Kaizen Game Works first caught my eye with Paradise Killer, a captivating narrative game from 2020 that was as exciting to explore as it was to immerse oneself in its mesmerizing prose. Initially, their latest creation, Promise Mascot Agency, might seem unrelated to Paradise Killer. However, after spending nearly twenty hours in its charming universe, it’s evident that Kaizen Game Works is a studio full of surprises. Promise Mascot Agency might resist any pigeonholing, but it’s a must-try for those craving something truly unique and for anyone who simply appreciates a great game.
In this game, you step into the shoes of Michi, also known by his yakuza nickname, The Janitor. After a monumental failure, he’s presumed dead by his mob family and exiled to a town rumored to curse any male yakuza who visits. This quaint rural spot in Kyushu, Japan, known as Kaso-Machi, features a struggling mascot agency that Michi needs to revitalize to clear his significant debt. But what exactly is a mascot agency? Imagine mascots as living entities of all shapes and sizes, needing jobs to highlight events or draw attention to the employer’s needs. It’s your mission, with the help of your quirky assistant Pinky—a mascot oddly resembling a pinky finger—to transform the Promise Mascot Agency into the top mascot agency in Japan. And while doing so, you unravel the many secrets and narratives of Kaso-Machi’s quirky residents.
Typically, I’d compare the game I’m reviewing to other notable titles, but Promise Mascot Agency feels refreshingly incomparable. It plays like a narrative adventure game, where you explore a compact open world, completing tasks for the community to recruit more mascots, enhance Kaso-Machi, and help mascots achieve their dreams. You’ll spend a lot of time driving around town in a worn-out truck, meeting the citizens of this small village. Although you can’t leave your vehicle, there’s no fear of crashes or damage. Upgrading the truck ensures smoother travels as you jump, boost, and drive across hills or plummet into water bodies. This absurdity, rather than being off-putting, somehow makes the characters surprisingly relatable. There are mascots like Trororo, with a yam-covered body and a singular focus on promoting Adult Videos (yes, really), and humans like Miss Wambui, an English teacher who fell in love with the rural charm of Japan and her students. The writing in this game is stellar, enhancing the creative design of all the mascots, each becoming unforgettable in their own right. It’s a clever touch that as the agency progresses, you begin selling mascot merchandise, which I now find myself yearning for, especially items featuring To-Fu, Neko Roll, and Koke-Maru.
When you dispatch mascots on jobs, sometimes things go awry. This shifts the gameplay into a minigame card-battler where you’ll need the citizens of Kaso-Machi as Support Heroes to solve the problems. These range from misplaced boxes and faulty vending machines to enthusiastic fans disrupting events. You’re given 60 seconds to tackle each issue, strategically playing cards with distinct stats and actions. Initially, these problems can feel daunting, but by completing town quests or regularly interacting with Support Heroes, you can enhance their abilities. As you delve deeper into the game, you begin to see how all the systems mesh together. Expanding and upgrading the Promise Mascot Agency increases not just your profits but also your bond with the town. While the game may initially appear dark and moody, I found the experience ultimately uplifting. Exploring and navigating Kaso-Machi quickly becomes second nature, as you learn its routes and locales.
Promise Mascot Agency shines in its attention to detail. Although not every line of text is voiced, every cutscene is, lending personality to each character you encounter. What’s more, whenever your character Michi faces a decision, rather than showing the exact line he will say, you see the emotion or intent behind it. This feature is something I’d love to see in more narrative-driven games. It allows you to anticipate how Michi will come across—whether supportive, reassuring, or direct—and maintains player freedom while allowing writers to craft realistic interactions. As I played, Promise Mascot Agency evoked the same warm feelings as Paradise Killer, which is one of the highest praises I can offer. Kaizen Game Works has cemented its identity, and Promise Mascot Agency surpasses its predecessor. And let me not forget the phenomenal soundtrack by Alpha Crome Yayo, blending lo-fi, Japanese City Pop, and ‘90s arcade vibes to complement Kaso-Machi’s atmosphere perfectly. It’s the delightful cherry atop an already enjoyable experience.
The main drawback here is the state of the Nintendo Switch version, which can frequently be troublesome. Inconsistent framerates, delayed rendering of assets, lengthy loading times, and pop-ins while driving around the open world make it a less attractive option for players restricted to the Switch. Despite being tolerable and not ruining the experience, if another platform is available, I’d suggest opting for that instead. The game’s nostalgic homage to earlier gaming eras doesn’t mean it should suffer visually. I encountered two software crashes during my time playing, and the final act, in particular, was plagued with framerate issues and minor bugs.
Lastly, while I love how the game grants the freedom to approach chapters and main quests at your own pace, I found myself enthralled by the side objectives, completing most of them early and breezing through the last three chapters once the agency hit peak efficiency. Although Promise Mascot Agency doesn’t heavily gate progress, I recommend players not ignore the main quest and engage with your mascots during their ‘life satisfaction reviews’ when they arise. I wrapped up all of these at once for all mascots near the game’s end, and it’s not something I’d advise most players to do. This is partially due to the overwhelming blend of systems that take time to manage initially. So, take it slow, frequently chat with Pinky when cruising around, and interact with key characters whenever possible.
Promise Mascot Agency feels like a hidden gem from the PS2 and GameCube era, and I say this with great affection. You can sense the dedication poured into crafting a fun story, with endearing characters and a beautifully designed world to explore. It’s a breath of fresh air to encounter a game today that dares to carve its own path, refusing to be modeled after others. In an industry increasingly wary of taking risks, the boldness of Promise Mascot Agency is refreshing. But beyond all that, Promise Mascot Agency exudes confidence: trusting its unique world and gameplay that breaks the mold, with a story centered on the pursuit of dreams. The joy of its creators is palpable, the world they’ve crafted both engaging and memorable. Promise Mascot Agency is an experience unlike any other, and if you welcome it into your heart (and opt for an alternate platform, if possible), it’s a journey that promises to stay with you for a long time.
