. You can nominate rescued villagers to fulfill a variety of roles from ax-wielding woodsmen, to thieves, to taunting sumo wrestlers, to archers, defending the shrine maiden who purifies each stage. You must balance taking on enemies yourself, vs. when you should allow your allies to engage.
There is no other game like it. There is no other game built almost entirely practically. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess stands alone, and is worth your time and money.
Kunitsu-Gami deserves your time for another reason. Okami failed when it first released. It took nearly two decades for Capcom to approve production on the sequel. If anything I have described appeals to you, or if you believe games are truly art, try Kunitsu-Gami. Don’t let another exceptional game fail or underperform.
Featured Image: Capcom
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