Kuon (PS2) - Part 2

Previously on first part: Utsuki along with her sister Kureha, search their father who's the monk that's tasked to exorcist this haunted manor. They got separated, thus Utsuki alone venture around Manor's garden. There's several corpse and Tuyul (Gaki) around there. Clearly, this place is dangerous but she meet another exorcist than her father: Sakuya. Although she can't accompanies Utsuki, she gives Utsuki some spellcards that (thankfully) Utsuki can cast. Utsuki's Survival Horror-ing continues...

Yes, it's another corpse but can you see ghost on top-right? Due to their similar appearance, i suspect he's the ghost of this corpse. And guess what? There's no other way to go than follow the apparition. 

 

Ah, shoot! Jumpscare #3: Passing ghost all of sudden and out of thin air. Well, it's quite logic(?) that ghost appears out of nowhere but it happens very soon as the camera change. Quite unfair! This sighting causes vertigo thus i must meditate soon.

 

Do you remember when i say there's no health indicator? Apparently, it's blurriness of the camera and it also indicates Utsuki's sanity. So health and sanity is one wellness measure in this game? Maybe. If vertigo happens (which is indicated by blur camera), Utsuki can't cast the magic. I'll keep that in mind.

 

Finally, i reach a spot in Manor's guardhouse section where Kureha was there. This note is really suspicious. I have a theory that Kureha most likely Albert Whesker in this game. I mean come on. She's really suspicious. Imagine if Whesker and Chris are sibling! Also Chris is as weak and coward as that clumsy Joseph Frost who is perfect representation of me in Resident Evil-verse. Horrible, right?   

From Guardhouse i move to Manor East section. Is that ghost sitting there? Let's find out!

It seems not. She's as scaredy cat as me. The only deciding factor: who's brave enough to approach other. She runs away to that room and lock herself in. Another dead end, then.  

Apparently she's Ayako, hinted by this letter made by her mother Lady Fujiwara. I don't understand why she remain chilling in open room before i approach her and not lock herself before that, knowing that this place is badly haunted. Whatever. I will just take this note and few Hibari spell cards here.

Back to Guardhouse...

 

I wish i can use my reliable-method of Exorcism in Nioh and applies that here which is: chopping anything before me within safe distance using Odachi. But, no. Let alone that, Utsuki here refuses to take that spear. If this more realistic Survival game, she should take that without any restriction. And guess what (again)? Door behind Utsuki, is continuously banging too. Fantastic! [Moderate Sarcasm]     

On the self behinds me i found small lion statue and this vessel thing which -let's be honest- is  equivalent of ink ribbon in Resident Evil. It's kind of cruel to have the first saving item so far from the beginning like this. Therefore, maybe FromSoftware allows infinite saving in second save point before meeting with Sakuya. Even though the combat isn't difficulty so far except for funny hit detection on using knife. But, it's meant to be last-resort weapon not main ones. But again, me who's stingy toward limited weapons will always equip it. Like forever and ever.

Thankfully, the banged door is locked by this device. To open it, i have to spin 3 layer disc into correct position. I think that's Scorpion constellation on the center disc but i forget how it's supposed to face. Let alone those Japanese character's orientation. Maybe there's clue to solve this puzzle somewhere, so i leave.

 

On corridor next to Ayako's room, another sighting occur. Guess where i have to go next?

A hole is revealed on next corridor. I can use it to peek around where Ayako hides. She looks fine.  

 

FREAK! there's that "Sadako" appears near shelf on the corner of the room with purple ooze, miasma, or whatever the freak is that. If you choose to peek into the hole again, which i did, naturally she will give you Jumpscare #4. I knew it was foolish idea but i really concern about Ayako and thought maybe i can do something to save her but apparently not. I don't want her to meet miserable fate like that bastard, Dario Rosso in Resident Evil 3. At least i know that "Sadako" is Kureha because that's what Utsuki said after being scared. Call me 'slow learner', 'dense idiot', or whatever for not realize that earlier! Thing for sure is the plot is thicken.

