Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II
Official game cover in English.
Developer(s)Experience
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Ataka Motoya
Producer(s)Hajime Chikami
Artist(s)
  • Fumiya Sumio
  • Kazuhiro Oya
SeriesSpirit Hunter
Platform(s)
ReleaseNintendo Switch
  • JP: December 1, 2022
  • WW: February 15, 2024
PlayStation 4
  • JP: December 1, 2022
PlayStation 5, Windows
  • WW: February 15, 2024
Genre(s)Horror adventure, visual novel
Mode(s)Single-player

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II (known in Japan as Shinigami: Shibito Magire[a]) is a horror visual novel adventure game developed and published by Experience. It is the third entry in the Spirit Hunter series, following 2017's Spirit Hunter: Death Mark and 2018's Spirit Hunter: NG.[2] The game was released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on December 1, 2022 in Japan, and was released by Aksys Games for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Windows on February 15, 2024 worldwide.

The story is set in a Tokyo suburb, and sees the player take the role of Kazuo Yashiki, who is hired to infiltrate a school as a teacher to investigate gruesome, spiritual incidents that occur there every ten years. Like previous Spirit Hunter games, it is an adventure game, but it also incorporates elements from tabletop role-playing games. The player investigates areas in a side-view perspective together with a number of partner characters; the choice of partner determines which locations the player has access to.

The game is directed by Ataka Motoya and produced by Hajime Chikami, and was financed through a crowdfunding campaign.

Gameplay

In Death Mark II, players sometimes need to make a choice in order to progress.

Shinigami: Shibito Magire is an adventure game in which the player investigates areas in a side-view perspective.[3][4]

The investigations are conducted together with one of several partner characters; depending on which is chosen, the player has access to different locations and items. Each character has a set of statistics, which in the player character's case can be increased. These are used to affect outcomes in dangerous situations, such as when being attacked by a spirit, in a system called Suspensive Act.[3]

Plot

Shibito Magire is set in a suburb of H City in Tokyo,[5] and revolves around Konoehara Academy, where gruesome events occur every ten years. The police are unable to explain the incidents, and classify them as accidents, but they are rumored to be caused by spirits.

Because of this, Konoehara's principal hires Kazuo Yashiki of the Kujo family to infiltrate the school as a teacher and investigate the incidents.[3][4]

Development

Shibito Magire is developed by Experience, and is directed by Ataka Motoya and produced by Hajime Chikami, with character designs by Fumiya Sumio and concept art by Kazuhiro Oya.[6] The development was financed through a crowdfunding campaign on the website Campfire, which began on November 25, 2019, with a goal of 15 million yen[7] (approximately US$140,000),[1] which was reached on December 29 with 17 days remaining of the campaign. The campaign also had further goals on top of the base goal, going up to 30 million yen, all of which were reached and thus allowed for production of a larger amount of art assets and voice-overs, added gameplay features, the addition of returning Spirit Hunter series characters, a new story expansion, and a novelization.[7][8]

The game has a new theme and concept compared to previous Spirit Hunter games: the developers describe the theme as "a gloomy horror with suspense-based mystery", compared to the previous games' "spirit suspense horror", and the concept as "suspense that offers a new feeling of exploration and helplessness through changing perspectives", compared to "a new horror experience that succeeds the previous game".[1] While it like previous Spirit Hunter games is an adventure game, it also incorporates elements inspired by tabletop role-playing games, such as character statistics that affect the success rates of certain actions.[3][5]

Release

Shibito Magire and its crowdfunding campaign were announced by Experience in September 2019 through their YouTube channel, along with a number of concept art pieces.[9] It was published by Experience on December 1 2022, in Japan, for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, following multiple delays to allow for further quality improvements.[2][10] A PlayStation Vita version was ruled out due to a lack of support for the system from the manufacturer.[9]

Aksys Games are planning to publish the game internationally in Late February 2024.[11][12] Initially announced for release on the same platforms in addition to Windows, the western PlayStation 4 version was cancelled in favor of the PlayStation 5 version in August 2023.[13] The PS5/Nintendo Switch version in North America was released on February 15, 2024.[14] They included a soundtrack CD.[15]

Reception

Sales

Famitsu reported that Death Mark II sold 3,836 copies in Japan after it was released.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: 死噛 シビト マギレ, "Shinigami: Corpse Confusion"[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Romano, Sal (2019-11-03). "Experience to launch crowdfunding campaign for third entry in Spirit Hunter series on November 25". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  2. ^ a b Romano, Sal (2022-01-07). "Shinigami: Shibito Magire delayed to September 15 in Japan". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  3. ^ a b c d Yokoyama, Keiichi (2019-12-30). "『死印』の正統続編『シビトマギレ（仮）』、クラウドファンディングキャンペーンが目標金額1500万円に到達。PS4/Switch向けに開発中". Automaton (in Japanese). Active Gaming Media. Archived from the original on 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  4. ^ a b Wong, Alistair (2019-11-25). "Spirit Hunter Series Sequel Shibito Magire Crowdfunding Begins In Japan Today". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  5. ^ a b Romano, Sal (2019-11-25). "Experience launches Shibito Magire crowdfunding campaign". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  6. ^ ""心霊ホラーADVシリーズ"最新作『シビトマギレ（仮）』のティザーPVが公開！ クラウドファンディングもまだまだ実施中". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. 2019-12-09. Archived from the original on 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  7. ^ a b Romano, Sal (2019-12-29). "Shibito Magire crowdfunding campaign fully funded". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  8. ^ Fukuyama, Koji (2020-01-16). "『死印』、『NG』に続く心霊ホラーシリーズ第3弾『シビトマギレ（仮）』のクラウドファンディングが3000万円を集めて最終ゴールを達成". Den-fami Nico Game Magazine (in Japanese). Mare, Inc. Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  9. ^ a b Romano, Sal (2020-01-03). "Experience to crowdfund third entry in Spirit Hunter series". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  10. ^ "Shinigami: Shibito Magire delayed to the 1st of December in Japan - Game News 24". 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  11. ^ Hazra, Adriana (July 2, 2022). "Aksys Games Announces Shuuen no Virche ~ErroЯ:Salvation, Norn9: Var Commons & Last Era, 4 More Games". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II Game Releases in English in Late February 2024". Anime News Network. 2023-08-27. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  13. ^ "Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II delayed to late February 2024 in the west; PS4 version dropped for PS5 version". Gematsu. August 24, 2023. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  14. ^ "Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II comes to Switch Feb. 15th, 2024". 2023-10-31. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  15. ^ Romano, Sal (24 August 2023). "Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II delayed to late February 2024 in the west; PS4 version dropped for PS5 version". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Famitsu Sales: 11/28/22 - 12/4/22 [Update]". 8 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2024.