Review of Promise Mascot Agency: Unlike Some CEOs, I Actually Get Things Done

You could probably guess this. When you dive into Promise Mascot Agency, a game where a deranged finger mascot teams up with a guy wielding a broom to uncover the Yakuza’s dark secrets in a cursed, dilapidated town, you quickly realize that the game’s eccentricity is its hallmark. It features a duck voiced by former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida, among other oddities.

I sensed its bizarre nature during the initial demo, and after completing the full experience––which included a kei truck adventure that eventually soared with wings––I’m here to confirm it. The bizarreness is unrivaled, and if you find yourself drawn to this indie mascot management oddity, it’s this eccentricity that’s going to allure you, much like a malfunctioning vending machine spitting out nonsense as a moss ball on legs discovers that violence isn’t the best way to get things done.

Promise Mascot Agency does have moments where it pretends to play it straight. Despite featuring a constantly puffing finger mascot, the game’s narrative is quite serious, filled with surprising lore. You play as Michi Sugawara, a fixer within the Shimazu Family, who, along with his sworn brother Tokihira, carries a hefty sum of cash to a rival syndicate to secure peace among Japan’s top three crime alliances.

Naturally, things fall apart. Instead of offing Michi, the boss Matriarch Shimazu cunningly ships him off to Kaso-Machi’s dysfunctional mascot agency, renamed Promise Mascot Agency on Michi’s arrival, alongside Pinky, the cigar-free psycho finger.

Now you’re in the mascot management game; your task is to polish the agency’s roster by recruiting mascot talent, networking to align them with local businesses, and ensuring gigs lead to success. The right mascot traits match specific job demands—a food-themed mascot fits restaurant events, while a funeral urn-shaped one is perfect for a cemetery gig. But if you just need funds and your mascot’s stamina holds up, you can throw them into any gig.

Mishaps occur, and you need to intervene using the game’s user-friendly but initially daunting mascot job interface. You’ll rush in time to livestreams of mascot predicaments, using ‘mascot hero cards’ to deflate troubles. Resolving issues nets you full rewards—failure means sticking with the base pay.

This management routine offers complexity, especially as you explore Kaso-Machi to unravel the town’s mysteries and bolster your agency. The urgency is palpable, as you juggle personal expenses and funnel money to Shimazu, whose safety teeters because of the failed heist. At points, I fell in the red—a testament to the urgency and difficulty balance.

Running the business feels at odds with the pacing of exploring Kaso-Machi—a town blending sleepy allure and quirky eeriness, amplified by occasional detours into its haunted fringes.

Your exploration fuels both agency improvement—through item gathering and task completion—and story progression. Recruiting townspeople as mascot hero cards complements this, each with unique radiating quests. It’s important to appeal to mascots with attractive benefits upfront; undervaluing them doesn’t fly in reality. Their unique personalities make you want to ensure their happiness—offering holidays for stamina recharge feels naturally satisfying.

Promise Mascot Agency introduces a melange of quirky mascots, each with personal growth arcs. They add variety and depth to your management responsibilities as you help fulfill their dreams.

One standout is Karoushi, a creepy black-clad entity symbolizing burnout, who speaks in metaphors fit for literary novels. Helping locals unionize highlights their personal storyline.

The townsfolk of Kaso-Machi add to this, their individual quests steeped in creativity, deliberation, and finesse. Kaizen Game Works has crafted each area and character with dedication, evident in the town’s transformation as you renovate spaces for mascot gigs. These generate lucrative, passive income streams.

On a less positive note, the map’s transparency hampers exploration. Knowing what treasures await undermines the thrill of discovery. Similarly, the merchandise delivery via arcade claw machines feels sluggish. While thematic in theory, boredom sets in. Conversely, mascots in other cities yield more straightforward, rewarding income.

Promise Mascot Agency sometimes sees you with ample cash and less to spend it on. Yet, as the main storyline gains momentum, the need for grinding diminishes.

The main narrative will delight some players. If you enjoy quirky, comedic Yakuza tales, you’ll likely find the game leaning into the great side of the gaming scale. Players who find the humor too outlandish may settle on a milder verdict.

Overall, Promise Mascot Agency delivers an enjoyable experience. Its charm and peculiar creativity resonate, though the game requires some polishing before it can lay claim to the title of a standout gem in the gaming world. Promise Mascot Agency hits the shelves on April 10 for various platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with this review stemming from a PC code provided by the developer.