"Promise Mascot Agency" is developed by the UK independent studio Kaizen Game Works. Behind it, you'll find some creative heavyweights from Japan, like director Ikumi Nakamura, who has worked on titles like "Okami," "Bayonetta," and "Ghostwire: Tokyo." There’s also conceptual artist Mai Matori from Nakamura's new studio Unseen. You can expect this game to be infused with a rich Japanese aesthetic.
The game follows the protagonist, Sugawara no Michizane, who is a former yakuza member banished to a remote village called Kasuga in Kyushu. He takes over a nearly bankrupt mascot dispatch office. The storyline might sound familiar, but the key is to see how this game parodies the genre!
Your main task is to dispatch quirky mascots, which are intelligent beings that have coexisted with humans throughout history. They have different pursuits; some are money-hungry, some just want to eat convenience store rice balls, and others wish to plunge the world into chaos. You need to understand their needs to attract them to your office.
Once you've got your mascot, it's time to train them and send them out to work. These gigs often get a bit shady, and as the driver, you'll be cruising around in a beat-up light truck to pick them up, all while scouting for those sweet opportunities. You can upgrade the truck for better performance—think turbocharging, jumping, gliding, and even mounting a missile launcher to 'fire' your mascots out. It feels a bit like a scene out of Crazy Taxi.
During your work hours, you'll encounter unexpected events, like rivals, tight entrances, kitchen fires, and even terrifying ghosts. If you can make friends with the "heroes" in town, they'll help you tackle these challenges, including the road sign superhero, Captain Sign, and the bar owner, Mama-San, who has an extensive collection of latex items. Sometimes, they feel more like oddballs than heroes. Additionally, the game features a variety of mini-games, such as claw machines, that will take you back to the classic vibe of Yakuza.
The "Promise Mascot Agency" is set to launch in 2025, supporting platforms include Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam / Epic Games Store / Microsoft Store, with a demo version available for download now.