Spirit Hunter: NG

About

In Spirit Hunter: NG, players assume the role of a young man with the ability to see spirits, tasked with uncovering the truth behind a series of supernatural occurrences in his city. The game is a visual novel adventure, with point-and-click exploration and multiple endings based on player choices. Players must balance their time between building relationships with other characters and investigating the paranormal, while also surviving encounters with hostile spirits.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 125 reviews

story33 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with well-developed characters that enhance the emotional stakes of the narrative.
The visuals and art style are stunning, creating a creepy atmosphere that effectively contributes to the horror experience.
Gameplay improvements, such as the new judgment system and streamlined investigation mechanics, make for a more engaging experience compared to its predecessor.

Some gameplay mechanics can feel cumbersome and unintuitive, particularly the controls during exploration and item selection.
The game has limited save slots, which can be frustrating for players trying to achieve different endings or explore various choices.
Certain choices and puzzles can be illogical or frustrating, leading to trial and error that disrupts the flow of the story.

story
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
2%
The story of "Spirit Hunter: NG" is generally praised for its engaging narrative, character depth, and intriguing horror elements, with many reviewers noting its improvement over its predecessor, "Death Mark." While the pacing can be uneven and some puzzles may confuse players, the multiple endings and character choices add replayability and emotional investment. Overall, the game successfully weaves together urban legends and personal stakes, creating a compelling horror visual novel experience.
- “One of the best horror visual novels I've played, has fantastic art, the story is very interesting, fun to follow and figure out, and all the characters are interesting and fun to interact with.”
- “The story is very compelling and had me hooked from the beginning!”
- “The plot is engaging and the characters are memorable.”
- “The story is much more cohesive this time, with chapters/spirits becoming more fully intertwined, an antagonist you really want to defeat, and more information given in general, along with a better translation quality.”
- “The main reason that made me dislike this - it has none of the well-paced urgency and smoothness in introducing/revealing the story of the spirits but merely oscillates between a tediously dull pacing or 'suddenly urgent' feel that doesn't match the storytelling.”
- “Quite a few events feel a bit too coincidental or convenient beyond the realm of spirits which harms the plot development.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
78%
13%
The gameplay in "Spirit Hunter: NG" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improvements over its predecessor, "Death Mark," particularly in exploration and item usage, while others criticize the clunky controls and tedious mechanics. The interactive novel format features a blend of dialogue choices, puzzles, and mini-games, but many found the writing lacking and the gameplay elements frustrating, leading to a less engaging experience overall. Despite these issues, some players enjoyed the character interactions and the horror elements, indicating a divide in player satisfaction regarding the gameplay experience.
- “Using the new judge mechanic, you can react appropriately to things your partners say to raise their friendship.”
- “The gameplay side is in itself a visual novel combined with puzzles, exploration, and life or death choices.”
- “There are a few gameplay aspects within the visual novel including different choices, quiz-like mini-games, knowledge-based boss battles, and a handful of puzzles.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “But I couldn't bear to continue the story with how frustrating the gameplay is.”
- “The gameplay segments are where problems start appearing.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
12%
The graphics in "Spirit Hunter: NG" are generally praised for their stunning artwork and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing a sense of unease and horror. While some users noted a slight decline in the quality of certain character designs compared to its predecessor, the overall visual presentation, including the detailed ghost designs and semi-realistic art style, remains a highlight of the game. The sound design complements the visuals, enhancing the unsettling experience that horror fans will appreciate.
- “The visuals in Spirit Hunter: NG were perhaps my favorite element of the game.”
- “The artwork is gorgeous, with loads of terrifying imagery when compared to its predecessor.”
- “Right off the bat, NG sets itself apart from the crowd with its unique art style.”
- “I found some of the unlockable CGs a bit underwhelming compared to that of the previous game, but there are definitely some favorites like Hazuki's Urashima death scene, Amenome's Kintoki death scene, and Rose's screaming author death scene - but even amongst these CGs, the art style and quality wavers.”
- “Although I didn’t like the designs of some characters, I did like the overall tone set by the game’s art style.”
- “Ng has less sexually/fan service graphics, but focuses on uncensored gore and disturbing scenes that suit the backstory.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
55%
14%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while many players appreciate the quality of the soundtrack and its ability to set the mood, some find it repetitive and occasionally clashing. Notably, Kaguya's theme and original songs performed by characters are highlights, but the limited variety of tracks and sound effects can lead to frustration. Overall, the sound design is praised for enhancing the game's atmosphere, despite some issues with overlapping music.
- “The soundtrack is so good.”
- “Music is right on the spot and I really like Kaguya's theme song.”
- “The art combined with the eerie sound and the soundtracks in general work really well together.”
- “The music after a while felt a bit repetitive.”
- “With not that many music/sound effects, I ended up turning the volume down to 3% because it becomes annoying after a while.”
