A Yakuza’s Guide to Mascot Management
Kaizen Game Works burst onto the scene in 2020 with the bizarre, yet creative, detective adventure Paradise Killer and received a great deal of praise in the process. It’s often hard to follow-up on a successful debut, but they have a rather unique concept up their proverbial sleeves for Promise Mascot Agency in order to give them a good chance of hitting the mark once again.
Just how unique is Promise Mascot Agency I hear you ask? Well, it’s an open world, mascot management, crime drama, which sounds like nothing that’s been done before. There’s so much more to it than meets the eye however, so allow me to explain.
A Twisted Tale of Redemption
After a big money deal goes awry, losing ¥12 billion as a result, renowned yakuza lieutenant Michi “The Janitor” is exiled from the Shimazu family to clean up the mess of his making. Naturally, he’s sent to the run-down town of Kaso-Machi to try and turn a failing mascot agency into a profitable business. Aided by a large talking finger, named Pinky, Michi must make enough money to save the rest of the family, outlast a curse that befalls those who reside here, and uncover details regarding the failed trade-off that actually led him here.
The main narrative is a slow-burner, however there’s plenty to sink your teeth into with regards to side stories and general lore. It’s great that many situations have voiceovers, albeit in Japanese, to convey what’s going on much better than text-only would.The overall tone is set pretty swiftly upon realising you’re running a mascot agency out of a love hotel, alongside a severed finger, in a town where quirky humans and weird creatures coexist.
Everything is a little odd, but it works and the chemistry between Michi and Pinky is strong enough to make the majority of conversations worthwhile. The rest of the cast complement the dynamic duo well; there’s a cavalcade of interesting beings to interact with.
Recruiting and Managing: The Core Gameplay of Promise Mascot Agency
Whether it’s the grumpy old mayor, the local mechanic intrigued by the occult, or the train conductor and his feline workmate, you’ll gain insight into their lives. But that’s nothing compared to the mascots you’ll meet, who have usually faced a huge fall from grace. The big strawberry coloured bear, Ichigo Love, the constantly overwhelmed block of tofu, To-Fu, and the historian shaped like a burial mound, Kofun, are just a taste of what to expect. I can tell you it certainly gets crazier though, with an adult video loving cat named Trororo that’s covered in sticky stuff, which is almost definitely yam juice, as an example.
It’s these mascots you must go out and recruit, for they’re integral to the most crucial aspect of the gameplay. In a nutshell, you will have to offer an enticing contract by choosing various clauses related to bonuses, vacation time, and a cut of the fees. Once onboard, the mascots can be sent out on jobs to start earning some cash and if everything goes smoothly, it’ll start rolling in. Depending on the suitability of the mascot for the task at hand, problems may arise and help is then required.
Showtime Showdown
From rogue animals, dodging staging, and even stalkers, the mascot’s time to shine is often thrown into carnage. To ensure the full amount of money is retained, you’ll have to rock up on the scene with a deck of cards containing Mascot Support Heroes.
The idea is to use the cards drawn in order to drain the health of whatever you’re up against. These cards have different stats and some are better against certain threats than others. It’s all quite silly, but fun, as the whole debacle is presented as if it’s part of a Japanese game show. Possessing a selection of quality cards is important to succeed here, which ultimately requires you to perform a multitude of tasks in the open-world.
Kaso-Machi Calling
A huge portion of your time is going to be spent roaming the deceptively big rural town of Kaso-Machi. Fortunately you are behind the wheel of a kei truck, so getting around is relatively quick, and that’s good because there’s a ton of stuff to be doing.
Chatting to the locals to acquire their assistance is often the best way to obtain their support in card form. Better yet, helping them with quests can lead to upgrades that improve their cards and make it a rarer version of itself. Such quests often entail scouring the vast area for collectibles like arcade cabinets, items related to the occult, and lost kittens. In doing so, it allows you further conversational opportunities to delve deeper into the person requesting the things, which is usually interesting.
Distractions and Rewards: Side Activities and Town Investments
Additionally, there are small billboards to smash, sins to cleanse, shrines to clean, and what appear to be fox spirits that must be chased down. Successfully catching those spirits is incredibly handy as you earn improvements for the truck, including the ability to launch poor Pinky like a rocket. The absolute best activity of all though involves giant claw machines, where you can win mascot items to sell on. It’s stupidly addictive, despite the operation of the machines being a tad clunky.
Getting side-tracked is all too easy in Promise Mascot Agency with all of the above and more to keep you busy. But it’s okay to go from distraction to distraction due to every completed objective, or noteworthy action, providing either cash to improve the business, fans to increase popularity and unlock higher paid jobs, or buffs to the rewards for certain aspects. Heck, even investing in the infrastructure of the town is a worthwhile venture that gives a host of benefits in return. You always seem to be making progress in one way or another.
A Few Stumbles
There are a handful of gripes however that do put a damper on proceedings.
For starters, there comes a point where there’s an ongoing, time-sensitive, objective that could cause a potential ‘Game Over’. It’s reliant upon your earnings and it’s difficult to use the money for that particular purpose, without affecting your ability to spend profits to grow the business. While it’s manageable, the pressure isn’t enjoyable and feels unnecessary when you just want to have fun.
Another, less prominent, drawback is the rather tricky to control truck, which is very arcade-y and ensures navigating the tight openings is a real pain. The segments featuring mascots in trouble are quite repetitive after a period of time too, even though the battles are fast.
On the design front, I can only offer praise for a wonderfully weird bunch of creatures that stand out more with the presence of a few normal-ish people. The town itself looks great too, obviously drawing inspiration from rural areas in Japan for the environment and the buildings within. You might even notice the influences behind some of the character names, like Trororo named after the yam side dish Tororo, which is a nice touch for those who want that extra layer of the culture.
A Quirky and Captivating Blend of Genres
Ultimately, Promise Mascot Agency ticks a lot of boxes by being original, fun, and at times, quite weird. The mascot management is at the core of the game, but it’s the additional free-roam activities that flesh it out to deliver the most enjoyment. Incorporating much of what makes Japanese culture so alluring is also one of its main strengths. There are just a few ideas that hold it back from being considered a top drawer experience, but that shouldn’t put you off.
Go put on a costume and get business booming again by buying Promise Mascot Agency!
Your Links
Manage Mascot Mayhem in Promise Mascot Agency on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/manage-mascot-mayhem-in-promise-mascot-agency-on-xbox-series-xs-ps5-switch-and-pc/
Buy Promise Mascot Agency on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/promise-mascot-agency/9p6gcj303k9b
