When you think of developer Game Freak, your mind immediately goes to catching monsters, collecting gym badges, and colourful, family-friendly adventures. Beast of Reincarnation is both exactly what you might expect from a studio branching out, and completely different from anything they have ever done before. It is a very deliberate mash-up of some of the greatest action RPGs of the last decade. While it wears its inspirations proudly on its sleeve and delivers some truly excellent moments, it is an experience that will leave you entertained, yet perhaps wanting just a little bit more.
A Blighted Post-Apocalyptic Japan
The story takes place in a beautifully grim vision of Japan. The nation has been plunged into a post-apocalyptic state, overrun by a plant-like blight spread by horrifying monsters and the titular Beast of Reincarnation itself. You step into the shoes of Emma, a “sealer” burdened with the heavy task of cleansing this corruption. The catch here is that every bit of blight she removes from the world is absorbed directly into her own body.
Emma is not alone on this journey. She is accompanied by Koo, a remarkably loyal dog who is himself riddled with the blight. Together, they set off across the ruined country to rid it of the corruption. It is a narrative setup that feels familiar, yet it is presented with a quiet, sombre tone. There is not a smidge of whimsy to be found in this world or its characters; instead, it is a desperate, grounded fight for survival.
How It Works and What It Does Well
Beast of Reincarnation plays like a typical third-person action RPG, but one with an exceptional sense of momentum. Emma is equipped with a versatile sword and a selection of projectile weapons, all of which she can augment using the unique abilities she absorbs from the enemies she has cleansed. The entire combat flow is anchored by a robust parrying system. Deflecting incoming strikes at the exact right moment is crucial, keeping you constantly engaged in the fight.
However, parrying here serves a dual purpose: it charges Emma’s latent weapon abilities and simultaneously builds energy for Koo’s attacks. By holding a button, a menu pops up that slows time, allowing you to direct Koo to unleash his own elemental abilities. These attacks are highly effective against specific enemies; some deal raw damage, others bind foes in place, and some inflict status effects or buff Emma. Synergising your swordplay with Koo’s elemental strikes is the key to ending battles quickly, and when the rhythm clicks, the combat is remarkably fast-paced and deeply satisfying.
When you are not fighting, you will be exploring the environment using Emma’s unique traversal skills. She can extend her hair to create platforms, grapple to distant locations, and utilise a floating jump to reach almost anywhere you can see. Quests are discovered organically by exploring or using Koo’s heightened senses, striking a nice balance between strict waypoint markers and completely undirected wandering. Between missions, you travel across Japan in a walker with a supporting cast, cooking food for stat boosts and upgrading your skill tree. These systems are a bit elementary, but they offer a pleasant breather between skirmishes.
Where It Stumbles
While the combat system is undeniably smooth, the game is let down significantly by a lack of variety. For an action game that demands twenty to thirty hours to complete, the pool of enemy types is surprisingly shallow. You will quickly learn the attack patterns of the standard foes, which removes a significant amount of the challenge as you progress. This repetition extends to the environments, too. Most of the areas you visit are simply ruined cities overgrown with greenery. It is a striking visual the first time you see it, but it loses a lot of its lustre the more you are forced to run through similar terrain.
The major boss battles, known as the Nushi, provide a welcome break from the repetition. These are giant, blighted animals (think boars, salamanders, or crows) that dominate the screen. You fight them in distinct phases, and while they might not be the most punishing encounters for seasoned players, they serve as excellent punctuation marks at the end of each zone.
On the technical front, playing on a PlayStation 5 (non-pro) reveals some of the typical hurdles associated with modern Unreal Engine titles. During intense, effect-heavy battles, the game occasionally suffers from frame drops and stutters. Because the parry timing is quite forgiving, it is rarely game-breaking, but it is a bit jarring.
Hot Tip: You are much better off switching to the original Japanese voice track for a more authentic experience, and it is easy to see why Game Freak made it the default option.
The Comparisons
If you regularly play the games that inspired this title, you will immediately recognise what Beast of Reincarnation is trying to achieve. It actively works to evoke the same feelings you might experience while exploring the desolate ruins of NieR or navigating the perilous encounters of later FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. The world is presented with a deliberate air of quietness, the tone remains consistently sombre. For players who enjoy the structure of Nioh but want an experience that is slightly less punishing, this strikes a very comfortable middle ground.
The Final Verdict
Beast of Reincarnation is an enjoyable action RPG that serves as a brilliant entry point for players who might find traditional souls-like games too challenging (Not going to lie, that is indeed me). It offers a combat loop that is genuinely punchy, anchored by the excellent tag-team dynamics between Emma and Koo. While the repetition in enemy design and environments prevents it from achieving greatness, the journey is still well worth taking.
Recommended
