Beast of Reincarnation: A derivative outing for Game Freak

The game centers on Emma, a mercenary who absorbs the powers of fallen mutants to combat a titular, immortal beast. Her traversal and combat abilities, which include using hair-based vines as grappling hooks and commanding a giant magical dog, offer moments of genuine creativity. When the combat opens up, the gameplay feels fluid and satisfying, blending high-speed samurai strikes with environmental manipulation. These mechanical highlights make the lack of originality in the surrounding experience particularly jarring.

While the world begins with a sense of intrigue, the narrative relies on an exhausting amount of obfuscation, hiding key world-building details in menus and delivering underwhelming revelations after hours of play. The game suffers from a lack of cohesion, borrowing heavily from established titles like Nier: Automata, Monster Hunter, and Death Stranding. Superficial side systems, such as basic crafting and rudimentary platforming, fail to add depth, leaving the player with a series of echoes rather than a fresh vision. Despite its melancholic atmosphere and polished combat, the experience ultimately feels like a collection of familiar parts rather than a unified whole. Beast of Reincarnation arrives on PS5, Xbox, and PC on August 4th.