Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II
- February 15, 2024
- EXPERIENCE
Get on SteamIn Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II, players investigate supernatural occurrences at a prestigious academy as the "Spirit Doctor." The game features a new side-scrolling function, immersive first-person perspectives, and an enhanced partnering system that affects the success of actions during investigations. A mysterious spirit called "The Departed" is rumored to be responsible for the disturbing events, and it appears to have a particular interest in the player's character.
Reviews
- The visuals and character designs are stunning, maintaining the series' high artistic standards.
- The story is engaging with interesting character dynamics and a well-paced overarching plot.
- The new gameplay mechanics, such as the 2D side-scrolling exploration, add a fresh twist to the series.
- The mystery elements are often predictable and less challenging compared to previous entries.
- The game feels shorter and less immersive, with repetitive environments and less exploration.
- Some spirit designs are considered goofy and lack the horror impact of earlier games.
- story65 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and character development, particularly the protagonist's depth and the psychological build-up. However, some critics noted that the plot twists were predictable and the setting felt repetitive, lacking the adventurous exploration of previous titles. Overall, while the story is considered entertaining and well-paced, it suffers from some clichés and a sense of incompleteness due to its limited scope and character utilization.
“Each chapter is a well-made story in itself, and the overarching plot is well-paced throughout the chapters, giving hints and warnings at each step so you never forget why you're doing what you're doing, or feeling like nothing's going on with it.”
“The story here is great, with some magnificent psychological build-up (the protagonist this time has character!) and it has some real great character moments.”
“To begin, the suspenseful, mysterious, and tragic storytelling of Death Mark II, coupled with our 'precious sensei' or spirit doctor, Kazuo Yashiki, is a prime example of how horror stories should be told.”
“The main storyline revolves around 'the departed,' but don’t get too excited; unfortunately, most of the game feels like wandering the same halls over and over, a lot of the scenarios are repetitive, all happening within the same high school.”
“The story didn't seem to improve since the second game, and it still suffers from a lot of the same problems as the previous games.”
“Having finished the game, I feel as though the story was underwhelming compared to the first game in the series.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Death Mark II" has transitioned to a side-scrolling adventure format, which some players find cumbersome and less engaging compared to previous titles. While the new mechanics, such as 2D exploration and item collection, offer a fresh experience, they often feel redundant and fail to enhance the overall tension and immersion of the game. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the improved navigation and quality-of-life features, as well as the impactful story that unfolds throughout the gameplay.
“The new gameplay elements include walking around in 2D environments, collecting and using items, sometimes with a companion who we can also interact with.”
“The new traversal system is great; I liked the old way too, but this is certainly easier to navigate, and the animated characters are more dynamic to watch. Thank you for the quality-of-life gameplay design choices like the option to return to the infirmary.”
“They fixed up a lot of gameplay issues from the previous two games.”
“The gameplay in 'Death Mark II' has shifted towards a side-scrolling adventure game format, reminiscent of the classic urban-legend game 'Twilight Syndrome.' While this nostalgic nod is appreciated, the system can be cumbersome, especially when fast-traveling.”
“Wasting the player's time with needless mechanics does not enhance the experience; it's just tiring.”
“The gameplay got a bit messy at times, and the encounters with spirits lacked the challenge I was anticipating.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Death Mark II" maintain the eerie and atmospheric art style of its predecessors, though some reviewers noted a decline in overall CG quality and haunting impact. While the character designs and 2D elements received praise for their creativity and contribution to the spooky atmosphere, the visuals were seen as less captivating compared to earlier entries in the series. Overall, the artwork remains a highlight, showcasing clean designs and effective sound integration.
“I love the added 2D portion of it, and as usual the artwork, character designs, and sound designs were fantastically done to immerse you into the spooky atmosphere!”
“The characters, CG art, and overall aesthetics truly stood out, which was somewhat expected given the price tag.”
“The art style in 'Death Mark II' has not changed from the previous two games, retaining the same eerie and atmospheric visuals.”