As i get outside of that corridor, a couple of ghosts attack me. Strangely, i can stab them with knife. Maybe because it's ceremonial knife, not just ordinary ones.

 

Oh, right! The door won't open so why don't you remove that goddamn bar that block it, you freaking idiot? William in Nioh can do that, why can't you? >:I

There's another banged door but this one is locked by seal. Also there's warning in blood that it's not tuyul who is in that door.

In this servant's room, i found diary that reminds me to ring the bell so Ayako will come out. After reading the diary the door where i come from is banged, already? But i'm sure i have secured that section.

 

What awaits me outside is 2 Tuyul(s). I got sandwiched and i die. Game Over.

On next try, i run for a bit making those Tuyul(s) stand in one side and i can slash them together! So far, this is the most challenging combat but still fair. Also i learn that Tuyul can claw me besides grabbing me. By the way, i use savestate instead of legit saving for the sake of convenience.

I reach the main door at the other side. There's body before on downstair but now it's dragged to the bottom of the stage and there's Tuyul eats its remain. He's so content with his meal that he ignores me up here even though i swing my knife to provoke him. I guess he can only notice me if i'm running. Anyway, the main entrance has so much bloodstain on it and that's where i go next.

Beyond the entrance main, i found creaking door. I say that the game is very generous to guide where i have to go but sadly in the form of something scary that your survival instinct will suggest you to avoid like ghost sighting and this door.  

Inside of the room, i found book that appears bitten by something. Probably dog that like to eat children's homework. The book contains information about the seals that i find through this mansion and it seems Miyoshimaru's blood is required to remove them.

Quite near from spot where i found the book, there's someone lean on small separator. I suspect that he's zombie that will attack me if i examine him therefore i shoot the flaming arrow and it misses. I forget to mention there's no auto-aim in this game so you have to adjust Utsuki's facing direction to aim by yourself. Turns out, he stills dead and totally harmless.   

 

From the corpse, i obtain the bloody [light pun intent] thing to remove those seal. Only Mercury seal that is. Luckily, from previous screenshot i know that first sealed door is Venus seal so i don't have to go all way back there. Because that will be horrible backtracking what's with her walking is as fast as that POW guy's and running boost her speed by only 20%. I suspect that's due to her Junihitoe. If that overly-sized kimono can't be used as emergency parachute, i'll be very annoyed.

Moving further to east section, Utsuki looks focused on saving point rather than that obvious blood-stained door. Actually, i would do the same if i was her. To be honest from entering that creaking door moment, i turn off the sounds and play music (the first track is Star Wars - Cantina Band Theme) to reduce the scary factor by ± 60%. I have to do that otherwise i can't make significant progress in this game. But i don't think the sounds and music in this game don't play important role except to assert the scary atmosphere or to shrink my already small (figurative) guts.

There's no direct way from there to go to that saving point. Instead i have to go further until i meet a stair to ground level and then i can go around here where i can crawl under the bridge that leads to the saving point. When i go back from saving point, a ghost appears on the corridor stage. He spots me but i get rid of him fairly easy with knife. Sniper_meleedare01.wav

I reckon i need to read the map as i found many accessible places along the way. The map has functional legends/marks such as that paper man on paper boat which is saving point, near Mulberry Tree. It's the first savepoint where Utsuki met Sakuya. While Utsuki herself is represented with that red arrow and the arrow's point is where Utsuki currently facing at. 

There's red squares which mark the locked doors. The numbers in red are type of seal that lock the doors. For example '3' is Earth seal. While wide 'X' mark represent blockade/obstacle. I realize that unlike in any retro Resident Evil, saving place in this game, is placed in wide-open area and not in room. This may cause problem of saving place isn't safe from any enemies. But so far in my playthrough, there's no occasion of me being immediately attacked after i load my game. FromSoftware still sensible enough to design this game, i see.

I decide to check in this carriage place because it's near. There's a tuyul there but no big deal. You see that flashing thing on the back? It's item that the game wants you to pick. This is quite standard in any Survival Horror games.

