What games immediately come to mind in August? Is it Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, Arc System Works’ over-the-top tag fighter? Is it Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, a prequel to the mainline series? Maybe you’re keen on Star Wars Zero Company and its XCOM-like tactics. However, preceding all of these is an unusual project that’s been quietly growing (pun fully intended) in the background: Beast of Reincarnation.
Launching on August 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, it made a huge impression at the last Xbox Developer_Direct, showcasing a ravaged yet beautiful world. A “one woman, one dog” action RPG, it’s from Game Freak, who you probably know better from the Pokémon series, but it’s clear that this is unlike anything the studio has ever attempted before. Here are 15 things you should know about Beast of Reincarnation, and why it may be worth picking up, starting with…
Game Freak’s Biggest Project Yet
At first glance, you probably wouldn’t believe that Beast of Reincarnation was conceived six years ago. But one thing is for sure – this is a significant shift from Game Freak’s usual work, and its largest team yet, even if the core leading it is relatively small and assisted by various partners. Either way, in terms of non-Pokémon work, this is its biggest leap yet.
The Blight
Set in 4096, the story focuses on a post-apocalyptic Japan overrun by the Blight. Living beings are transformed into Malefacts and seemingly exist to fulfil its own will. At the center of this is something called – wait for it – the Beast of Reincarnation. Unlike your average wasteland, however, the countryside is also overrun by forests and other vegetation, a contrast to the skyscrapers, bridges and factories that now lie in ruins.
Emma, Koo and the Cast
Players will control Emma, a “blank slate”, as director Kota Furushima describes her, who doesn’t possess any memories and is infected by the Blight. Koo, on the other hand, is a wolf-like Malefact, and for some reason, he takes to her. Together, they journey through the world, cooperating to take down the Beast at the behest of the Capital. And while there’s a running theme of loneliness and isolation, Emma will meet other notable characters, from a girl who isn’t afraid of her to a mysterious, sword-wielding figure with a Ronin-like kasa.
Not Open World
Contrary to what the gameplay has showcased, Beast of Reincarnation isn’t open world. Instead, as Furushima told IGN, it offers large open stages that you have relative freedom to explore. It’s very Nier-esque in that regard, and in many cases, you’ll want to deviate from your objective and see what’s out there. What’s especially cool is seeing the vegetation and trees growing before your eyes, as if the area is responding to your threat.
Grappling and Bridging With Vines
Of course, you won’t just be exploring this world on foot. Because of the Blight, Emma has gained control of plants, allowing her to manifest them (sometimes through her hair) as vines to grapple onto and scale environments. She can also create bridges, making it easier to cross gaps. It’s a welcome bit of verticality, and reinforces the dominance of plants in the world.
Backtracking to Previous Locations
What I find extremely interesting is how the backtracking is handled. You can revisit previous areas, but instead of unlocking new traversal abilities with Emma’s vines, you’re instead discovering different ways for them to be used, which in turn opens up new avenues. Does that mean with enough experimentation, you can force a solution and progress through a side area? Whatever the case may be, Furushima clarified that the base abilities will allow players to get where they need to go.
“Puzzle Adjacent” Sections
While the environments have their share of puzzles, Furushima doesn’t describe them as really blocking progress. It mostly comes down to how you need to traverse the environment, perhaps taking alternate routes. These are described as “puzzle adjacent” segments, though there are also optional resources which require finding combinations to unlock.
Blades and Bows
But it’s not all sightseeing and admiring the imminent end of the world. Combat makes up a major part of Beast of Reincarnation, as you’ll face Malefacts and even Golems, mechanical beings containing the souls of humans that have gone berserk. Emma is armed with a katana for hacking and slashing up close, but she can also employ bows and crossbows for long-range damage (complete with different kinds of ammo). Where the real magic happens – quite literally, in many cases – is when fighting alongside Koo.
Bloom Arts
When he’s not being downright adorable, Koo can inflict Bloom Arts on enemies for a variety of different effects. Higanbana Roots, for example, will group foes and deal binding damage. If you hit the QTE timing right, Emma will even restore some HP in the process. There are also mods which change their behavior, such as doubling the status build-up on enemies with the Roots, which could work in conjunction with different ranged ammo.
Parries
Koo’s Arts require Fluorescene Points, however. How do you get them? Why, by parrying of course. So amid all the stylish hacking, slashing and aerial flourishes, you’ll spend some time on the defensive. In a way, it’s a good thing – if you’re near death, then a few parries and some well-timed Bloom Arts will be enough to get you back into the fight.
Sniffing Out Objects
As an aside: Koo doesn’t just exist to help in combat. He’s also useful while exploring, locating different resources and chests for Emma. Besides gear like armor, we’re guessing that some of those may contain the aforementioned mods, if not materials to craft your own, so best pay attention if he senses something nearby.
The Nushi
If the Malefacts are the small-time enemies, then the Nushi are your big bads. Each zone has a unique Nushi, and based on that gameplay overview from the Xbox Developer Direct, they make up some of the apex predators, like a towering bear that hurls rocks. Survive, and you can unlock Nushi skills that Emma can unleash during combat.
Looking Back at the World That Was
Those curious about the road leading to the world’s current state are encouraged to return to base. Not only can you arrange your loadout, but there are also flashbacks which offer more lore on the world. How did the Beast overwhelm it with the Blight? You’ll probably find those answers – and potentially others, like the humans alive during the time – by engaging with them.
Difficulty Options
First glances at the gameplay and the Sekiro-like parrying will doubtless prompt questions about the difficulty. The good news is that Beast of Reincarnation features multiple options, which you can change at any time. However, as Furushima told Famitsu, he wants players to “enjoy trial and error, trying different fighting styles next time, or changing Koo’s skills” to succeed. He doesn’t want you stuck and retrying parts “dozens or hundreds of times,” though, so swap up the difficulty if you must.
“A Very Specific Game Experience”
If you’ve seen any of the contemporary Pokémon titles, then Beast of Reincarnation may be somewhat of a shock, given its fidelity. However, the intention has always been to “deliver a very specific game experience” with graphics that “support” the same, per Furushima. Of course, the team is also focused on making sure it runs well, but the point is: There’s more to this game than just the visuals. Here’s hoping Game Freak and co. can live up to that promise when it launches next month.
