Info about Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II:

Official game description:
The latest installment in the Spirit Hunter series.  
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is a suspense-horror game set at a prestigious academy.  
When rumors circulate about supernatural occurrences at the famed Konoehara Academy in Tokyo’s H City, it’s up to the head of the Kujou family, also known as the “Spirit Doctor,” to take on the case.  
Notices that announce people’s deaths, and students who aren’t what they seem. Through your investigation, it appears that a spirit called “The Departed” is the mastermind behind it all, and it looks like it wants something from you...  
This entry introduces a new side-scrolling function when traveling across different locations. Combined with the first-person perspective during investigations, the Spirit Hunter experience is more immersive and terrifying than ever.  
The partnering system has also been enhanced. The success rate of your actions during “Suspensive Acts” change depending on your partner of choice, further elevating the elements of suspense in this installment.

Release date: Feb 15, 2024

Categories: Atmospheric Horror, Visual Novel, Point-and-click Adventure, Side-scrolling, Investigative Gameplay, Choice-based Narrative, Multiple Endings, Character Interactions


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $30.00 - $45.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users are willing to pay the full price to support the developers, but also express concerns about the value proposition at the current price point. Some users feel that the game is worth the full price despite some drawbacks, while others suggest waiting for a sale, indicating that the full price might be slightly high for the content offered. This mixed sentiment suggests that the community considers a fair price range to be slightly below the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 15.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and progress in the game. One player mentions being 11 hours into the game, indicating a significant investment of time. Another player states it took them about 10 hours to beat the game, providing a clear indication of the time required for game completion. The mention of a score of 8.5 out of 10 suggests a comprehensive experience but does not directly indicate playtime. The Japanese review mentions clearing the game in about 15 hours, which aligns with the other evidence of playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a rough and repetitive start, particularly in the early chapters, but may become more enjoyable as players progress and pace themselves.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Progressing past the initial chapters
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Rough start; Repetitive gameplay; Weak initial chapters
  - Unlock drivers: Progressing past initial chapters; Pacing oneself
  - Conditions: Playing at night; Pacing to one chapter a night
- Player Archetypes:
  - Series Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Narrative and series loyalty
    - Playstyle: Engages deeply with the story and characters, appreciates the horror elements and narrative structure.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: long-time fan; series fan
    - Reference games: Death Mark; NG
  - Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Exploration and visual appeal
    - Playstyle: Open to trying new games, appreciates the art and settings, and is considering the game based on recommendations.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: newcomer
    - Reference games: Death Mark; NG
  - Practical Horror Fan (sale)
    - Motivation: Gameplay and value
    - Playstyle: Enjoys gameplay mechanics, appreciates both puzzles and story, and is practical about purchases.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: horror fan
    - Reference games: Death Mark; NG


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Story and performance praised (weight 0.6): The story is well-received, described as impactful, well-written, and engaging. The performance and character developments are also highlighted as strong points.
- Exploration and gameplay improvements (weight 0.47): The new exploration system and overall gameplay mechanics are appreciated. The side-scrolling element and improved gameplay over previous titles are noted as positive changes.
- Art and visuals highly praised (weight 0.47): The art style, including character designs, death CGs, and overall artwork, is consistently described as beautiful, high-quality, and appealing.
- Horror atmosphere and jump scares (weight 0.31): The game's scary and strong horror atmosphere is frequently mentioned. Jump scares are noted as good and can be turned off, adding to the game's appeal.
- Smoother and engaging experience (weight 0.27): The game offers a smoother experience with easier navigation and engaging storytelling. The quality-of-life updates like fast travel are also appreciated.
- Voice acting and music (weight 0.17): Strong voice acting and great music contribute to the overall positive reception of the game.
- Puzzle design and investigation (weight 0.16): The puzzle design is noted as less esoteric and more engaging. Investigation elements add to the game's appeal.
- Consistency with previous games (weight 0.09): The game is praised for its consistency with previous titles in terms of writing and character art, making it a worthy sequel.
- High-quality localization (weight 0.08): The game's translation and localization are noted as good and high-quality.
- Japanese horror elements (weight 0.08): The inclusion of Japanese horror stories is mentioned as a notable aspect of the game.
- Character movement and animations (weight 0.08): Character movement and animations are mentioned, though not in great detail.
- CG segments and collection (weight 0.06): CG segments and their collection are noted, but not extensively discussed.

Common complaints:
- Reduced horror and tension (weight 0.4): The game has been criticized for being less scary and tense compared to previous titles. The atmosphere and monsters are not as frightening, and the horror elements are lacking.
- Ineffective jump scares (weight 0.17): The jump scares in the game are not as effective or special, and some players find them cheap and annoying.
- Weaker story elements (weight 0.17): Some story elements are not as strong as those in previous games, and the overall narrative can feel cliche.
- Side-scrolling issues (weight 0.17): The side-scrolling adventure game format is cumbersome and reduces tension, lacking engagements and surprises.
- Less creative spirits (weight 0.16): The spirits and their designs are less creative, memorable, and disturbing compared to previous games.
- Excessive nudity (weight 0.13): Some players have noted that there are scenes with excessive nudity, which can be off-putting or unnecessary.
- Predictable plot (weight 0.1): The plot has been criticized for being predictable, with certain twists being easy to foresee.
- High price point (weight 0.1): Many players feel that the game is overpriced, especially without any discounts.
- Lack of environmental variety (weight 0.1): The game features less varied environments, which can make the exploration feel repetitive.
- Easy mysteries (weight 0.1): The mysteries in the game are too easy and obvious, reducing the challenge and engagement.
- Lack of challenge (weight 0.1): The encounters with spirits lack challenge, making the game feel less engaging and exciting.
- Filler content (weight 0.09): Chapter 4, in particular, feels like unnecessary filler content that does not add much to the overall experience.
- Limited language support (weight 0.09): The game lacks translations for certain languages, such as Portuguese and Chinese, which can be a drawback for non-English speaking players.
- Desire for more gameplay diversity (weight 0.09): Players have expressed a desire for more diverse gameplay elements and more involvement in solving puzzles and anomalies.
- Inappropriate theme song (weight 0.08): The theme song about teacher-student love is seen as inappropriate and disrupts the atmosphere of the game.