He dies as he lives...as chauffer. So carriage place is like garage of ye olde Japan, then. But i wonder where's the animals that are tasked to pull this carriage? It said that animals have sharper instinct than us human (because we're too relied on our technology). Therefore those labor animal either escape or are on strike before the paranormal tragedy happens. They're clever. 

Next stop is Spring Pavilion where no hostile creature around. The servants wear white cloth so this one is either guest or host of this mansion. Thing for sure is he left spellcard and Earth-seal-removal cloth. Snatch 'em!  

Next i go to quarters where i found another note which is useless. At least, i can suspect that this Miyoshimaru guy is probably the culprit of this accident. Also there's ink ribbon vessel. Heavy_positivevocalization05.wav  

But wait! On the same room there's this door that can be unlocked by Sacred Cloth: Earth. Beyond this door, i find another vessel and spellcard! Now that i think about it, this the same kind of seal that block the door where there's warning that "It's not Gaki who's inside of this door". That gives me (reckless) idea! I will go inside that door, hoping for 1st boss fight. I have good amount of courage and spellcard here. If things get really awful, i can summon giant wolf like Sakuya did. No big deal.

After proper and legit saving, i got attacked by 3 ghost on section where there's no enemies before! Luckily, i can swipe them with my knife quite easily thus preserving my spellcards.

Whatever inside of that thing, i believe it ain't pretty. I prefer to burn that thing down. There's torch near you, Utsuki. Do it, please! No? Oh, well. *sigh*

On the left of that bloody thing is this Zodiac puzzle. To operate this device: directional pad to move the highlight on lamps on left or top of the pictures. Then you can change row/column of the picture based on highlighted lamp. Highlighted picture indicate that the picture is correct. Make all of the picture lit and you unlock the door that's locked by this puzzle device. I have no clue to solve this puzzle except the blood trail around each picture. With that, i solve the puzzle quite easily.

Inside of the room, i find another vessel and this altar that requires some key item to operate. With how many vessel and spellcard that i get, i think the game try to convince me to keep playing. But i'm afraid i have to turn it off quite soon. Actually i have no regret to abandon this game and never play it again. I'm sorry.  

On my way to that 'boss fight' door, that tuyul in front stair snaps out and attacks me. But the fool only serves as guinea pig for my new spell that i found on garage: Tsuchi Jogo. It summons several hands that will drag enemy to hell! It's like Jedah Dohma's Finale Rosso of Vampire Saviour. Demoman_sf13_influx_big05.wav

 

Remember the barred door that Utsuki refuses to remove the bar? Here's on the other side of it and yet she can't open it because she know there's bar on the other side of it. So you really don't want to open this particular door, huh? You only want to go through that sealed door to get inside this room which mean you only makes hard on yourself and me. What's your motive behind this convoluting procedure? Laziness or FromSoftware pay you really good to do this? Whatever the case i hate you, Utsuki. Also your creepy sister Kureha.

As i said before that i will summon the giant wolf once i go passed the troubled door and here it is. But i feel that warning lies as i find tuyul in this room try to jumpscare me by bursting screen door and later got ravaged by this good boy here. Summoned creatures (including that demonic hands)  have their own health indicated by how burnt the spellcard (on bottom right) is. It's also indicator of cooldown for projectile magic.

I find another tuyul. That warning really is a lie. If Utsuki equipped with a knife, she can stab downed-but-not-dead-yet tuyul like this. The indicator of tuyul still alive or not: the presence of blood pool just like Resident Evil. 

Holy God! That's the box. Should i open it, reader? The answer is definitely yes, huh?! Silly me.

Thank goodness. There's neither that mister's body nor Kureha/"Sadako", inside of the box. But there's lots of web inside of it. Maybe i need gardening shears or something to clear them out?

And there's tuyul sneaks behind me after open the box. Excellent psychological trap. Ok, i'm done.

