DOOM-like Japanese FPS is about a “gal” massacring cult members while flipping them off 

Japanese indie developer Crush-vAdin announced CULT VS GAL on February 3. The upcoming title is planned to launch in May 2024 for the PC (Steam) and will be available in English and Japanese. The game’s bizarre theme and DOOM-like vibes have already generated a lot of excitement for the release. 

Cult vs Gal is an FPS in which you play as a Japanese “gyaru” (or “gal”). The story takes place in the year 248 of the Imperial Calendar. Society in the empire has been devastated by rising crime, deteriorating diplomatic relations, and endless wars. In the midst of all this, a huge religious cult, called Galwoya, rose to power and began orchestrating frequent kidnappings. In response, the empire dispatched troops, but they were all destroyed. On the other hand, relations with neighboring countries continued to escalate, so, unable to devote its forces to the domestic front, the Imperial Army finally sent a gyaru to the region. Her name was Daigokuin Smasher Saki. 

According to the developer, Cult vs Gal is a super old-school, but high-tempo and user-friendly “head-hunting FPS.” As Saki, the player is transported to the facility of Galwoya as part of a raid mission. She needs to navigate her way through the labyrinth-like compound while fighting the cult members. There are four difficulty levels to choose from: “Kiss Me Kindly,” “Cultists Must Die,” “Slay the Enemy Upon Sight,” and “Kill the Heart.” 

Saki is initially equipped with a handgun, and as you progress, you will be able to pick up additional weapons such as shotguns and submachine guns left behind by other troops. You need to look for ammunition throughout the stage. The cult members also carry guns, but some will launch suicide-bomb attacks or charge towards you with chainsaws. A boss will await at the end of each stage. 

When an enemy is shot with a powerful gun, their body rips apart into chunks of flesh. Saki can also decapitate cult members using a machete at close range. The cruelty is part of Cult vs Gal’s pitch. Each time Saki decapitates an enemy with her machete, she raises both of her middle fingers and becomes invincible for a short period of time. Although melee combat is risky, daring to charge in and aim for the enemy’s head has its benefits as well. 

Saki is displayed in the lower right corner of the screen, and there’s a conversation with her military operator at the start of each stage. Her gyaru personality, contrasted with the dead-serious operator, is one of the game’s anticipated points. 

The game’s surreal gyaru vs cult concept and brutal gameplay (complete with middle fingers) has been receiving a lot of attention among Japanese users, making this a highly anticipated release. The game is being nicknamed “gyaru DOOM” among others, becoming an instant buy for many. 

Crush-vAdin, the developer of Cult vs Gal, previously released the roguelite FPS HAZAMA_QUEEN which has been well received on Steam. They envisioned Cult vs Gal as a modern adaptation of old-school FPS games such as Gloom, Catacomb 3-D, and Wolfenstein 3D, with a more user-friendly approach and some added cuteness.  

Cult vs Gal is planned for release around May 2024 for the PC (Steam). A demo is currently available via itch.io. 

Written by. Amber V based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2024-02-05 09:43 JST)