Kunitsu-Gami is a platform sword swishy game with strategic elements. You have to guide the Maiden of the mountain through villages that have succumbed to the defilment, of which you have to purge along the way. You do this by recruiting villagers, placing them on the map at day, fighting the monsters that come out at night, repeat until you get to the Torii gate to destroy it. You'll encounter the odd boss too with their own unique level designs and ways of killing them.

You'll upgrade your character, you'll upgrade villager roles, and you'll help rebuild the villages. You can even stroke the animals, and even pet the dog!

It truly is a magnificent game to look at and listen to, and the gameplay is smooth. It is repetitive, the combat especially, but the game does try to spice that up a bit with special moves and the ability to strategically place villagers to help fight the Seethe.

The added bonus of Okami essentially sold it to me, and I'm happy I picked it up on release.

Recommended.