Beast of Reincarnation

[b]TL;DR: Beast of Reincarnation is a prime example of a developer whose ambitions exceeded the resources available to fully realize its vision. I love and respect the intention behind the game and what the developers wanted to achieve. However, as someone who simply plays the game, I can say that it has a lot of issues—and its biggest problem is pacing. The game takes around 12 hours to become truly interesting, both in terms of gameplay and story. A lot of people simply won't have the patience to stick with it for that long. If this had been an eight-hour game with a stronger focus on combat, like Ninja Gaiden or other hack-and-slash games, it could have been much better. I think Beast of Reincarnation will be remembered as the Kingdoms of Amalur of JRPGs: a game with a clear vision that never fully delivered on its potential. It's a solid—and beautiful at times—game, but many players won't be able to overlook its biggest flaws.[/b] The best thing about this game is its combat. It feels great to parry enemies and leave them vulnerable, and it's clear that Game Freak put a lot of effort into creating a combat system that is both fun and accessible. With plenty of options to optimize your build, you can become incredibly powerful by the endgame. There are some difficult fights, but nothing ever felt impossible. However, the combat feels overshadowed by the game's unnecessary scale. The large, empty maps feel like a waste because there are very few enemies to fight, and most areas are filled with the same enemy types. This makes exploration and combat increasingly repetitive. There are a few things to discover, such as recipes, books, and crops, but they rarely feel rewarding enough to actively search for. There are also no NPCs to interact with—only a few vendors near certain camps—which makes the world feel even emptier. Honestly, I think this game would have benefited from a more linear structure, similar to Ninja Gaiden 4. I don't think people would have complained about that at all. The game simply feels like it was designed with a bigger scope than the available resources could support. The biggest problem, without a doubt, is the pacing. As I mentioned earlier, it takes around 12 hours for both the gameplay and story to become interesting. It feels as if Game Freak looked at modern AAA games and adopted some of their worst practices in an attempt to create a AAA experience, when this game probably would have benefited from embracing its identity as a smaller AA title. Everything feels unnecessarily slow, from simple animations like pulling a lever to long, unskippable cutscenes where characters are often just standing still. It sometimes feels like these elements exist mainly to extend the game's runtime. Personally, I wasn't completely put off by this because I grew attached to the characters, but I can understand why many players won't feel the same way. Artistically, I also feel conflicted. On one hand, the art direction can be beautiful, especially in environments filled with trees, bushes, and other natural scenery. Some cutscenes looked so good that I literally took screenshots to use as wallpapers. On the other hand, a large portion of the game takes place in industrial complexes and similar environments, and it's hard to feel much excitement when you're seeing essentially the same type of location for the twelfth time. Some of these areas feel as if the developers simply combined generic Unreal Engine 5 assets. The soundtrack is beautiful as well, but it can also be repetitive. The same tracks seem to play across multiple areas, which makes the music less memorable than it should be. The story almost made me cry, but it suffers from being rushed and heavily explained during the final hour. Everything starts to feel forced, convoluted, confusing, and rushed. Still, the payoff works surprisingly well. It feels like the beginning and ending were the most developed parts of the story, while everything in between needed more time. It's also clear that the game was heavily inspired by Nier: Automata. When the game was first announced, I was worried it would be a cheap copy, and sadly, I can confirm that it sometimes feels that way. Many locations, musical choices, story tropes, and even certain characters feel extremely similar to Nier: Automata. Without spoiling anything, there were several moments when I was trying to figure out the characters and the story, only to realize by the end that my predictions were correct because the game was simply too similar to Nier: Automata. If you're someone who doesn't mind these similarities, you probably won't have a problem with it. However, I can see this being a major negative for other players, and the game could unfortunately be remembered as the "Temu Nier: Automata"—which I personally think is unfair. So, is this game really as bad as some people say? No, I don't think so. Despite everything I've criticized, I still find Beast of Reincarnation fun and worth playing. The combat feels great, the music is beautiful, and the story—while confusing and almost nonexistent at first—eventually becomes solid. Most importantly, the entire package has a lot of soul and artistic vision, and I can appreciate that as a gamer. I think Beast of Reincarnation could eventually be remembered as the Kingdoms of Amalur of JRPGs: a great game with a lot of potential that was overshadowed by its competitors. Maybe not today, but in a few years, people might look back and say, "Beast of Reincarnation was actually a great game." If Game Freak ever releases an improved or updated version that addresses the problems I mentioned, this game could go from solid to incredible. I think it provides a good blueprint for future Game Freak projects, and I genuinely hope they continue making games like this. In an industry full of GTAs and other AAA ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, I'd rather give them my money and support a developer trying something different. I can't wait for the sequel.

