Spirit Hunter: NG
A horror visual novel where bonds determine spirit fate.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Spirit Hunter: NG (short for No Good) is a 2018 horror visual novel adventure game developed by Experience. It is the second game in the Spirit Hunter series, following 2017's Spirit Hunter: Death Mark, and is succeeded by Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II. Originally released for the PlayStation Vita, it was later ported to the PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch.
In the game, players investigate haunted locations, searching for clues related to spirits with the goal of purifying or destroying them. These investigations are conducted alongside partner characters, with whom the protagonist can build relationships. The game was directed by Motoya Ataka, produced by Hajime Chikami, and designed by Yuuki Miura and Tomohiro Kokubu. It was developed to stand apart from its predecessor through its writing and protagonist, featuring a gradual escalation of horror and a hot-blooded main character. Critics praised the story, character development, and visuals, and recommended it to fans of Asian horror.
**Gameplay** Spirit Hunter: NG is a visual novel adventure where players explore haunted areas in a point-and-click fashion, gathering clues about their current case. Certain moments involve "crisis choice" segments, requiring a series of correct decisions within a time limit to escape a pursuer; failure returns the player to the start of the segment to try again. Elsewhere, players can use the protagonist's "bloodmetry" ability, touching bloodstains to see visions of events tied to the blood's owner. Optional side quests involve the protagonist receiving text messages that prompt the player to search for hidden cards in described objects.
During boss battles against spirits, players use items found during investigations, relying on item descriptions and journal entries to determine the correct actions. Battles have different outcomes: purifying the spirit frees the partner from spiritual shackles, while destroying it transfers the spirit's curse to the partner, killing them. Players strengthen bonds with partners through conversation and by reacting to their words via the "judging" mechanic.
**Development** Experience developed Spirit Hunter: NG, with direction by Motoya Ataka, production by Hajime Chikami, and design by Yuuki Miura and Tomohiro Kokubu.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Spirit Hunter: NG
- Developer
- Experience
- Publisher
- JP · Experience · WW · Aksys Games
- Director
- Motoya Ataka
- Producer
- Hajime Chikami
- Designer
- Yuuki Miura · Tomohiro Kokubu
- Artist
- Fumiya Sumio · Kera · Kazuhiro Oya
- Writer
- Kunimitsu Kobayashi · Satoru Okano · Makoto Obara · Kyo Yahagi · Ryoko Seki
- Composer
- Naoaki Jimbo
- Series
- Spirit Hunter
- Platforms
- PlayStation Vita · PlayStation 4 · Microsoft Windows · Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Horror Adventure, visual novel
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Spirit Hunter: NG is a visual novel adventure game in which the player investigates haunted locations, searching for clues in a point-and-click manner. The game includes 'crisis choice' segments requiring timed correct decisions to escape pursuers, and a 'bloodmetry' ability that lets the protagonist touch bloodstains to receive visions. During investigations, optional side quests involve searching for hidden cards based on text messages. Confronting spirits in boss battles uses found items and journal entries; outcomes vary: purifying the spirit frees the partner, while destroying it transfers the curse to the partner, killing them. The player forms bonds with partners through conversation and a 'judging' mechanic.
Reader's Guide
The game was developed by Experience, directed by Motoya Ataka, produced by Hajime Chikami, and designed by Yuuki Miura and Tomohiro Kokubu. The writing team included Kunimitsu Kobayashi, Satoru Okano, Makoto Obara, Kyo Yahagi, and Ryoko Seki, with character designs by Fumiya Sumio, spirit designs by Kera, concept art by Kazuhiro Oya, and audio by Naoaki Jimbo. The developers reviewed tens of thousands of concept art pieces and re-created chapters from scratch when they did not match their vision. In contrast to the previous game's amnesiac, middle-aged protagonist, NG features a hot-blooded student who acts impulsively, with horror gradually introduced and worsening. The game was designed to depict horror in everyday life, reflected in its locations. Announced in April 2018 via Famitsu, it was released in Japan for PlayStation Vita on September 13, 2018 (delayed from August 9), with a PlayStation 4 port on February 21, 2019. Aksys Games released it internationally on October 10, 2019, for PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. Experience released the Switch version in Japan on May 21, 2020. Critics praised the story, characterization, and visuals, considering it a good game for fans of Asian horror. Famitsu appreciated the gradual horror introduction but found pacing dissatisfying at times. RPGFan criticized reused audio tracks. Neither the Vita nor PS4 versions appeared in Media Create's weekly top 20 during debut weeks, selling fewer than 3,569 and 2,724 physical copies respectively.
Did You Know?
- The game's title 'NG' stands for 'No Good'.
- The protagonist uses a 'bloodmetry' ability to receive visions by touching bloodstains.
- Destroying a spirit in a boss battle transfers the curse to the player's partner, killing them.
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