Back in 2020, Kaizen Game Works caught my attention with Paradise Killer—a narrative adventure where exploring and diving into its world was just as thrilling as the story itself. Now, upon encountering their new release, Promise Mascot Agency, I was initially unsure what to expect. However, after immersing myself in its charming world for around twenty hours, it’s evident that Kaizen Game Works continues to surprise with its bold creativity. While Promise Mascot Agency is hard to peg with a single label, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking something delightfully unusual, or simply those who appreciate quality gaming.
In this whimsical journey, you step into the shoes of Michi, or “The Janitor”—a yakuza enforcer who, after a botched job, is declared dead by his mob family. His new assignment takes him to Kaso-Machi, a cursed town rumored to lethally reject male yakuza. Here, Michi must revitalize a struggling mascot agency to pay off his debts. You might ask, what exactly is a mascot agency? Well, think of mascots as lively, quirky characters who promote events and draw attention to brands. With Pinky—your quirky pinky-finger-shaped assistant—by your side, your mission is to transform the Promise Mascot Agency into the finest in Japan, all while unravelling the secrets and stories of Kaso-Machi’s residents.
Normally, this is where I’d draw parallels to other notable games, but Promise Mascot Agency quite literally stands in a league of its own. It’s a unique blend of narrative adventure, allowing you to explore a compact open world, complete tasks for the community, recruit new mascots, and chase dreams. Most of your time is spent driving a beat-up truck around town, helping you familiarize yourself with the locals. There’s no need to worry about getting out or crashing; instead, focus on upgrades like jumping, boosting, and aquatic shortcuts that deepen your connection to Kaso-Machi. What might first seem absurd becomes the beating heart of the game through its charming, relatable characters. Whether it’s Trororo with his passion for promoting adult videos, or Miss Wambui, the English teacher who fell in love with the town, they all leave a lasting impression. The writing shines through, perfectly complementing the creative and memorable mascots. Incredibly, as you progress, you’re tasked with selling mascot merchandise, and you’ll quickly find yourself desiring swag for To-Fu, Neko Roll, and Koke-Maru.
When your mascots head off for gigs, occasionally the unexpected happens, transitioning you into a tactical minigame. Here, you become a card-battler using Kaso-Machi’s residents as “Support Heroes” to tackle issues ranging from misplaced boxes to faulty machines. You have a mere 60 seconds to resolve these interruptions by strategically playing cards, each with unique attributes. Though it might seem challenging at first, upgrading your Support Heroes by completing quests and building relationships makes a significant difference. As systems begin to interlink, your agency—and the town—flourish hand in hand. Visually, while the game might seem dark, the experience is heartening. Exploring gets more enjoyable the more you familiarize yourself with Kaso-Machi and its paths.
It’s the fine details where Promise Mascot Agency truly excels. Though not every dialogue is voice-acted, every cutscene and mascot introduction is, bringing an intimate charm to each character. An intriguing feature allows you to choose Michi’s responses based on intent, like [supportive] or [direct], rather than exact lines. It’s a refreshing approach, bringing more control to player decisions and giving writers liberty in creating interactions. Playing this game gave me the same vibe as Paradise Killer, which is high praise indeed. In fact, I believe Promise Mascot Agency surpasses its predecessor. And the soundtrack? Simply fantastic. With Alpha Chrome Yayo weaving a blend of lo-fi, Japanese City Pop, and ’90s arcade tunes, the music fits Kaso-Machi like a glove, enhancing every moment.
However, the Nintendo Switch version is a bit of a frustration with its inconsistent frame rate, rendering delays, and loading issues. If you have access to another platform, I’d recommend opting for that to enjoy smoother gameplay. Two software crashes and stuttering framerates, especially during the game’s finale, did hinder my experience slightly—but not enough to overshadow the overall adventure.
While the freedom to explore the game’s chapters and quests at your own pace is enjoyable, I found myself joyous in completing all the side objectives early on, which resulted in a rushed ending. I advise future players to balance their journey by engaging with mascots whenever they have a ‘life satisfaction review’ and evenly pace both side quests and the main storyline. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the abundance of systems at play, but with patience and frequent chats with Pinky and other key characters, it becomes a rewarding experience.
Promise Mascot Agency evokes the charm of a cult classic from the PS2 and GameCube eras, a compliment in every way. It’s rare in today’s gaming landscape to find titles that venture off the beaten path with such flair. Unlike other games, it boldly refuses conventional comparisons, thriving on its quirky and heartwarming spirit. Kaizen Game Works has crafted an adventure that’s memorable and brimming with joy, if only you let it in—and possibly play on a platform other than Switch. Promise Mascot Agency is an experience you won’t forget anytime soon.