world seems empty, exploration isn't rewarding enough, the movement is very cool among the best in this genre of game, combat seems kinda jank but also kinda satisfying, enemy variety is shocking, fought same enemy over and over, not worth it currently will wait for few patches to see if thing's improve

8.9 hours in and have not stopped playing. As a deep lover of Nier Replicant, I got everything I had hoped for. You will get a feeling of familiarity! The movement mechanic is just fun to use. Holding down X (A) lets you get anywhere you want to and there are a lot of hidden places to explore. Koo is best boi! I enjoy building into him. The affinity system made me so nervous that I started tanking instead of him. So I wouldn lose any points! >> The story has been great and rather tormenting so far, but if you have played games like that before. You are used to it! Of course everyone should make up their own mind and I feel like 8.9 hours are not enough give a fair opinion ( will come back), but I always wanted another Nier Replicant style game. And so far. I have gotten it!

I've been waiting for this game ever since the original announcement, and actually have a lot of personal investment in the world of it. I'm not totally surprised that it has launched to mixed reviews. People are incredibly critical of games these days, and evaluate everything through a lens of comparing a game to whatever the previous game in a genre was. I even saw a review that listed 5+ different games to explain that Beast of Reincarnation was like a combination of all of those other games. When you have so many different concepts and games to pull from, stop combining or comparing, and just approach something as its own work. That said, I understand some people don't enjoy the more weightless feeling to combat. The story is not linear, which seems to have confused a lot of people that only played for an hour and decided there was nothing there. Some may also just not like that style of storytelling. That said, I've kinda leaned onto this game a lot in the months coming up to its release, and am ecstatic that I finally get to have my hands on it to play physically. A lot of those thoughts have been projected towards Emma, the protagonist, for me. I adore her, and although it seems like a certain incel-type crowd has gathered that exclusively looks at this game for "oo pretty girl on cover," I cherish her as well. It feels very silly to say that a character from a game I've played hours of can mean so much to me, even if I got into my own personal history with the buildup to the release of the game over a far longer period of time. But the fact that I have so much love and attachment to Emma is sort of the point here. What can seem so small and insignificant to someone can also be something FAR more impactful to someone else. Everybody is welcome to leave the review they want, obviously, even if I disagree with a lot of sentiments expressed. But I'm not here to critique the game. I love it, and I love Emma. Emma's my girly <3 This is more of a love letter to Emma and to the game, and a message that thing you really love can be the game hiding behind a barrage of negative reviews. Find that love for yourself. It may not be this game, but find your own 'silly' thing to love or to dive so deep into that it becomes cemented as a permanent part of your life. Find something you're so excited for that it sets down roots in your mind that guide the path you take in the days, weeks, months, or years leading up to when it comes to fruition. Much of my love for Beast of Reincarnation comes from the journey I've taken with those roots it set with me leading up to its release. No matter what, that has been cemented in me, and I knew I would cherish this game; just as I cherish Emma. So this isn't a critical review. It's just my little love letter to Emma without getting personal about it. Emma my baby <3 I love Beast of Reincarnation.

