For instance, at one point you witness the destruction of a building, which actually happened, and speak to a historic ruler. As for the story, there is a decent balance between the presentation of events from recorded history and those from myths. There is only one item that is absolutely essential for the completion of the game. Inventory items are mostly useless, or only used in otherwise nonessential plotlines. There are also occasionally easy puzzles or short conversations where you must type in your response. It all boils down to exploring Kyoto and living out legends, conversations, and everyday experiences of the time. Gameplay is extremely basic, using the simplest of point-and-click systems. In the absence of any stated goals, you proceed to explore the city. For all intents and purposes, you are thrown outside the city gates without a dime to your name or a stitch of clothing. If you possess the game’s actual written instructions or the included map, they will do you little good. You are then able to choose what your avatar will look like, but don’t be too picky – you will die sooner or later and be reincarnated as a completely different person, complete with an entirely new look.

It is important to remember the name you give your character, because it doubles as the password when you restore a saved game. The game opens with options for character creation. The speech audio is in the original Japanese with English subtitles, which adds to the sense of authenticity permeating the whole experience. Music and sound effects in the game are extremely subtle, adding small accents to various events. Whether you encounter a beautiful woman, a pitiful beggar or an enraged demon, the game more than manages to get its point across. The vast majority of the game is seen from a first-person perspective, and the graphics are mostly static, with only light touches of animation. Thankfully, most of the graphics are hand drawn rather than computer generated, and they manage to hold up very well. The game makes no attempt to hide sex or violence, and it features many mature themes and situations. Human life is a cheap, and death comes easily at the end of a sword or by the jaws of a monster.

Portions of the city are beautiful, while others lay in shambles. It is a time of unrest among humans, demons and ghosts alike. The setting is 10th century Japan in the city of Kyoto. Intriguing and unsettling, the simple gameplay and rich storytelling lead to an experience that is sure to be long remembered. The only video game Roger Ebert ever reviewed and enjoyed, Cosmology of Kyoto is a striking blend of history, philosophy, religion and myth.

Cosmology of kyoto game