Death Is No Obstacle in Game Where Stakes Are Souls

Success is about more than mere survival in “Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou,” a unique Japanese game in which you must die to win.

Ruled by ancient principles of self-improvement through reincarnation, players seeking a stolen soul must die honorably and come back at least nine times to find the object of their quest.

Instead of blasting away at anything that moves or trying to outwit villains bent on global domination, “Eastern Mind” pilgrims must surrender to the eternal cycle of life and death to make progress.

Call it enlightening entertainment or entertaining enlightenment. Either way, it’s a dazzling mind-bender perhaps described best as East meets “Myst.”

There’s a seemingly suicidal element to the game (Sony Imagesoft, Windows and Macintosh, $59.95) that might disturb some rigid Western thinkers, but it comes from the land of hara-kiri after all, so go with the flow.

It’s the brainchild of Osamu Sato, a renowned young Japanese writer, composer, multimedia game developer and graphic artist. Playing “Eastern Mind” means getting into Sato’s cranium, in more ways than one, since the island of Tong Nou is a big, 3-D interactive self-portrait of the artist.

He’s hairless and tinged the same pale shade of green as the spicy horseradish paste served with sushi; think of him as Mr. Wasabi Head. Click the cursor on his slumbering eyelids to wake him, tickle his nose or make him stick out his tongue.

But that’s just for starters, kid stuff. Both ear canals are tunnels leading into a fantastic universe where players search five metaphysical worlds for artifacts, commodities and clues. Demanding a detective’s eye and a prophet’s patient wisdom, the ideal player would be a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Mahatma Gandhi.

Clinging to life keeps many doors closed. A willingness to shed your human shell when the time is right is your best asset.

Time flies in the incredibly immersive quest. Set an alarm clock to avoid an “Eastern Mind” overdose.

There are literally dozens of weird-looking characters in a game full of mysterious messages, secret passages and maddeningly circular paths. Some goofy critters vaguely resemble animals or vegetables, while others are completely out of left field.

They’ll taunt you and tell lies, but it’s best to turn the other cheek. Usually they’re helpful and they all have information you desperately need.

Sato’s animated graphics and backgrounds, like his quirky techno music, are completely original--a far cry from the cookie-cutter sounds and imagery dominating the marketplace.

Combining the fun of a rollicking scavenger hunt with the challenges of deciphering the Rosetta Stone, “Eastern Mind” has something for everyone.

For nuts-and-bolts gamers, there are codes to crack, mazes to map and other assorted brain-busters. For deeper thinkers, the game can become a metaphor for their own personal search in life, illuminating the uncertainty of everyday existence.

Beware before venturing onto the path, though, unless you’re ready to learn just who you really are.