近畿霊務局 - Kinki Spiritual Affairs Bureau
- October 4, 2024
- Noto Muteki
Get on SteamIn "Kinki Spiritual Affairs Bureau - Kinki Shoumuchou", players assume the role of Mizuki Shiraishi, an exorcist investigating mysterious disappearances in a village overrun by malevolent spirits. Armed with a range of weapons and stealth abilities, Shiraishi must navigate a cut-off village, uncover the truth behind the incident, and ultimately confront the powerful force orchestrating the chaos. This Japanese-set action horror game offers a unique blend of combat, stealth, and supernatural intrigue.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an unexpectedly engaging story that evolves from a humorous premise into a serious narrative with political commentary.
- Despite its janky gameplay, the game offers a variety of mission types and memorable characters, making it a fun and entertaining experience.
- The humor and writing are standout elements, with many players appreciating the clever dialogue and emotional depth of the characters.
- The gameplay is often criticized for being clunky and poorly optimized, leading to frustrating controls and performance issues.
- There is an excessive amount of reading and exposition, which can detract from the overall pacing of the game.
- Many players found the game to be too short, wishing for a more expanded story and additional plot points.
- story41 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story transitions from a lighthearted, comedic ghost-hunting adventure to a serious exploration of government conspiracy, captivating players with its unexpected depth and engaging narrative. Despite its short length and janky gameplay, many reviewers praised the storytelling as surprisingly profound, addressing real issues while maintaining humor and creativity. Overall, the narrative is considered a standout feature, making the game worth experiencing despite its technical flaws.
“Don't be fooled by the cutesy artwork and janky gameplay; it managed to have some of the best storytelling I've seen for this type of game, addressing some very real issues.”
“But the story, the story of this game is phenomenal. Even for a relatively short experience at around 3-4 hours, I was really invested in what was going on as well as the characters.”
“The story has managed to keep me hooked to endure the rest of the game, and it even managed to land on its feet without major plot holes to a decent conclusion.”
“The game turns from a funny, goofy ghost-hunting Call of Duty game to uncovering a massive government conspiracy in just six missions.”
“The game starts off as a funny design but slowly becomes more serious and interesting; sadly, it's quite short, and I wish the story was much more expanded with more plot points and progression.”
“They lured me in with hilarious ghost hijinks and then pulled a political commentary and war drama, wrapped in an outstandingly written plot that made me feel bad for the NPCs, who all have the same faces, while 80% of the credits roll is just listing off the assets bought to make this game.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a standout feature, blending goofy ghost-hunting antics with sharp, tongue-in-cheek commentary that keeps players chuckling throughout. While it starts as a lighthearted experience, it evolves into a more serious narrative, which some players found disappointing due to its brevity. Overall, the humor is described as both hilarious and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and storytelling.
“The humor actually sticks for me, and I always chuckle at the occasional fourth wall breaking and tongue-in-cheek explanations for in-game aesthetic choices.”
“A remarkably funny, surprisingly touching romp where you're using a whole host of military weaponry against goofy-looking ghosts.”
“They lured me in with hilarious ghost hijinks and pulled a political commentary, war drama, and just an outstandingly written plot that can make me feel bad for the NPCs who all have the same faces.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of janky controls and varied mechanics, including shooting, stealth, and driving, which can lead to frustrating experiences. While some players appreciate the tension and storytelling, many criticize the rough optimization and movement issues, suggesting that the gameplay detracts significantly from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, those willing to overlook the gameplay shortcomings may still find enjoyment in the game's narrative and diverse level design.
“Don't be fooled by the cutesy artwork and janky gameplay; it managed to have some of the best storytelling I've seen for this type of game, addressing some very real issues.”
“Despite the jank, the gameplay is still really decent. Some parts are actually quite tense, and the difficulty matches the situation rather well.”
“Gameplay is pretty diverse; it includes slow-burn horror, melee combat, shooting, turret sections, stealth, point defense, and driving.”
“Gameplay can still feel janky with controls, like you are behind cover and peeking but you still can't shoot when you aim your crosshair around the corner.”
“No amount of good story can redeem the jankiness of this game's gameplay.”
“Gameplay is incredibly rough, with movement that constantly has you going from 2 to 20 mph when turning, and a sluggish mouse with the 30 fps lock.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting significant issues such as crashes, low field of view causing motion sickness, and poor camera controls. Many feel that the game lacks polish and is reminiscent of a poorly executed beginner project, detracting from its otherwise entertaining gameplay. Overall, there is a strong call for developers to address these optimization problems.
“Could use some polishing and optimization, but this is some good comedy horror with a fun variety of missions.”
“But the poor optimization of the game!”
“Please, devs, just fix the optimization issues.”
“The optimization is bad (closing the game crashed my PC during my vtubing stream), the stupidly low FOV causing motion sickness and the ridiculous motion blur, weird camera and camera control choices.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of this indie game feature a cutesy art style that contrasts with its horror and military shooter themes, contributing to its unique storytelling and humor. While the visuals may appear janky, they effectively support the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics, particularly in terms of terrain smoothness and balance.
“I highly recommend this indie game to anyone that likes horror, parodies, and especially military shooter aesthetics.”
“The humor actually sticks for me, and I always chuckle at the occasional fourth wall breaking and tongue-in-cheek explanations for in-game aesthetic choices.”
“Don't be fooled by the cutesy artwork and janky gameplay; it managed to have some of the best storytelling I've seen for this type of game, talking about some very real issues.”
“Especially terrain smoothness and graphics affect balance.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a unique blend of humor and emotional depth, combining military action with unexpected touching moments amidst its supernatural and political intrigue. Players describe it as an emotional roller coaster that surprises with its heartfelt twists, making for a solid and memorable experience.
“The supernatural and political intrigue, the twists, the epic last stands, the emotional moments, the memes, the call of duty name color change to denote switching allegiances, it's all here.”
“I want to make a silly joke like calling it Call of Duty: Ghosts (admittedly I noticed a few nods to the series), but it was a really solid experience that got a few laughs out of me and was a little emotional as well.”
“Like an emotional roller coaster ride that totally caught me off guard.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game features licensed tracks that, combined with notable camera work, elevate the overall experience, despite the absence of original music. This creative use of music contributes significantly to the game's unique and entertaining presentation.
“The way the licensed tracks are used alongside Noto Muteki's great camera work makes this elaborate game far more than the sum of its parts.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's atmosphere.”
“Each track is carefully selected, creating a dynamic soundscape that keeps players engaged and energized throughout their journey.”
“There doesn't seem to be any original music from what I could see in the credits, and while the licensed tracks are used well, it feels like a missed opportunity for something more unique.”
“The music selection is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
“While the licensed tracks are decent, they don't fit the game's atmosphere and often feel out of place.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its engaging design, showcasing well-crafted personalities and growth arcs that resonate with players. The depth and evolution of characters contribute significantly to the overall narrative, enhancing the emotional investment in the story.