FromSoftware's Kuon (2004) is the scariest Survival Horror game that i ever played. Is it the Soulsborne of Survival Horror? I don't think so. So far the combat is pretty fair even though the hit detection of knife is not good. Also you can heal without healing item. The main strength lies in the horror aspect especially in atmosphere building. There's quite often case of decoration element change after you leave the place where it belongs for example: small screen separator is fallen although you're sure it stands still when you saw it in first time. Not to mention enemies that respawn after you make progress or saving. But so far, they are just either tuyul or ghost which can be dealt relatively easy. Also you have access to interesting spellcard such as summoning demonic hands or conjure flame spirit. The lighting also provide some spookiness into the game, your main light source is Utsuki's lantern that don't light that much. The music is just howling wind which is appropriate with the atmosphere. There's cricket sound that's fake mark of tranquility because there's definitely something horrible in this place. Makes me want to kill those insects. It's kind of weird that the scary things happen more often only until Kureha's jumpscare. Beyond that point, they're decreasing logarithmically. As if the game turns from horror mode to action mode.

Kuon (2004) is only for Survival Horror expert or huge fans. So playing this game is huge shock therapy to me. Unlike Resident Evil 3 (which i finished several months ago), i can't continue play Kuon to completion as it's too burdensome for me. The most i can do is to promote it to you, reader. What can you expect from me who's clumsy coward like Joseph Frost of S.T.A.R.S, anyway? Lastly...

Warning: those who have weak heart must avoid playing this game. Play it at your own risk!

Kuon (PS2) - Part 1

Survival-Horror games aren't my liking. Yet here i am, reviewing FromSoftware's Kuon (2004).

That's one hell of creepy title screen. Not to mention that "Sadako" blinks periodically. Really gives me goosebumps. Strangely the fire stands still, not flickering or anything. Another creepy thing is if you restart the game, there's chance that title screen changes into other alternative but still featuring "Sadako". Maybe that one is just me being scaredy cat. What's Kuon? I have no clue. There's shrine maiden in Toukiden 2 with the same name who also own restaurant. She's kind but her cooking are strange yet beneficial. Anyway, there's CG movie before the title screen appears...

 

What an unlucky man. Waking up by strange noise in midnight, get startled by spider swarm in corridor (he most likely has arachnophobia), and finally get Tenchu'd by "Sadako". I hope you shall suffer no more, sir.   

 

Forget it! The "Sadako" fold his bloody corpse while those 2 creepy children (who sang scary song since that accident in corridor) prepare the box that she brought. But dead man feels no pain, right? Later she gets inside the box after the corpse and the children close the box. Forget about  opening CG movie in any Resident Evil! This one is the scariest and deserves Oscar. Seriously.

Before i begin the game, i figure i have to check the setting/option menu. I found out that you can set the movement setting to either 2 Type: A or B. A type is normal movement control while B type is the "tank" control. If you hate "tank" control, you should leave the controller setting to Type A which is the default setting.

 

After i hit the 'new game' menu, the game presents with character choice. As the girl in red robe is in controller setting, i choose Yin Phase.

 

Then i get to choose difficulty setting. Insomnia, Nightmare, and Daydream? That's like difficulty option in Painkiller or at least i'm sure Insomnia (the medium difficulty) is. And next i have to set the brightness even though there's the setting on option menu already. Just get on with the game!    

After that, we have this letter:    

I have been summoned by the

Lord, who resides in the manor.

I shall be gone for a time.

The Lord is acquiring my

prayers and skills.

He is convinced that his

manor is cursed

I believe he has an overly

vivid imagination.

Most likely he saw a rat and

mistook it for a creature of the

other world.

At least, that is what i think.

I shouldn't be away for

very long, but take care of the

shrine in my absence.

You must not forget to take

care of the silkworms!

Also , i am worried about Kureha's

health. Please watch over her.

Why you're very concern about you goddamn silkworms pet? Okay, it's historical fact that silk (from silkworm) net very lucrative profit back in the day. Even the famous trade route "Silk Road" is based on its trading. My second comment: it's clearly not just rat, you dolt! The thing kills one of the inhabitant as we can see in the intro. If i were The Lord, i would probably burn the house down after retrieving my treasury, buy new mansion, and live happily ever after. No need to call exorcist. Anyway, who's this Kureha?

