Path of Kami: Journey Begins

A game about a wolf in a Japanese mythology setting? Where have we seen this before? Whether you remember that title of similar stature or not, it's certainly been a while since we've seen a game about animals solving puzzles in a spirit world. Path of Kami: Journey Begins aims to reinvigorate those old-school 3D platformers with an approach of its own.

Most games that follow a similar theme today focus on combat and fierce cognitive puzzle-solving. Path of Kami: Journey Begins takes another approach in offering a calming and meaningful world that can give players a sanctuary to whisk their cares away. Does the title accomplish that fear? We better take the role of this spirit world to find out!

Howling of the Wind

So what's Path of Kami: Journey Begins all about, then? The game involves players taking control of a wolf navigating the spirit world, proving it's worth bypassing all the ethereal trials the gods present. You'll hop, jump, run, and maneuver through a series of cognitive platform challenges and use your brain to solve some of the more clever puzzles the game lays out.

So is there anything that makes the game stand out as a unique 3D platformer? It's tricky to outline any mechanics highlighting Path of Kami: Journey Begins as a particularly outlandish title. The most noticeable and enjoyable feature is how relaxing the game can be, with minimal frustrations in solving puzzles and a calming world surrounding your wolf and wisp.

The lack of intensity may not motivate the seasoned gamer, with the challenge palette being reasonably minimal. However, the visuals are probably the most polarizing element of the game. Path of Kami: Journey Begin's game world is one of the varying biomes in what feels like a PS2-era graphics environment. Quickly, that could be an homage to similar old titles or show a lack of effort.

Whatever your thoughts, Path of Kami: Journey Begins is stapled down by the fact that it's a pretty straightforward 3D platformer. Sure, players could enjoy themselves for a little while. However, it will not be holistically memorable or deliver a profound gameplay experience.

The Will of the Wolf

Anyone that has some insight into the cult gaming cannon will identify straightaway that Path of Kami: Journey Begins is heavily inspired by Okami. The characters, folklore, and gameplay are remarkably similar, albeit the former is more relaxed. It's that thought that players could carry throughout a playthrough, leaving the whole experience hindered by comparison.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A relaxing game perfect for casual gamers
• The different biomes in the game world are lovely to explore
• The Japanese folklore elements are entertaining

Cons:

• It bares many similarities to other titles
• The visuals feel lackluster, with no populated environments
• The gameplay could be argued as too easy