Summary
Highlights
Isamu, a distraught detective, discovers his brother Senzai dead with his heart missing. He sets sail to Aogashima Island to investigate but is attacked by a sea monster. He wakes up in a creepy minka, where he encounters two cannibalistic sisters. To escape, Isamu must feed poisoned rats to Mio, the younger sister. After successfully poisoning Mio, her sister Rin transforms into a monstrous hair creature and pursues him. Isamu narrowly escapes and continues his journey.
Isamu encounters Tsurube Otoshi and the giant Nure Onna before arriving at Yoki Town, a village inhabited by Yokai. An oni named Keneo tasks Isamu with stealing the Seishin Orb, which is guarded by the ruthless Kiiroibara Cult. Isamu navigates the village, collects five paintings, and faces the terrifying Shosai, a tall man with a long tongue. He then enters the largest minka, guarded by the blind witch Tsukiya, known for her acute hearing. Isamu activates candles under specific paintings to retrieve the Seishin Orb.
Keneo betrays Isamu, sending him to a massive, dilapidated ship infested with Yokai. Isamu must activate three candles on each floor while avoiding Hyakume, a many-eyed monster, Kishin, a three-eyed monster, and the hearing-sensitive Kyogi. He narrowly escapes Kyogi's relentless pursuit, falling into an underwater cave. There, he confronts the 'Beast of Jealousy' before fainting, marking the end of Chapter 1.
Isamu awakens in the deep sea, dodging dangerous Umibozu. He is then abducted and wakes in a grand palace with sentient eyes guarding the entrance. He carefully sneaks past a Jikininiki devouring a cow carcass. Isamu meets Nupeppo, a vegetarian Yokai, who asks him to collect meat from a restaurant. Navigating through the restaurant, Isamu evades the two-faced Kuishinbo while collecting meat servings.
After feeding Nupeppo, Isamu escapes the palace but falls into a new area, pursued by the skeletal Gashadokuro. He enters an underwater city where he activates three levers while avoiding Bake-Kujira. He solves a mathematical puzzle in a cave filled with Jikininiki to proceed. Back in a kitchen, Nupeppo instructs Isamu to cook for the monstrous Zboshy. After a frantic cooking session, Zboshy becomes bored with the food and begins to relentlessly chase Isamu.
Isamu escapes Zboshy and enters a challenge room where he plays a deadly game of Daruma-san with Teiryu, a Yokai who searches for him. He then ascends a tower with memory puzzles, avoiding Ryoshi, a monster that patrols the tower. If caught, Ryoshi lets out a terrifying roar and kills Isamu. After solving all the puzzles, he reaches the top and exits.
Chihiro, a playful spirit, challenges Isamu to a game of hide-and-seek, promising to help him if he wins, while her mother Kurayami pursues him. Isamu finds Chihiro four times, using her ability to summon Kurayami to lead her away. After winning, he enters Ponpon's mouth to escape. He lands on a pirate ship and battles Nagisa, the guardian from Yoki Town, using cannons. In the second phase, Nagisa transforms into a sea serpent, and Isamu fights her with a sword on the deck. He defeats Nagisa, but is then knocked unconscious by an unseen assailant.
Isamu awakens to find his brother Senzai, who mocks his detective work and reveals his alliance with Enzukai, sacrificing Isamu to him. Isamu's subsequent death leads him to Hell, ending Chapter 2.
In Hell, Isamu encounters Gozu and Mezu, gatekeepers who send him to Keneo, now a resident of Hell. Keneo advises Isamu to seek 'him' in the lowest level of Hell and find a heart for his altar. Isamu collects three hearts, encountering the fly monster Shinchu. He then faces the summoner Nejibishoma, creating torches to burn him. He enters the 'Cave of Wealth,' discovering a bone knife and confronting Dodomeki, a monster with many eyes on its arms, playing memory games. Dodomeki pursues him relentlessly, but Isamu escapes. He sees Gashadokuro, tormented by other demons, and faces a fake Enzukai on a raft in a watery hallway.
Isamu sees a mansion, where a vision of Senzai appears and disappears. Inside, Isamu relives Senzai's tortured memories of their oppressive father. Isamu realizes these traumatic memories are Senzai's, not his, leading him to believe Enzukai brainwashed him. After escaping the house, Isamu finds a crowbar and boards a subway train. A train monster with many hands chases him.