 

That's the one on the back. She and Utsuki (the lady that i will play as) search for his father in aforementioned manor. I know that it's common in every horror game/movie to have cliché of protagonists doing stupid thing that can endanger themselves, but let's pretend that Kureha and Utsuki goes to (definitely) haunted manor due to their love to their father, not just pure idiocy.

 

Once they go pass the gate, Kureha for some reason decide to leave Utsuki alone. What an irresponsible git! But it's kind of strange that Kureha leaves instead of Utsuki as it's Kureha that has bad health condition which is signified by sudden coughing. So why the sick ones leaves the healthy one and goes deeper into dangerous place? I have no idea. But i have inkling that Kureha is probably not-good sister.

 

Especially when she leaves me near some strange guy and a corpse here. "Where's the strange guy?" you ask? He's exactly across that mini-garden circle. You can see his leg and feet, right? At first, he's probably eating on the corpse. But when i approach him (very stupid decision, i know) he walks away and -as if- mocking me from distance. He does both of us favor.

 

I take some dust from the corpse which turns out to be healing herb powder. How original. To be fair, herb powder in Resident Evil only exist when combined with other herb though.

 

As i hit the equipment menu, this instruction appears. So there's 2 button to attack that can be set to any magic card which i haven't found yet. Therefore, pressing either button will make Utsuki use ceremonial knife that's given by her father. 

 

Few steps beyond that point, a park stone lamp collapses due to supernatural negative energy. This causes a tempest erm i mean Tempest  which can cause vertigo if i run. So there's benefit to walk instead run.

 

The rubble separates Utsuki from Kureha. Kureha stands still for a bit and leave without any concern to her young sister and in fact she starts to behave like ghost. I forget to mention that Utsuki addresses Kureha as Nee-sama. Therefore she regard her creepy old sister really high. Anyway, you can set the voice setting into English but it's weird to me see some traditional-Japan lady able to speak English fluently especially if they talk to each other. Moreover, Utsuki pronounces 'Kureha' like 'Korea' in that setting. Again, it's weird in my opinion. 

 

I have no choice other than taking detour way to reach her. On my way, i found another corpse with metal spike and wooden disc with silkworm picture engraved on it. I reckon i can use the metal spike to stab vampire's heart. Sniper_mvm_loot_common05.wav

Step backward from the corpse, i found the saving spot in the form of small braziers and 2 rock on riverside. What a complicated form. But i can't save here because i don't have vessel or whatever that means. Saving point in intersection of early part of the place. Certainly not remind me of that typewriter near main stair of Spencer Mansion. [Extra Large Sarcasm]  

 

Another junction leads me to this door that's banged periodically by something or someone. Utsuki comments that it's not wise to open this door. Good advice.  

 

There's down stairway that ends with locked door. So i guess i have to continue to the way of that corpse lies *sigh* 

 

Goodness Gracious! I swear to god that the corpse was in the middle of the road and now it's dragged to the riverside.

 

Some bald man feasts on another corpse across but i will ignore it instead i will inspect that small shrine and see if there's something useful on it.

 

I found a map and this tutorial document. Running can makes you detected. Got it!

 

Oh, sure! I will just keep reading the letter over and over again, hoping the game ends by itself. Of course, NOT! I want to go back to the game immediately! What a stupid question.

 

When i return to the game, the head of Buddha statue on the shrine is tumbling down making noise that the creature that was across that park, comes after me then the first combat ensues. Utsuki swings her knife way too slow and in awkward style. You see how bad her stabbing pose? She bend her back really bad. Luckily, Gaki here can only grab Utsuki. A weak grab if i may say, as Utsuki can break from his grab by mashing button relatively easy. A half dozen of knife stabe or so, the creature dies. Gaki means brat but i will keep calling his-kin Tuyul instead.

 

Pressing and holding R1 button, makes Utsuki meditate that cure vertigo and heal herself. The problem is there's no health indicator and if i'm not mistaken Dino Crisis also doesn't have it too.

 

Oh, God! There's those 2 creepy singing children played around that corpse and then leave.  

