Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess<\/em> is lush. Set on the side of a mountain that\u2019s been covered in a terrible black defilement, Kunitsu-Gami<\/em>\u2019s world is an ancient, psychedelic dreamscape packed with magic and otherworldly horrors. It\u2019s also mechanically dense, with moments of slow strategizing and rapid-fire hack-and-slash combat. After playing for nearly an hour at Summer Game Fest, it\u2019s clear that Kunitsu-Gami<\/em> is much more than a beautiful screenshot.<\/p>\n The game is divided into day and night mechanics, but all of the action takes place in various camps along the mountainside, set under green canopies and among dense foliage. The defilement creates plants with glowing pink orbs and slathers some areas in an iridescent black goo, trapping villagers in putrid sacs and infecting the local deer population.<\/p>\n Players are tasked with protecting the Maiden Yoshiro from the Seethe, the monsters that spawn out of the defilement at night. Yoshiro is the key to cleansing the mountainside, but her ritual takes time and she\u2019s incredibly vulnerable. It really takes a village to protect her.<\/p>\n During the day, players purge the defilement and rescue locals from their containment sacs, while also clearing a path for Yoshiro\u2019s dance. Press B on the gamepad to assign an attack role to a villager, and then press RB to place them in the environment. At night, the Seethe pour out of the Torii Gates \u2014 the basic hordes are composed of globular, juicy monsters with long, thin arms and gaping mouths lined with sharp teeth.<\/p>\n Combat plays out in a rhythmic \u201csword dance\u201d style, with simple inputs that can be combined into fancy combos. Using just two attack buttons and a 360-degree camera, players slash through the Seethe, make sure the creatures don\u2019t get too close to Yoshiro, and manage their additional attack units. Combat flows smoothly, with satisfying swordplay and a challenging rush of monsters to defeat at each Torii Gate. After cleansing an area, players can hang out in the camp, upgrading their skills, unlocking new abilities, and learning about the food and culture of the region that\u2019s been defiled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n