Do these mascots deliver on their promise?
From the creators of Paradise Killer comes the world’s first (and best) Open World Mascot Management Crime Drama: this is Promise Mascot Agency. Crime! Drama! Intrigue! What has happened to Michi? Michi, a disgraced yakuza lieutenant, is exiled to a cursed town to turn a bankrupt mascot agency into a profitable enterprise. As he struggles in his new life, can he manage to make a successful business and unravel the conspiracy behind his exile? He’s helped by Assistant Manager Pinky, who happens to be a mascot herself. A new home to explore! What secrets will you discover in your adorable Kei Truck?
One look at Promise Mascot Agency and you’ll question just exactly what the hell is going on here. On one hand it’s a yakuza story, on the other its about mascots that have fallen on had times and your journey to rebuild the mascot agency from the ground up. It’s definitely the most bizarre game I’ve come across for quite some time.
The first thing I recognised was the voice of the protagonist Michi…played by none other than the voice of Kazama Kiryu himself, Takaya Kuroda. So, they’ve pulled off quite the coup by getting a Yakuza legend onboard here, but does the game deliver on its promise?
It’s a crazy game where you spend a lot of it driving around, exploring the town in your truck. You will come across turn-based cards minigames when your mascots are having issues, but its fairly light on the management side of things. Its more focused on exploring and collecting items. It can feel a bit repetitive if you are trying to 100% it, but for those just going through the story, its an enjoyable experience. Truly baffling and it never takes itself seriously, but still a memorable outing.
The visuals are impressive and the mascots are cutesy in their anime style. The game runs smoothly and the DualSense is utilised well. Voice-acting is great thanks to Takaya Kuroda and the rest of the cast. The music is pretty good too with tracks that have an 80s vibe.
The Verdict
While it can be a bit repetitive at times, Promise Mascot Agency is a surprise hit. It’s definitely insane with its idea, but it somehow works and with the voice of the Dragon of Dojima at the helm, how could you refuse?