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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Shuichi Kawata
Producer(s)
  • Yoshiaki Hirabayashi
  • Masato Kumazawa
Designer(s)Maito Yamada
Artist(s)Shuichi Kawata
Composer(s)Chikara Aoshima
EngineRE Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseJuly 19, 2024
Switch 2
June 5, 2025
Genre(s)Action, strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a 2024 action-strategy video game developed and published by Capcom. The player assumes control of Soh, a warrior who is tasked to protect a divine maiden named Yoshiro who must "purge and cleanse" villages of "defilement" and return the legendary Mt. Kafuku to peace.[1]

The game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on July 19, 2024 and will later be released for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025 as a launch title for the console. Upon release, the game received generally positive reviews from critics, but failed to meet Capcom's sales expectations.

Gameplay

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an action-strategy game played from a third-person perspective, and features elements from real-time strategy and tower defense games.[2][3] Gameplay is divided into two different parts. Daytime is the preparatory phase in which Soh must explore the village and rescue villagers, as well as setting up various contraptions. At night, evil spirits named the "Seethe" will invade the village from Torii gates, and the player must ally with the rescued villagers to defend Yoshiro from hostile attacks until sunrise.[4] Players can strategically place villagers in tactical positions, and assign them with different roles. For instance, a woodcutter is a powerful melee attacker, while an archer can provide ranged support. Players can also further equip Soh and the villagers with one of twelve masks that also grant them divine powers.[5] The position and the roles of the villagers can also be changed during combat.[6] If Soh becomes severely injured in the game, they will enter "Spirit mode", allowing them to continue issuing commands to other villagers while disembodied.[1]

Development and release

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is developed by Capcom Development Division 1, the studio behind games such as Resident Evil and Devil May Cry.[7] Shuichi Kawata, who previously worked on Shinsekai: Into the Depths, is the game's lead director. Development of the game lasted for more than four years. Like Shinsekai and Ōkami, the game was heavily inspired by Japanese folklores.[8] Soh's combat was inspired by an ancient ceremonial form of dance named kagura, while enemy design was influenced by Japanese yokai.[9][10] The game is powered by Capcom's in-house RE Engine.[7]

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was officially revealed by Capcom in June 2023.[11] The game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on July 19, 2024, and was made available at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at launch. Players who pre-ordered the game received additional in-game items and an artbook.[1]

Capcom worked with Ningyo-Joruri Bunraku Theater supervising director Master Kanjuro Kiritake III to direct a bunraku prequel to the game.[12] It was released via YouTube on July 18, 2024 titled Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden’s Destiny.[13] According to Tairoku Nozoe, who wrote the script, it was the idea of Shuichi Kawata, game director, to have a prequel based on a bunraku due to Kawata being a fan.[14] Master Kanjuro agreed to help Kawata plan the bunraku despite his hesitation due to not having a concept idea in mind.[14]

In July 2024, the Capcom Next Summer livestream video on YouTube announced that a demo for the game was released with a collaboration alongside Ōkami until July 17, using costumes, weapons and music from the game.[15]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[16]

Sales

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In November 2024, Capcom said that Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess had failed to meet sales expectations.[25]

Awards

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Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2024 The Game Awards 2024 Best Sim/Strategy Game Nominated [26]
2025 New York Game Awards Statue of Liberty Award for Best World Pending [27]
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game Pending

References

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  1. ^ a b c Romano, Sal (June 7, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess adds PS4 and Xbox One versions, launches July 19". Gematsu. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Fenlon, Wes (March 7, 2024). "Hold on, is Capcom pulling a Brutal Legend with its new action game?". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Higham, Michael (June 8, 2024). "Action Tactics Game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Gets Release Date". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Ngan, Liv (March 6, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess reveals first gameplay at Xbox Partner Direct". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Bailey, Kat (March 21, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Is Secretly a Real-Time Strategy Game - Xbox Partner Preview 2024". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Kamazawa, Masato (June 7, 2024). "Breaking Down the New Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Trailer – Arriving July 19, Pre-Orders Open Now". Xbox Wire. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Ngan, Liv (June 14, 2023). "Capcom give us some more breadcrumbs on the gorgeous Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Bonk, Lawrence (March 7, 2024). "Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is officially arriving this year". Engadget. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Cope, Alexander (June 8, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess FAQ: Xbox Game Pass, gameplay, and everything else you need to know". Windows Central. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Kumazawa, Masato (March 6, 2024). "Xbox Partner Preview – Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the Newest Action Strategy Game from Capcom, Releases Later This Year". Xbox Wire. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Barbosa, Alessandro (June 11, 2023). "Capcom Reveals New Onimusha-Like Action Game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess". GameSpot. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bunraku, traditional Japanese puppet theater, and gaming come together in the Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess prequel bunraku play 'Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny,' available for free now!". Kunitsu-Gami.com. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "A Blending of Traditional Arts Symbolic of Japan with Video Games: Launching tomorrow, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess also featured in a Unique Collaboration with Ningyo Joruri Bunraku Puppet Theatre!" (PDF). Capcom. July 18, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Yamaguchi, Sebastian (July 18, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess: How Capcom Created a Prequel Story Through Traditional Japanese Puppeteering". Xbox Wire. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Liu, Stephanie (July 2, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami Demo With Okami Collaboration Now Available". Siliconera.
  16. ^ a b c d "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess". Metacritic. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Franzese, Tomas (July 16, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review: Capcom's latest is one of 2024's best". Digital Trends. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Castle, Katharine (July 31, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review - a heavenly blend of tactical action". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  19. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (July 22, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Quesada, Daniel (July 15, 2024). "Análisis de Kunitsu-Gami Path of the Goddess, una fusión de acción y estrategia digna de dioses". HobbyConsolas (in Spanish). Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Defreitas, Casey (July 16, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review". IGN. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  22. ^ Brunskill, Kerry (July 15, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review". PC Gamer. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  23. ^ Freeman-Mills, Max (July 15, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  24. ^ Broadwell, Josh (July 15, 2024). "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review: A creative spin on the RTS genre". Shacknews. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  25. ^ V, Amber (November 18, 2024). "Capcom's new IP Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess missed sales targets despite high reviews". AUTOMATON WEST. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Jackson, Destiny (November 18, 2024). "The Game Award Nominations: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' Slices Its Way To Victory With Seven Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  27. ^ Maas, Jennifer (January 7, 2025). "New York Game Awards 2024 Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
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