Pinku Kult is a multimedia project, with Hex Mortis being the franchise’s first foray into the realm of video games. Developed and published by Valorware, it’s a traditional turn-based RPG with an occult-horror plot. This horror RPG, a sadly rare genre, is available for $9.99 on Steam, mobile, PS4, Switch, and X-Box One.
PLOT
Pinku Kult: Hex Mortis puts you in the shoes of an un-named inhabitant of Razore City, facing a very mundane problem: they need money for rent. This leads them to accept a sketchy job as an investigator. Your mysterious benefactor, who speaks to you through a computer monitor obscuring the upper half of their face, sends you out to investigate the mysterious “fox masked girl” who seems to be behind multiple mysterious happenings around town. Naturally, the plot centers on unraveling each of these supernatural phenomena, which are being perpetrated by various demons. In unraveling these mysteries the protagonist is joined by those they save, forming a party.
The plot is fairly linear, though each boss fight does end in a narrative choice. That choice is always the same, do you show mercy by exorcising the demon back to hell or do you banish it from existence? These choices bring you to a couple of possible endings and some unique dialogue. They also have limited mechanical implications, with the exorcised bosses coming back for round two towards the end of the game as additional fights.
GAMEPLAY
Pinku Kult: Hex Mortis features a minimalistic turn-based RPG system. Each character can attack, use items, or use one of their two unique abilities. The protagonist has the summon action, which is limited to one use per battle, but otherwise special abilities are limited by MP, which gradually recovers over time. With the exception of the summons, which are earned after each boss fight, every character joins the party with all of their abilities, though they often have to level up in order to have the MP necessary to actually use them.
Outside of combat, there are NPCs to talk to, a shop to visit, and puzzles to solve. The puzzles, typically found in dungeons, range from simply finding a piece of paper with a code, to piecing together information found from talking to NPCs or found in item descriptions. These puzzles become increasingly involved as the game progresses, but are all fairly straightforward and intuitive.
PROS
The game’s greatest asset is its sense of style and tone. Razore City is a genuinely interesting setting, with hints of Lovecraftian and Occult horror around every corner. The game is infused with a sense of mystery and implied deeper lore but never feels the need to spell it out. It’s a surprisingly subtle approach, especially for an RPG that’s clearly building on the legacy of classic JRPGs. The character designs, highly themed dungeons, and stellar music all feel cohesive – building the game’s world organically rather than relying on exposition.
It’s also a refreshingly inclusive game. The protagonist lacks any designated gender, masculine presenting fashion and hair options being presented alongside each other allowing for in-depth character customization completely detached from the standard binary gender choices. Razore City is also presented as racially diverse, with both the party and NPCs of various importance having a wide range of skin tones and cultural signifiers.
CONS
Pinku Kult: Hex Mortis cardinal sin is falling short of its own ambitions. The most egregious example of this is its attempt to boil the turn-based RPG elements down to their base elements. Other games, like Dungeon Encounters and Loop Heroes, have had great success in chiseling away at the mass of modern RPGs to leave behind only what’s necessary, unfortunately in trying to do the same Pinku Kult: Hex Mortis has gone too far. With no character progression, equipment, or party management there’s no sense of attachment to, or investment in, the characters.
Worse, yet, it leaves the combat feeling stale. Ideally, turn-based combat feels like a series of strategic choices, whether that’s adjusting the abilities you use, managing limited resources, or adjusting things outside of battle. Pinku Kult: Hex Mortis never felt that way. By simplifying the combat and removing all mechanical character customization combat became linear, a fight against a basic spider feeling nearly identical to the end battle against an omnipotent demon.
To a lesser extent, the rest of the game also feels half-baked. The character designs are fantastic – stylish and thematically appropriate- but outside of dialogue boxes, they’re slapped onto paper cut-out style frames that move like awkward marionettes. The strong world-building is cut out at the knees by a generic plot and awkward dialogue. Strong late-game puzzles highlight that the puzzles in the first half of the game were mindless and generic.
Verdict
There’s a lot to like about Pinku Kult: Hex Mortis. It comes in with an undeniable sense of style, a compelling aesthetic, and an interesting world. Unfortunately, those strengths are bogged down by overly simplified mechanics and a lack of polish. Still, as a budget indie title that doesn’t overstay its welcome, it’s worth checking out for fans of turn-based horror RPGs. It’s available for $9.99 on Steam, Mobile, PS4, Switch, and X-Box One.
