Capcom’s game will be available through Xbox Game Pass, so it’s no surprise that we got to see it at yesterday’s Xbox launch.
The story begins when the legendary Mt. Kafuku is covered in an evil stain and the 12 masks, including their special powers, are stolen. Our protagonist, Soh, must work with Yoshiro, a maiden with divine powers, to cleanse the villages of the defilement. The masks worn by Soh and the villagers each feature a different divine power, and these powers are the key to protecting Yoshiro. As you cleanse more villages of their evil defilement, you’ll recover more masks and work with the different villagers that each mask unlocks to restore Mt. Kafuku to its original beauty.
The game combines the exhilarating action of “dancing swords” with the strategic element of deciding which villagers will join you on your journey to cleanse each village. The cycle of preparing for battle during the day and protecting the maiden and the village from the evil spirits of the mountains (“The Seethe”) at night is critical to Soh’s success. Let’s take a look at the day and night gameplay. During the day, explore the village, cleanse the village of impurities, and rescue villagers so they can join you in battle. At night, repair equipment to give you an advantage against The Seethe’s attacks.
The rescued villagers will fight alongside Soh – but it is up to you to decide what powers to grant each villager. Different masks grant different powers, allowing some villagers to excel at melee attacks while others can heal your crew. Think strategically about which villagers to recruit and where to place them before battle. For example, place those with superior melee attacks in the front lines, with ranged attackers in the rear. Use the terrain to your advantage, prepare your positions, and prepare for an epic battle as the moon begins to rise. Each village features the recognizable Torii Gates, and ultimate success will be determined by whether Yoshiro, the divine maiden, can successfully pass through these gates before she faces defeat at the hands of The Seethe. But beware! Each Torii gate is connected to an evil universe, providing an entrance for The Seethe. Guide Yoshiro to the Torii Gates to purge the evil and save the village.
Using time wisely before the sun sets is crucial. In addition to time management, players must strategize for their nighttime battle. Players’ strategies, along with their resource and time management skills, will be put to the test. Nightfall offers a unique blend of intense action and real-time strategy. Protect the Maiden from the impending threat of The Seethe by commanding your enlisted villagers while simultaneously battling The Seethe with Soh’s unique dance-like sword attacks. In the trailer, you also got your first look at “Kagura” – traditional “dances” derived from the Shinto religion in Japan and passed down from generation to generation to purify the defiled. Both Yoshiro and Soh perform Kagura in their own remarkable way. We have named this unique action, in which the player purifies the defilement by “dancing”, the “Dancing Sword Action”. Need to change strategies on the fly? Each villager can be assigned new roles and repositioned throughout the village at any time during the night. Protect Yoshiro by making critical calls and decisions in this ever-changing environment.
The Seethe take many different demonic forms and shapes, with different attacks and abilities. Each enemy is inspired by various Japanese yokai – an umbrella term for all kinds of ghosts, shapeshifters, demons, monsters, and more – and historical folklore. Carefully designed by the director, The Seethe offers a glimpse into the dark aesthetic that envelops Soh and the villagers during each night’s battle. And if The Seethe wasn’t enough, the latest gameplay trailer revealed the even more powerful “Festering Seethe. Watch the intense battle against the Festering Seethe!
So it’s going to be a mix of action and RTS in Kunitsu-Gami, whose development is nearing its end according to Capcom’s director Shuichi Kawata. So it’s no surprise that it will be released in 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox series and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store). It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.
Leave a Reply