 

I think it's not good to follow their trail but the other way leads to this pond and we knew there's certainly something evil inside of it. Fine! I'll go after them.

 

There's slowly opening door scene in many spot in this game. Could this be equivalent of opening-door loading screen a la Resident Evil?

 

Jumpscare #1: Corpse suddenly drops down on top of bridge's roof. And guess what? The creepy singing is here. Really makes me uneasy. 3:<

 

Passing the bridge, i find this spell card. My first legit weapon. Yaay!

 

Also i found another save spot. Strangely, the game allow me to save here without the vessel or whatever that is.

Oh, wow! Those memory cards look fossilized. I'm impressed.

 

"...And there's also blood smeared here but that's not important, right?" [Light Sarcasm]

Damn! I hear door being banged again here.

 

So you're the culprit! I will skewer you for good once i know how to get there.

 

Ah, freak! Those kids are here. I have knife here and i'm not afraid to use it. You hear me? Well, they're harmless. Instead they give me clue that everyone here is dead except Ayako and they wonder whether she still alive or not. After that, they run away while giggling. A second after that, i hear something or someone jump to the water. At least, their singing is over.

 

Near where they sat, i find memo for Lady Fujiwara which -i doubt- is Fujiwara no Mokou. That's odd. Small shrine where there's air drifting out (and -of course- blood spill), needs wooden disks to unlock. It's certainly convoluting that you need key items inside of locked place which required said key items. Anyway, i need another spike from Miss Ayako. Oh, wait! I found spike in some generic corpse before. Doesn't that mean he's Utsuki's father? No way that happens. If that's really the case:

• Utsuki will tells us right away
•  Game will ends really short (which i wish that happens)

 

Before i kill that troublesome tuyul, there's section where i can see zombies, ghosts, or whatever wandering behind screen besides me. Thankfully, they're content with walking left and right, never initiate to break the screen to cause me harm or fear. Or maybe not yet. 

 

There, i killed the bald bastard! The door is sealed with Seal: Venus. Can the seal is removed by hand like what Kureha did without any mambo-jambo requirement? Of course not, silly me! I need that creepy sister of mine, first. Or this could be equivalent of Helmet/Sword/Shield key lock in Spencer Mansion?  

 

Walking on other side of balcony way, i find corpse (that doesn't carry anything) and a rope that leads to hole inside of this building. I don't think i need to concern about this yet. So, excuse me! Passing through.

 

I can assume that the ghosts here worship Vlad the Impaler, can't i?

 

Jumpscare #2: Corpse suddenly fall after i want to pick his fallen diary. And the diary only contain writing about the inhabitants here are disappear one by one and die in grotesque manner like being impaled in Bamboo tree like what we saw before. Long story short, the diary is garbage. I feel like i want to slap the corpse with his diary back and forth especially in the face.  

 

As there's nothing i can do in that place, i go back to manor's gate so i can escape while i still have the chance get hint where i have to go next. Another body is dragged to the water. Wonderful! [Medium-High Sarcasm]

Anyway, i set the arrow magic to triangle button and it shows on right-bottom corner, which is handy.

 

A cut scene triggered once i get into near that first saving point. I hide behind the tree while watching the Yang-phase lady saves her progress.

 

Suddenly, another tuyul grab me from behind. Consider myself lucky that it's not that "Sadako" who attacks me from behind. Also the Yang-phase lady summon giant wolf to shred the tuyul, once she hear the commotion. Pyro_thanks01.wav

 

So your name is Sakuya, not Sakuya Izayoi though. After intoduction, Utsuki tells Sakuya that she and Kureha goes to this forsaken place to search for their father who's the elder monk at shrine near here. Sakuya want to help Utsuki to search for her father but she can't...  

 

...instead she gives bunch of spell cards (including 2 cards to summon the giant wolf)! Engineer_thanks01.wav

In return Utsuki gives Sakuya the (useless) letter from Doman (Utsuki's father). Sucks to be Sakuya.

 

The door that's banged at the other junction is now open and there's dead tuyul behinds it. To be continued...on next part.