- “And I have a problem where the music just keeps clashing with each other (when that scene ends and the music just keeps playing).”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, enhanced by gorgeous artwork and effective sound design that create a tense and eerie experience. While some reviewers noted that it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, "Death Mark," it still delivers a memorable and emotionally engaging atmosphere that captivates players. Overall, the combination of well-crafted environments and character-driven storytelling contributes to a strong atmospheric presence that resonates throughout the game.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly well done, the sound design is eerily beautiful and the characters are well written.”
- “The environment illustrations and CGs complement the overall atmosphere of the game, which makes it as beautiful as it is creepy.”
- “The only thing that's worse than the first game is probably the atmosphere, but even then it isn't that much worse.”
- “I still feel that Death Mark had an atmosphere that this title never reached, but this one built a better ending.”
- “The game uses environmental sounds such as wind gusts, dog barking, cracking metal, and bushes, which are just a few examples of what you hear during investigation, creating a strong and unsettling atmosphere.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
Overall, the character development in this game is notably improved compared to its predecessor, allowing for deeper engagement with NPCs who remain present throughout the story. However, some characters, like Kijima, fall into familiar stereotypes and lack significant growth, while the artistic style may not resonate with all players. Despite some sacrifices in character depth due to the writing style, the unique designs and high-quality visuals contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “Instead of the constant switching in Death Mark, this change makes us see more character development and is definitely something I consider a plus.”
- “High quality CG drawing from mature character design by the same artist Fumiya Sumio and spirit design by Kera.”
- “For the most part, Kijima plays the standard 'fearless bad boy' stereotype and, in my opinion, unfortunately has little character development.”
- “This style of writing does sacrifice a bit of character development, but then again, this isn’t exactly the type of visual novel that banks on its characters.”
- “That allows for much better character development of the NPCs, unlike the first game where characters (mostly) stayed with you for one chapter and did not repeat.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be long and tedious, often comparing it unfavorably to reading a novel with slow pacing and repetitive navigation. Despite some improvements in gameplay, many feel that achieving a good ending requires excessive reliance on guides, and the overall pacing disrupts the storytelling experience.
- “Oh my god, it is... long and tedious sometimes.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, be that 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' or '2001: A Space Odyssey' or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “Even using the speed-up button, it is tedious!”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game offers notable replayability due to its multiple endings and branching paths influenced by player choices, allowing for varied experiences in subsequent playthroughs. While some players may find the initial playthrough sufficient, the different outcomes based on decisions and character fates encourage exploration of alternative routes. Overall, it provides a good balance of quality and replay value, especially at a discounted price.
- “There are multiple endings and paths to discover, which adds significant replayability value.”
- “It can be enjoyed without playing the first Spirit Hunter game and has great replayability value.”
- “Your decisions can affect the overall story, partner’s fate, dialogue, and special events between chapters, enhancing the game's replayability.”
- “Bought it on sale, and I think it's worth it at that price. It has some replay value, as you get different paths depending on your way of playing, but I got the best ending on my first try and it took me roughly 14 hours. The original price might be a tad high for the amount of time you get, however, what you get is good quality.”
- “The ending changes based on who is alive and dead, and some other factors change, giving the game some replay value.”
- “This is where replayability comes in, as your decisions can affect the overall story, partner’s fate, dialogue, and special events between chapters.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its flexibility in player interactions, allowing for a range of responses from jerkish to neutral, which can lead to amusing character reactions and unlock extra scenes. While some elements, like the unpredictable judging system, may detract from the overall tension, they often result in unintentional humor that adds a lighthearted touch to the experience. Overall, the game balances comedic moments with its narrative, providing players with opportunities for both funny and serious interactions.
- “You can act like a jerk or completely neutral to everyone if you want without affecting which of the 7 endings you can get, and it's not anything even approaching a dating sim, but being nice to them unlocks some extra scenes and a cute/funny bonus.”
- “I also liked the judging system though it was unpredictable and kind of funny.”
- “Basically, additional choices in conversation that result in different character reactions from funny compliments to angry faces.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively evokes strong emotions through its dark themes and unsettling story arcs, particularly the intense "screaming author" segment. Players feel deeply connected to the characters and are immersed in a haunting atmosphere, making it one of the most memorable emotional experiences in gaming.
- “It was so interesting, dark, and made me feel so uncomfortable, especially during the screaming author story arc.”
- “It could get me emotionally involved with its characters and storyline; the ghosts were genuinely scary, and the whole game had one of the most memorable atmospheres in any game I've played.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users report that the game's optimization is generally solid, with one user noting good performance on an older Windows 7 build. However, there may be some issues that could affect performance for others.
- “I have solid performance on Windows 7 with a very old build.”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
- “Despite having a high-end system, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”