Promise Mascot Agency's new update just made it even weirder, and tougher

Some games really leave you feeling like you're in a fever dream, and Promise Mascot Agency falls perfectly into that category. One of the most random, jarring, yet brilliant open-world RPGs around, it combines all manner of genre influences and surreal character designs to create something totally unique. Now, it's cranking the weirdness up another notch, because thanks to a free update, you can grind your trusty kei truck on rails like you're in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

As the name suggests, Promise Mascot Agency revolves around managing and directing an agency of eccentric characters. Find them suitable jobs, send them out, reap the rewards. However, this isn't just a management game - it's also an open-world RPG, a deckbuilder, and a detective game all rolled into one. Did I mention that it's also totally ridiculous?

To get around its open world, you hop into your slightly worse for wear kei truck. It looks like a standard vehicle at first, but you'll soon realize that it can turn into a paraglider, get nitrous boosts, and become amphibious. Now, it can become a giant skateboard thanks to the new Prepare To Grind update.

"There is now an extra truck upgrade that allows you to grind on rails and train tracks," developer Kaizen Game Works says in the update's patch notes. "After unlocking it, jump at a metal fence or train track, and press INTERACT to grind (you can find the upgrade fox near the abandoned village)." Sadly, there's no mention of kickflips.

While in most games your profits from a successful business enterprise are yours to either reinvest or spend on flashy, feel-good stuff, Promise Mascot Agency's protagonist Michi sadly has a big debt to pay off. With this update, new difficulty modes have been added which change the amount of debt he has to pay off - I'm being purposefully vague here as this mechanic has story implications, just in case anyone reading this hasn't yet played PMA. Just know that if you're a management game wizard, or you just want a more challenging, second playthrough, that option is there for you now.

Remember I mentioned that Promise Mascot Agency was also part-deckbuilder? Well, now there are new Hero Cards for you to find and collect, which can be used in its often bizarre scenarios. These Hero Cards are based off of iconic indie games, including Kaizen's own Paradise Killer, as well as Unbeatable, Sorry We're Closed, and Dunk Dunk.

This update also adds new seasonal props for Halloween, Christmas, and the annual Japanese celebration of Obon. You'll also find new nail designs for Pinky, one of the freakiest mascots in the game who is, essentially, a sentient amputated finger/fairy hybrid.

This was an eccentric game to begin with - just read our review if you want even more proof of that - but with updates like this, it's only going to get wackier. If all of this additional lunacy has convinced you to give Promise Mascot Agency a go, I've got good news for you - it's currently 25% off on Steam, making it just $18.74 / £15.74.

The Prepare to Grind update for Promise Mascot Agency is free and live now for all players. For more, check out some of the best RPGs and best single-player games.

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