Even without the prospect of seeing something new from Game Freak, free from the shackles of Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Beast of Reincarnation is a game that immediately grabbed my attention for its gorgeous post-apocalyptic setting and its blending of nature and the inorganic.
Beast of Reincarnation is a triumph for Game Freak and one of the best action-adventure games of the year, despite some technical hiccups that mar the otherwise solid new frontier for fans of the developer. Set in the distant future, Beast of Reincarnation‘s narrative takes place far after mankind’s decline, with nature having once again reclaimed Mother Earth for its own. Players assume the role of Emma, a gifted, or more aptly, cursed individual known as a Sealer. The young girl is immune to the Blight, a parasitic overgrowth caused by the titular Beast of Reincarnation, a forboding entity that is said to take form every 100 years.
Emma is imbued with the powers of the Blight, or rather, her hair is, allowing her to use it not only to traverse her environment, but also as a deadly weapon against the Blight-infected and golem enemies alike. Golems are the remnants of humanity, man-made homunculi imbued with the souls of people from before the calamity. Sadly, many golems have succumbed to the passage of time, turning them hostile, making them one of the primary threats within the world of Beast of Reincarnation.
“Beast of Reincarnation is a triumph for Game Freak and one of the best action-adventure games of the year, despite some technical hiccups that mar the otherwise solid new frontier for fans of the developer.”
If you’ve seen even a tiny glimpse of Beast of Reincarnation’s promotional material, you’ll know that Emma is not alone in her plight against the Blight. Instead, early on in her pilgrimage, the young girl encounters Koo, who quickly becomes her canine companion, sharing Emma’s uncanny ability to control the Blight. Game Freak uses the dynamic of both characters to deliver a unique action-adventure experience that feels familiar, yet fresh.
Emma can utilize various styles of swords, including katanas, heavy blades, and elementally tuned steel, on top of secondary, range-based weapons, which include both crossbows and more traditional bows and arrows. Both Koo and Emma also have access to a fairly robust skill tree, which includes plenty of upgrades, moves and augments that further enrich the combat. Special moves include powerful hair-based attacks, often associated with a boss encounter, giving players devastating combos and finisher moves that help even the playing field.
While players don’t have direct control of Koo, your trusted companion can instead be called upon with a button press, allowing for some powerful special moves that can give the player some breathing room to heal and recalibrate. The inclusion of the branching skill tree also keeps the otherwise limited control of Koo feeling fresh and full of utility.
In terms of difficulty and overall challenge, Beast of Reincarnation can be a demanding game, particularly regarding some bosses, who can have multiple phases. Similarly, even some lesser wandering golems and beasts can pose a significant threat to the player, forcing them to master the parry and dodge mechanics. Thankfully, even the tougher enemies within the game usually don’t have a whole lot of HP, allowing them to be dispatched once you learn each encounter’s intricacies.
Game Freak has also included difficulty sliders, which can trivialize some of the tougher boss encounters, making it a viable option in case you hit a wall. On PlayStation 5 Pro, Beast of Reincarnation is sadly somewhat of a mixed bag; with the game targeting 60fps, the experience does often go below that, especially when entering new areas or running through the game world, which can cause pretty noticeable stutters. Fortunately, combat sequences and boss encounters tend to perform well. Forthcoming patches are promised that may improve things going forward, which should hopefully make the launch experience smoother for prospect players.
Another small blight (no pun intended) against the mostly excellent experience is the camera, which sometimes can get out of whack, making it impossible to see where you are when in tighter areas. Finally, although mostly well realized, the traversal with the hair can sometimes feel a bit finicky in regards to jumping vertically, which on occasion can get you stuck momentarily within the geometry of the environment or invisible walls. On that note, I am eager to see how speedrunners utilize the rather unique movement tech to create some memorable runs.
“…if you’re a fan of challenging action games, Beast of Reincarnation is a must-play…”
Outside of combat, Beast of Reincarnation features some simulation game elements that include building rapport with Koo and Kagura by interacting with them daily, which unlocks recipes and bonuses for when you’re out and about slaying monsters. Emma can also find recipe books, seeds and other key ingredients that can be taken back to her futuristic mobile carrier, opening up some light farming and upgrading paths that add a lot to the overall experience.
Graphically, Beast of Reincarnation is a hauntingly gorgeous game and the best depiction of an ecological post-apocalypse yet, similar in tone to games like Nier and Stellar Blade. In fact, the best way I can describe Beast of Reincarnation is a game that feels like a mix of Stellar Blade and Death Stranding, in regard to the simulation elements and character interaction.
Of course, the Copperajah-sized elephant in the room when it comes to Beast of Reincarnation is: how does it fare for fellow Pokémanics curious about Game Freak’s return to something outside of their usual foray into catching them all? The short answer is, if you’re a fan of challenging action games, Beast of Reincarnation is a must-play, but for those who may only be accustomed to the slower-paced vibe of Pokémon, Beast of Reincarnation is, well, an entirely different beast.
The one element that does seem to carry over into Game Freak’s latest offering is the excellent character and monster designs within Beast of Reincarnation, which feature everything from Samurai-like mecha to hyper-realistic monsters that look undeniably Game Freak.
Ultimately, Beast of Reincarnation is a solid action-adventure title and a breath of fresh air from Game Freak, making it an essential game for fans of the genre, while its flexible difficulty options can make it viable for even those inexperienced with more demanding action games.
