What do you get when you combine ex-Yakuza drama, cursed small-town vibes, and adorable (if slightly unhinged) mascots? Apparently, you get Promise Mascot Agency, a new game from Kaizen Game Works that’s shaping up to be as bonkers as it sounds, and we’re here for it.
The team at Kaizen just dropped some juicy details, and the cast alone is enough to make you do a double-take. Leading the charge are Takaya Kuroda (Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Gravel-voiced Icon) and Ayano Shibuya (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s Ethereal Queen). If this were a “most random crossover” competition, they’d already have the trophy.
Ex-Yakuza in a Cursed Town? Sure, Why Not
Let’s break this wild premise down: you play as Michi, a disgraced ex-yakuza who’s been booted to the almost-too-weird-to-be-true town of Kaso-Machi. Michi’s mission? Pay off his debt and save the town’s defunct mascot agency. Oh, and you’re not alone. Your assistant manager is literally a severed finger named Pinky☆, voiced by Ayano Shibuya.
Apparently, it’s not just about wrangling mascots into doing cute dances or waving signs. There’s also a full-blown crime mystery brewing, complete with nightmare spirits, forbidden secrets, and conspiracies that would make your average Netflix drama look tame.
A Star-Studded Voice Cast
Kaizen clearly pulled out all the stops for this one. Alongside Kuroda and Shibuya, the cast includes Eri Saito (Chainsaw Man), gaming legend Shuhei Yoshida (yep, that Shuhei Yoshida), and Swery (Deadly Premonition). Game Director Oli Clarke Smith summed it up perfectly: “We can’t believe that our weird game managed to attract such a strong voice cast.”
What Can You Actually Do?
In Promise Mascot Agency, you’re tasked with:
Recruiting mascots: Think beyond your average fluffy animal suit. This town is cursed, so expect things to get… creative.
Negotiating contracts: Because even mascots have bills to pay.
Solving mysteries: It’s not just about mascots; you’ll be unravelling why you were exiled and what’s up with those spirits lurking in the shadows.
Why This Game Has Our Attention
Kaizen Game Works, known for bending the rules of narrative gaming (Paradise Killer, anyone?), is clearly up to something special here. The mix of absurd comedy, crime-solving, and storytelling feels like a mashup we didn’t know we needed but now can’t stop thinking about.
Set to launch in early 2025 for PC and consoles, Promise Mascot Agency might be the slice of weirdness your gaming library needs. So, are you ready to manage mascots, fight spirits, and maybe, just maybe, redeem an ex-yakuza? We know we are.
Add to your wishlist on Steam now.
Stay unruly.