“However, the overall CG quality feels less captivating compared to 'Death Mark 1' and 'NG.' While the artist has certainly put in effort, the visuals lack the same haunting impact as the previous games.”
“They almost don't look like they fit the same aesthetic as previous games.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Death Mark II" is characterized by its eerie visuals and haunting music, which effectively create a sense of unease and tension. While some players feel the atmosphere is less creepy than in previous entries due to a more confined setting, others appreciate the blend of art style and sound design that immerses them in a bizarre and oppressive environment. Overall, the game maintains a captivating atmosphere, though opinions vary on its intensity compared to earlier titles.
“The art style in 'Death Mark II' has not changed from the previous two games, retaining the same eerie and atmospheric visuals.”
“The atmosphere is killer, which is largely in part due to the music by Naoaki Jimbo.”
“I've been overjoyed by the atmosphere of this game, including the clean artwork and unsettling music.”
“The atmosphere somehow wasn’t as creepy as in the previous entries, and I believe it was not a good idea that 90% of the main plot took place in one location and its direct surroundings.”
“Now for the fan-service on the main heroines, they are tastefully done and don't clash with the ghastly, macabre atmosphere at all; rather, it serves to further entrap you with a sense of bizarreness and anxiety where death is your constant companion.”
“Although what I feared did occur, the overall atmosphere is still as tense as ever, and adding the side scroll makes the exploration feel much more fun.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Naoaki Jimbo, is widely praised for its ability to create a captivating and oppressive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Players find the soundtrack to be both beautiful and chilling, effectively complementing the game's themes and visuals. However, some users have encountered technical issues that disrupt their enjoyment of the music.
“The atmosphere is killer, which is largely in part due to the music by Naoaki Jimbo.”
“But the music is magnificent, something truly beautiful.”
“The music, sounds, and illustrations never disappointed me, always giving me chills many times.”
“So I'm stuck with a black screen while listening to the background music and characters talking, but couldn't progress and was forced to reload.”
“The music, sounds, and illustrations never disappointed me, always giving me the chills many times.”
“I've been overjoyed by the atmosphere of this game including the clean artwork and unsettling music.”
- character development5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth, particularly in how it enhances the narrative and emotional engagement, especially when unlocking the true ending. The character designs are noted for their creativity, particularly in their incorporation of themes like death and transformation, which adds layers to the characters' backstories and visual appeal. Overall, the combination of strong character design and development contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“I love love love it when character designs incorporate death relating to water by having the body be bloated and sickly; it's such a good design trope.”
“I loved this game; it was worth waiting four years for, in my opinion.”
“Like Himeko can keep the marking but make it much smaller - or with Michiho have her hair fading into its natural color (hopefully her natural color wasn't black because from a character design standpoint making her hair grey wouldn't work and would make her look as if she is still cursed, so maybe a pale brown instead of the grey).”
“This white-haired high schooler is as cute as a button, and her character development makes it worth unlocking the true ending.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive back-and-forth movement between the same locations in each chapter. While some appreciate the jumpscares as a distraction, many feel that the overall experience becomes monotonous over time.
“Running back and forth between the same rooms and buildings in each chapter became quite tedious for me after a while, and not even the jumpscares worked too well.”
“The game would have been very tedious without that.”
“I think they look a little goofy, and there was a sense of dread in the first game with loading each screen as you progressed, even if it was a bit tedious at times.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While "Death Mark II" enhances the emotional stakes and atmosphere compared to its predecessor, it is still considered the weakest entry in the Spirit Hunter series. The game's art style by Fumiya Sumio effectively conveys vivid emotions, contributing to the overall horror experience.
“The artist, Fumiya Sumio, continues to deliver their signature style, which is both vivid and emotional.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as a mixed bag, with some ghost designs being more amusing than frightening, while others rely on symbolism that fails to resonate with the overarching narrative.
“I found half of the ghost designs to be more funny than scary, which added a unique twist to the game.”
“The humor in the dialogue kept me laughing throughout my playthrough, making the experience even more enjoyable.”
“The quirky character interactions and witty one-liners really brought the game to life and made it a memorable experience.”
