Fishing for Metaphors

Spirit Hunter NG, released Oct. 10, 2019, developed by Experience, Ghostlight LTD, and published by Aksys Games, is a sequel to the horror visual novel Spirit Hunter: Death Mark. The game is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo Switch. I am surprised horror fans aren’t talking about it. The lack of word-of-mouth testimonies is the cause for this game not receiving more publicity. So as a horror game enthusiast, I am here to promote and tell you about a visual novel horror game I enjoyed playing in 2019! In my humble opinion, I enjoyed it more than The House in Fata Morgana, which is also a decent visual novel game with great original soundtrack.

This game is thematically refreshing for a horror visual novel that takes place during hot summer nights, although I first played this game during cooler months. I remember sitting at my desk at work and one of the horror scenes from the game popped into my head. It made me chuckle. My co-worker, an older gentleman asked me what was so funny and asked me if I minded sharing. I tried to explain to him but it didn’t come out right. He looked puzzled. I suppose I can’t explain my morbid sense of humor, but the game developer knows its targeted audience all too well when it subtly brings up the subject to the audience.

Story

The story follows a “muscle-freak” (borrowing the description from the game) teenage boy by the name of Akira Kijima who happens to be adopted by his aunt, a popular horror novelist who owns a bar as a side job. One day, an evil doll kidnaps his precious, beloved niece. So he finds himself playing a strange game with an evil entity that involves destroying and/or purifying spirits. Along the way, Kijima the devout uncle is accompanied by his good friend Seiji Amanome, a member of the Yakuza, and Momo Kuruse, a gothic pop idol to search for his niece’s mysterious disappearance. Later down the road, he meets older and more professional folks: a gambler, a female cop, and a ghost hunter. The variety of ages and professional backgrounds balanced out the story quite well. There are times when the side characters poke fun at Kijima’s bravery and youthfulness for stupidity, which to the contrary, he has a reason for being. As the story progresses, I find the protagonist quite sympathetic which gives him all the more reason to reunite with his kidnapped niece. I like horror, but I also like rewarding, strong endings. Of course, that’s not the only reason why I enjoyed the game. What intrigued me about this game is the villain, the eternal doll who wants to play and who does not always play fairly. The doll character had such an impact on me that I composed an original song based on it. I still sing the song to this day. That’s what you call a great piece of art when it becomes the source of creative inspiration.

Gameplay

Now let’s talk about gameplay. Is it fun? Is it scary? Well, yes to both questions but it’s not going to give you nightmares. It’s not that immersive type of horror but more like a thematic haunted house ride, you’d find at the fairground. You know the feeling of walking inside a haunted house, hoping for a good fright? Yes, the game allows the player the option to select Scary Mode for those who want a jump scare experience. I selected Default Mode because I wanted to enjoy the game in its original form. Even without the additional scary factor, the story’s chilling tale combined with memorable soundtracks would strike a chord with any woman out there who is often accompanied alone. In every woman, there is a little girl that lives inside of her. Girls love fairytales because real life is rarely happy ever after. So, stay away from male doctors! Oops, did I say too much? Well, I hope I entice you rather than dissuade you from playing the game. Overall, it was a fun adventurous, horror game. I played the game with a guide to save time because, like most games with multiple endings, there is a true ending.

Conclusion

For horror fans, this is a game worth playing. Add to your collection of horror games to play because horror is a genre that is difficult to execute in video games. So, it’s nice to find a piece of gem. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the slightly erotic graphic pictures of tortured women. Why was it necessary? It’s a mystery to me. There are some things in life I simply can never understand.

Originally published on June 28, 2021 12:00 am; revised October 26, 2023