Purify the Dark: Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

Has the term “purifying  the evil” ever been so correct as in Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the intensely playable tower defense-inspired game from Capcom? Mt. Kafuku, a fertile and peaceful place that is the home of the Goddess, has been engulfed and ruined by a strange, black substance, and tormented by evil spirits who emerge after sundown. Mt. Kafuku’s inhabitants live in terror, with the power of the Goddess who nourishes their home has been stolen.

If you are imagining wading through grimdark landscapes, drained of color, all wonder and richness gone — stolen, along with the Goddess’ power— think again. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a visual feast, an utterly gorgeous and deeply absorbing strategy game in which, by day, your aim is to prepare for battle, collecting crystals that can  be used to make pathway for the Maiden and transform villagers to other roles. By night, your job is to defeat the array of beautifully revolting creatures known as the “Seethe” .

To learn more about this stunningly realized thrill-ride, we had the pleasure of talking to director Shuichi Kawata.

“Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a heavily Japanese-inspired game with a unique setting,” he explains. “The game combines action and strategy in an ever-changing battlefield. You can experience not only this exhilarating action, but also the unique satisfaction of planning your own tactics to achieve victory.” You play as Soh, a sword-wielding warrior who protects the Maiden of the mountain, Yoshiro. The mountain is dotted with Torii Gates; which have been taken over by the “defilement” and summons the Seethe. Yoshiro can purify these gates through a ritual dance, and you must forge a path for her so she can reach the final gate.

Movement plays a big part in the game; it’s described as a “Kagura Action Strategy Game”—Kagura for the type of traditional dance Yoshiro uses against the “mononoke” (evil spirits).  Kawata puts movement and flexibility in the hands of players, as well.

“In-game options are something worth noting,” he says. “The camera and UI are both customizable to fit your liking; zoom up for an intense melee combat, zoom out to constantly overlook the entire situation. Camera sensitivity and other settings are also adjustable, so regardless of whether you favor action or RTS, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is open to everyone.”

In addition to Soh’s beautiful “dance-like” sword moves, they also acts as a choreographer of action; assigning roles to the villagers to aid their battle against the Seethe. While the outcome is fluid, Kawata identified this interplay as a challenge in development.

The game balance between the player and NPCs was certainly a challenge,” Kawata notes.  “Since the overarching theme of this game is to overcome the night together, it was difficult to have players build a sense of trust with them, and truly feel the satisfaction of ‘we did it together!’ But we also did not want to force players to play in a particular way, so we balanced out the game so players can lean towards action or strategy depending on their equipment and unit placement. We also focused on keeping the basic controls simple, to maintain the swift and smooth gameplay. Once we got all these important aspects out on the table, we went through numerous iterations to adjust them.”

The result is a captivating blend that had gamers eagerly awaiting the games’ July 19th release and critics raving.

Visit the official Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess website.