Hakamori advises Isamu to feed a man's children (larvae) to Nurikabe, a Yokai blocking his path, while avoiding statues that kill if stared at. Buki, the larvae's father, and his chainsaw-wielding Mochis appear. In a forest, Hakamori appears again, directing Isamu to anger 'him' by stealing a treasure. Isamu enters a house, alerting Yurei, a nature demon. He finds a cave, and Kintoru, the main villain from the 'Book of Control,' is sealed in a cherry blossom tree, but this is merely an easter egg.
Yurei, enraged by Isamu's actions, launches a powerful attack. Isamu must dodge her attacks and throw katanas at her, eventually defeating her. He enters a glowing tree portal, reaching the lowest level of Hell to meet the Shinigami. The Shinigami, surprised by Isamu's journey, offers a deal: a partial resurrection if Isamu passes a trial. If he fails, his soul will be consumed. Isamu must evade the Shinigami's scythe attacks with Hakamori helping in the final phase. He survives, awakening in a real-world, present-day Tokyo, devastated by the Kiiroibara Cult and a resurrected Enzukai, ending Chapter 3.
Isamu awakens in a dark corridor, guided by a white lantern. Shiroi Honou, a sacred white flame, enters his body. The resurrected samurai Ashikaga Takauji appears in Isamu's mind, warning him of Enzukai's imminent arrival. Isamu hides in a van, then returns to his office. His dying boss, Ishitoku, asks him to save people from the 'Hyakki Yagyo' (Night Parade of a Hundred Demons) in the shopping mall. Isamu needs to find a code to access the rooftop to escape, while being attacked by Senzai's ghost. He finds a lantern piece on the rooftop and asks Ashikage about his identity. Ashikaga introduces himself as a former comrade of Masashige Kusunoki but refuses to elaborate further, urging Isamu to hurry.
Isamu enters a ruined shopping mall, where Kyogi, Rin and Mio, and Tsukiya ambush him. He disables Kyogi by destroying the eye-walls, then incapacitates Rin by trapping Mio's tentacles in a carousel. He uses a speaker with loud music to disorient Tsukiya, stealing her lantern piece. Kyogi, Rin, Tsukiya, Shosai, Takane, Zboshy, and Kutsu pursue him. He escapes the collapsing floor and reaches an elevator, where the monsters attempt to break in. Isamu escapes to the parking lot, finding a white car. Chihiro appears again, challenging him to a quiz. Isamu answers a painful final question, realizing his guilt over Tokyo's destruction and Senzai's suffering.
Isamu drives to a temple, where he confronts Senzai and Kutsu. He crafts ink and creates a seal on four pillars, temporarily trapping Senzai. Kutsu dies, and Isamu collects his remaining lantern pieces, placing them before a Buddha statue to form a blessed bow. Senzai berates Isamu, telling him he'll never understand his pain. Meanwhile, Enzukai and his cult destroy Tokyo. Isamu arrives at the scene, convincing a skeptical commander to let him fight. Ashikaga advises Isamu his bow will gain power as he saves people. Isamu rescues survivors, using the bow to temporarily disable Rin, Kyogi, and Tsukiya, while avoiding Enzukai, who is invulnerable to his arrows.
Enzukai transforms into a powerful dragon. Isamu destroys eye pillars to gain a 'Supercharge' ability, which he uses to execute Tsukiya, Kyogi, and Rin. Enzukai maintains his invincibility until his health is halved, at which point Isamu loses his Supercharge. Isamu consistently destroys eye pillars to regain his Supercharge, attacking Enzukai. Enzukai breathes fire, laying waste to Tokyo. Another Enzukai emerges from the dragon's mouth, starting the final boss battle. Isamu destroys eye pillars to get Supercharge, evades laser attacks, and repeatedly attacks Enzukai during his stunned phases. Senzai tries to protect Enzukai, revealing that their father wished for him to die. Isamu faces a choice: kill Enzukai or Senzai. Ashikaga advises him that the white flame can kill whoever he wishes. Isamu chooses to kill Enzukai to save his brother.
Senzai screams as Enzukai dies, his essence rebuked by Hakishahi as weak. Shinigami reminds Isamu of their deal, suggesting it's time for him to honor it. Time passes, and Senzai visits Isamu's grave, apologizing for his actions. He realizes Enzukai was just like their father and vows to spend his life in prison, atoning for his sins. If Isamu chooses to kill Senzai, the seal on the Beast of Wrath, Netamo, breaks, and Enzukai's success is implied. The game ends with a good ending showing Senzai in prison, and a bad ending showing Isamu reuniting with Shyoshya.