Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Reviews
Kunitsu-Gami isn't going to be for everyone, and even for those who do find it alluring, its gameplay loop might eventually start to wear thin. But it's hard not to love something this creative, especially when its seemingly disparate gameplay elements are so deftly unified with a consistent and compelling style. There might be hundreds of fluid action games with more sophisticated combos and hundreds of strategy titles with deeper mechanics, but there's only one Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and that makes it worth a lot more than many of those games will ever be.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a wonderfully innovative fusion of genres that managed to take me on a journey from frustration to being totally absorbed in the world that it offers. Across a lengthy campaign, everything comes together to create a story that feels well and truly realised. Some rough edges do little to diminish just how impressed I am in how quickly this game managed to turn me around. While it might take a while for it to truly soar, it soars high.
It might not feel quite as new as its billing, but Kunitsu-Gami is still a lovely little game, with a seriously engrossing hook that'll have you wishing it was longer than it actually is. The plates it keeps spinning are impressive, even if it's actually a little slight in the final weighing.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, as we said, is a nice breath of fresh air for its ability to create a mixture of different genres that, in a very simple and linear way, puts us in the shoes of a warrior called to defeat hordes of demons.
Review in Italian | Read full review
By the end, when there are half a dozen paths for the demonic horde to get to Yoshiro and end her life in three hits, the fact that it all seems manageable is a triumph of good, accessible game design. Kunitsu-Gami’s rural Japan is a place of natural beauty, of dance, of light and revelry in the face of darkness. There are very few games that have dared to convey this very culturally specific magic in such a distinctive and compelling way.
At a time when larger gaming companies are more averse to taking any risks and seem more interested in riding established IPs or developing new live service games, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a refreshing new entry that tries to do something different instead of concocting new ways to nickel and dime its players. Its fusion of action and tower defense might be too niche for some players. For folks who like real-time combat and strategy, however, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will feel like their prayers were answered.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess presents us with an interesting combination between tower defense and hack and slash, where the player has enough tools to face each challenge in the way they like best. The pacing is addictive, and there is constantly a feeling of progression that hooks you, and you can't let go of the control until you reach the end credits. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a classic in the making, a title that we will all be talking about in a couple of years as one of the hidden gems of this generation.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess won't be the game of the year, but it's still a pleasant surprise from Capcom.
Review in French | Read full review
One of the impressive details of this industry comes with those games that break the established mold, going beyond all conventions and seeking to provide us with a rewarding and entertaining experience, and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess fits perfectly with these words.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It's a massive blemish on an otherwise fascinating game, unlike anything else I've really played. Not one that makes Kunitsu-Gami a complete non-recommendation, but absolutely one that tempers my praise somewhat. Capcom has still delivered something special with this release, even if the rough edges are glaringly evident - the artstyle, the story delivered without any dialog, and the rest of the aesthetic in tow; even considering the problems with combat, level design always had something unique up its sleeve, forcing players to think on their feet to protect the one hope of containing the Seethe. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a game that feels like it mimics the equally thorny path set upon its protagonists; despite whatever stumbles along the way, it's a journey you won't soon forget.
Kunitsu-Gami is a striking game both conceptually and visually, exactly the kind of experimental game that I wish we got more often. I just also wish it pushed itself a little further than it does. Offense runs the show in Kunitsu-Gami, which unfortunately undermines some of its potential strengths. Still, the game keeps itself engaging with its hybrid of action and strategy, as well as the courage to change up its structure.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is light on overt storytelling, but packed with satisfying, entertaining action strategy gameplay. It's worth a look.
Kunitsu-Gami is exactly the sort of thing we need more of, the kind of game that you kid yourself used to crop up regularly in generations gone by.
Still, like its legion of dancers, Kunitsu-Gami has a good rhythm. The day and night cycles are paced smartly; there’s enough time to get your plan sorted out during the daytime, while still having to make tough decisions about what roles to assign to your villagers and what structures to have your carpenter fix up before the fight, and the battles themselves don’t overstay their welcome or feel punishingly long. The village building phase feels like an afterthought, unfortunately; it’s like doing busywork for musubi and other unlockables. Anybody interested in this game because of the village portions will most likely feel underwhelmed. If you’re looking for a stylish, challenging strategy game steeped in Japanese culture and tradition, though, Kunitsu-Gami is a dance you’ll want to learn.
Kunitsu-Gami is an intriguing action/strategy hybrid that provides consistently fresh gameplay and relaxing moments. If you're not a fan of strategy or action games, I'd still recommend this game since it's an experience that manages to transcend either genre thanks to its quieter moments.
Much like last year's Exoprimal, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of The Goddess shows a Capcom willing to take risks. In this particular experiment, a tower defense/action strategy hybrid is bathed in Japanese culture with deliberate--sometimes slow--gameplay.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a strategy game like no other, complete with that classic Capcom charm, making it an essential experience for longtime fans of the studio.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess succesfully brings together elements of the tried-and-true strategy and action genres to offer up something truly unique. While there will be debate about how worthwhile the replay value is here, Path of the Goddess leverages some incredible enemy and objective variety to keep things fresh from beginning to end.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an extraordinary game with a distinctive style that is exciting to play. The strategic values and constant fluctuations in the gameplay is creative and appealing. The mechanics aren't anything especially new, but the way the game develops its pieces enhances the overall design and quaintly makes the game its own beast. The game undoubtedly stands out with its loud and compelling graphical style as well as having a superb soundtrack. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an innovative adventure that is a precipice of design in the gaming space of today. Snuff out the blight and bring peace in this steep climb to victory!
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique work in its own right. Capcom has seamlessly blended action and tower defense - two seemingly unrelated genres - using an astonishing art style and the niche, mysterious theme of Shintoism, making the game look more like a piece of art emerging from a rural shrine. However, like many games that attempt to merge different gameplay styles, this fusion brings a fresh experience but also weakens the depth of both genres.
Review in Chinese | Read full review