Gameplay feedback:
- Side-scrolling game mechanics (weight 0.51): The game prominently features side-scrolling mechanics, including exploration and navigation in a 2D environment. Players find the side-scrolling perspective intuitive and engaging.
- Combat and encounter mechanics (weight 0.33): Combat involves battling monsters and spirits with an RNG element. The combat system is noted for its RPG-like mechanics and probability-based actions.
- Investigation and item collection (weight 0.25): Players spend time investigating items and collecting them, which is a core mechanic of the game. This includes solving mysteries and using collected items to progress.
- Exploration and puzzle-solving (weight 0.21): The game emphasizes exploration of various locations and solving puzzles. This mechanic is well-received and adds depth to the gameplay.
- Multiple endings based on choices (weight 0.14): The game offers different endings based on the choices made by the player. This feature adds replayability and depth to the story.
- 2D environments and transitions (weight 0.14): The game features transitions to 2D environments for investigation scenes. This shift in perspective is noted by players as a distinctive aspect of the gameplay.
- Character animations and appearances (weight 0.13): Characters in the game are noted for their animations and appearances, which contribute to player engagement and immersion.
- Linear story structure (weight 0.09): The game follows a linear story structure, which is straightforward and easy to follow. This makes the narrative clear and accessible.
- Visual novel format (weight 0.09): The game incorporates a visual novel format, combining point-and-click mechanics with narrative-driven gameplay.
- Dating simulation elements (weight 0.08): The game includes elements of dating simulation, adding a layer of social interaction and romance to the gameplay.
- Collectibles and stats system (weight 0.08): The game features a system for collecting items and tracking stats, adding depth and a sense of progression to the gameplay.
- School setting (weight 0.08): The story is set in a school environment, which provides a familiar and engaging backdrop for the game's events.

Performance notes:
- Chapter 6 progression bug (weight 0.06): There is a specific bug in Chapter 6 that affects the progression of the game.
- Performance improvements noted (weight 0.06): Players have observed and appreciated improvements in the game's performance.
- Loading screen issues (weight 0.06): Players have reported problems related to the loading screens.
- Black screen in Infirmary (weight 0.06): A bug causing the screen to go black specifically in the Infirmary area has been reported.
- Mouse clicking problems (weight 0.06): There are issues related to mouse clicking that affect gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Recommended despite its flaws (weight 0.14): Many reviewers recommend the game even though it has some faults. It seems to have a strong appeal despite its imperfections.
- Play previous games first (weight 0.14): Newcomers are advised to play the previous games in the series first to get the most out of this game.
- Play on Switch if available (weight 0.1): Several reviews suggest that the game is best experienced on the Nintendo Switch, especially if you can find it on sale.
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.06): Some reviews recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing the game, indicating that it might be a bit pricey for what it offers.
- Fans of supernatural themes (weight 0.05): The game is particularly recommended for those who enjoy supernatural themes, suggesting a strong thematic element in the game.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.32): Players feel disappointment due to several factors including reduced horror elements, uncreative monster designs, and lackluster visuals. The story and character designs did not meet expectations, and the gameplay mechanics such as the walking system and side-scrolling sections were criticized. Additionally, the lack of voice acting and the higher price tag contributed to the overall disappointment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Players are satisfied with the improved gameplay mechanics, including the side-scrolling format and smoother experience. The overall quality of the game, improved storytelling, and engaging puzzle design were also highlighted as positive aspects.
- Frustration (weight 0.1): Frustration stems from RNG combat mechanics, controller support issues, and various gameplay bugs such as freezing glitches and movement mechanics issues. The necessity of collectibles to finish the game and redundant mechanics also contributed to player frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoyed the overall experience with the game, including the music, sounds, and illustrations. The engaging story, art style, and character developments were also highlighted as enjoyable aspects.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): The side-scroller format and engaging plot developments generated excitement among players. The high-quality artwork and inclusion of DLCs also contributed to the excitement.
- Excited (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the true ending and replayability, as well as the engaging story and characters. The artwork, spirit designs, music, and story were also mentioned as sources of excitement.
- Frustrated (weight 0.04): Frustration was caused by a progression bug in Chapter 6 and random success rates in combat. Poor key settings and the likelihood of game over based on luck also contributed to this emotion.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciated the story and character development, particularly Yashiki's character development and the main antagonist. Intriguing elements in the story were also highlighted.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players loved the monster designs and specific character details. The overall love for the series and enjoyment of the game were also expressed.
- Tension (weight 0.02): The horror elements and exploration aspects of the game created tension among players.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia was felt due to references to previous games and characters, as well as a preference for the original game's aesthetics.
- Hopeful (weight 0.02): Players are hopeful for the series' longevity and future content, expressing a desire for more content in the series.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest was sparked by the dating simulation and mystery investigation aspects, as well as the story and new gameplay elements.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players felt joy from the atmosphere, artwork, and music of the game. The overall addition to the series and the VN, point-and-click format were also sources of joy.
- Fear (weight 0.01): The scary atmosphere of the game induced fear in players.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players are hoping for another sequel, expressing their desire for future content in the series.}