Kunitsu-Gami Looks Like A Lost Capcom PS2 Game In Modern Times, And That's A Sincere Compliment!
See also: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake coming in 2026
Amidst the flurry of major video game studios showcasing their latest releases, Capcom stands out at Summer Game Fest with a game that harks back to the PS2 era. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddessoffers a unique tower defense experience that follows its own rhythm, ignoring the game design trends of 2024.
While PlayStation's State of Play stream highlighted the explosive Monster Hunter Wilds, Kunitsu-Gami is the exact opposite: it's understated, slightly strange, and reminiscent of a game from 20 years ago. It should be exciting and heartening that Capcom is still developing games like this, especially when other Japanese companies like Square Enix have decided to curtail similar projects.
See also: Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred: The Trailer may traumatize you mentally
Kunitsu-Gami's richly painted graphics draw heavily on traditional Japanese art. The game is essentially a tower defense game, where the "core" to be protected is a woman performing a ritual dance in a corrupted landscape, purifying it with her movements. The towers are villagers who are freed from spiritual disease and take on defensive roles, such as swordsmen who fight yokai or shamans who freeze enemies.
See also: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Apocalypse Disappoints
As a Capcom game, players can also wield a katana, clearing waves of yokai faster than the villagers. The flow of the game is quickly established: during the day, players roam a compact scene, clearing out corrupt growths and collecting orbs to assign roles to the villagers and clear the way for the young woman. At night, monsters flood the landscape, heading towards the young woman, requiring strategic placement of the villagers and active combat from the player.
See also: Gears E-Day: New Trailer, New Music, New Era!
Early strategies include choosing choke points for villagers and balancing between offensive and support roles such as shamans. The game initially allows for simple decisions, but new ideas and strategic complications emerge as the game progresses. Players must manage the young woman's progress to ensure she reaches the exit in time without being overwhelmed by enemies.
See also: Sonic x Shadow Generations releases on October 25th
Additional elements, such as a blacksmith to repair barriers and treasures that require villagers to work to reach, add layers to the gameplay. Players collect orbs to power up villagers or their attacks, and unlock special moves to aid in battle.
However, there is some awkwardness in the UI. Interacting with villagers and assigning commands involves two separate menus, one for redeployment and one for healing, which isn't very intuitive. This could be a challenge in more intense battles.
See also: COD: BLACK OPS 6 – Releases & Pre-Orders
Despite these quirks, the game's experimental nature and theme-driven design make it feel like a game from the early 2000s. Unlike Exoprimal, which had a battle pass-style progression system, Kunitsu-Gami is free from the trends of 2024 games. It's a game driven by inspiration rather than famous game mechanics or live-service ambitions.
Kunitsu-Gami's initial levels may not have impressed us right away, but the great art direction and enjoyable gameplay show promise. It asks players to think without overwhelming them, balancing simple strategies over complex mechanics. With room for growth in strategic levels, Kunitsu-Gami could become one of the hidden gems of 2024, or a game we'll remember fondly in the future as AAA games get bigger and more expensive.
Source: pcgamer
