Developer Game Freak, best known for the Pokémon franchise, is poised to break free from its established mold with its upcoming action RPG, Beast of Reincarnation. After a preview of the game, it's clear that Game Freak is aiming for a more ambitious and distinct experience, drawing inspiration from a variety of established titles to craft its own unique science-fantasy world. The game is slated for release on August 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Set 2000 years in a post-apocalyptic future, Beast of Reincarnation places players in the role of Emma, a protagonist who can wield a zombie-like blight virus as a superpower. This unique ability allows her hair to manifest as attack platforms or aerial boosters, complemented by her rescued wolf companion, Koo. The narrative centers on Emma's vow to protect a young girl named Kagura in a world overrun by feral creatures afflicted with the virus. The game's atmospheric opening, featuring an orchestral score with dramatic choir vocals, draws immediate comparisons to NieR:Automata.
The gameplay demo highlighted a fast-paced combat system that blends Sekiro-esque action with RPG mechanics. Players engage in timing parries, execute Emma's special Blade Arts, and command Koo, who functions somewhat like a Pokémon. The combat is designed to be accessible yet deep, with Koo's abilities, such as casting spells that complement Emma's melee attacks, adding a tactical layer. Koo's spellcasting utilizes a system similar to Final Fantasy VII Remake's ATB gauge, requiring players to build up points during combat to unleash abilities like fireballs, summoning trees for traversal, or binding enemies.
Beast of Reincarnation features several large, explorable regions rather than a fully open world. While these regions are not interconnected and the narrative guides players through them sequentially, the estimated 30 to 40-hour playthrough suggests a substantial scope. Exploration off the main path yields gear and upgrade materials, but the primary focus remains on the story and combat.
The combat system emphasizes understanding enemy attack patterns for parries and dodges, creating openings for powerful Blade Arts or finishers. The controls are responsive, facilitating swift action. Beyond Emma's direct combat abilities, players can invest in shared skill points for both Emma and Koo, allowing for customization and the emphasis of preferred playstyles, whether action-focused or more reliant on Koo's support abilities. This buildcrafting potential suggests a degree of player agency in approaching the game's challenges.
A notable boss encounter in the demo against a monstrous stag showcased how the game's systems interlock. The fight required precise parrying of the stag's attacks, managing its stagger meter, and strategically deploying Koo's abilities for damage and crowd control. The boss's imposing size also highlighted how Koo's tree-spawning ability can serve as a grapple point, aiding in repositioning the camera or escaping dangerous attacks.
Beyond its action-heavy combat, Beast of Reincarnation aims to deliver a strong narrative. The story touches on themes of humanity, corruption, and survival in a world scarred by humanity's own mistakes. A flashback sequence involving Emma, who is ostracized for her blight-born powers, explores her struggle with identity and empathy, particularly through her interactions with a ghostly companion named Violet. The narrative parallels are evident with films like Princess Mononoke, where a warrior and her wolf companion navigate a world affected by a blight caused by human actions.
Director and writer Kota Furushima cited Blade Runner as a significant influence, aiming to explore themes of technological overreach and environmental decay within a retrofuturist dystopia. While Game Freak has developed other titles outside of Pokémon, such as Giga Wrecker and Little Town Hero, Beast of Reincarnation represents a considerably larger undertaking, developed over five to six years as part of an initiative to branch out into new genres and ideas.