Люди не редко путают оммаж и плагиат. За всё время существование человеческой цивилизации было придумано бесчисленное множество миров, персонажей, геймплейных механик, концепций. Поэтому в мире видео игр (и не только) часто встречаются знакомые элементы и идеи, так как мы все вдохновляемся друг другом при создании чего-либо. Но к сожалению не все стараются привнести что-то новое в позаимствованное. Благо Beast of Reincarnation не тот случай. Новая игра от студии Game Freak явно создавалась людьми, которые любят Nier, Sekiro и Stellar Blade. Но они именно что вдохновлялись любимыми играми, а не копировали их. Здесь самобытный мир, со своим уникальным лором и персонажами. Геймплей это амальгама вышеупомянутой троицы, где основной упор идёт на парирования с доведением стойкости противника до нуля, чтобы произвести мощнейший и зрелищный добивающий приём. Героиня Эмма способна сражаться и на дальних дистанциях, имея в арсенале автоматический арбалет и полноценный лук, урон от которых вовсе не комариные укусы, а сносят ощутимые куски здоровья. Но основной отличительной чертой игры, которая выделяет её на контрасте своих кумиров, это постоянный напарник в виде здоровенного пса по имени Ку. У обоих персонажей отдельные древа навыков и системы экипировки. Пассивные и активные навыки Ку можно свободно настраивать, задавая ему необходимые для вашего комфорта поведения в бою. И хотя он всегда участвует в сражениях, основной урон Ку наносит через ваши команды, когда по нажатию кнопки весь мир замедляется и вы выбираете атаку из заранее настроенного списка, которую сейчас произведёт лучший друг человека. Но есть нюанс - каждый навык требует определённого набора очков, которые можно заработать исключительно парированием атак за Эмму. Поэтому ваше умение ловко обращаться с мечом награждается сильнейшей поддержкой от Ку. Мир игры разбит на 13 глав и каждая сопровождается открытой для исследования зоной, иногда обширной, иногда прямолинейной. Исследование и способы перемещения пожалуй самое первое, что заворожило меня в этой игре. Мир игры заражён каким-то растительным вирусом, который превращает животных и людей в чудовищ, но Эмма по какой-то причине устойчива и её организм адаптировался, что позволило ей подчинить сверхъестественные способности. Она может буквально выращивать мосты, но на ограниченную дистанцию, а двойной прыжок здесь заменён тем, что при удержании кнопки прыжка она начинает выращивать по своими ногами столб дерева, который позволяет ей достигать невероятных высот и потаённых мест, где кроются важные ресурсы или вкусный лут, а иногда и уникальные враги полу-боссы, за которые получаешь наилучшую награду за исследование локаций. В игре есть стелс механики и Эмма умеет совершать их с воздуха, поэтому моим излюбленным занятием против обычных врагов, населяющих локации глав, было забираться на ближайшую высоту, выращивать мост и обрушать на супостатов всю мощь своей катаны. К сожалению всё это приедается, потому что игра не потрудилась разнообразить тебя на время своей затянутости. Много часов приятно играть только в том случае, если тебя постоянно стараются чем-то удивить, например очередной новой геймплейной механикой, новыми типами врагов или хотя бы сайд квестами. Но в Beast of Reincarnation ты уже в первой главе можешь делать всё, что будешь использовать до конца игры. Древо навыков лишь призвано усиливать боевые способности Эммы и Ку, но радикально это геймплей мало меняет, ты просто быстрее и зрелищнее расправляешься с врагами, разнообразие которых удручает, вся вторая половина игры пестрит перекрашенными противниками и даже боссами, не наделяя их при этом новыми атаками, а сайд квестов как таковых нет и вовсе. Исследование мира заключается лишь в мини-боссах и луте. Но пожалуй самым ощутимым и неприятным минусом игры для меня является то, что очки для развития древа навыков Эммы и Ку общие, что постоянно вызывало во мне ощущение скованности и доставляло дискомфорт при прокачке, особенно учитывая размеры этого самого древа. Несмотря на всё это мне лично игра понравилась потому что люблю зрелищные экшн игры, весёлое передвижение без урона от падений, а также новые вселенные. Новый мир это всегда большой потенциал, который может удивить колоритными персонажами, занимательным лором и сюжетом. Есть ли здесь всё это? Боюсь это уже чистой воды вкусовщина и объективного ответа вы не получите. Лично я как человек, который часто чувствует перенасыщение франшизами и их ремейками, сиквелами, приквелами, спин-оффами и т.д. рад был для разнообразия погрузиться во что-то абсолютно неизведанное. Надеюсь разработчики извлекут правильные уроки и в следующий раз доведут до ума всё задуманное, но это вряд ли будет Beast of Reincarnation 2, потому что одним из приятнейших сюрпризов игры оказалась полностью завершённая история! Никаких клифхэнгеров, а только чёткие начало, середина и конец. Но не исключено, что в эту вселенную ещё можно будет вернуться уже с другими персонажами и в другой временной период.

It runs quite poorly on my laptop, even with an RTX 5090. The combat feedback also feels horrible. While the game provides plenty of guidance for objectives, it goes as far as revealing virtually every “hidden” item around you. This makes exploring the huge open-world map feel almost pointless. I pre-ordered and preloaded the game, but I spent most of my first 90 minutes complaining about it. In the end, I requested a refund and walked away completely disappointed.

Nunca habia pensado en que steam necesitase la una tercera opcion de las que estan disponibles las cuales son recomendar o no recomendar hasta que jugue este juego, y esto es como puedo decir un resumen de beast of reincarnation. El juego es bueno, divertido(sobre todo el combate que es muy sekiro) pero si es verdad que tiene muchos apartados que estan en el limbo entre ser bueno y "le falta" ya que hay muchas cosas en el juego y muchas otras que no voy a mencionar por que realmente no tiene relevancia alguna para determinar si el juego es bueno o no. Pero en las que si tiene importancia que bajo mi punto de vista son la historia, narrativa, personajes, diseños de mapas y niveles, jefes y por ultimo pero no menos importante graficos. Esos apartados antes mencionados son los que bajo mi punto de vista estan en ese limbo en mayor o menor medida. Quitando eso el juego tiene un buen combate que ami personalmente me encanto ya que tambien me encanto sekiro y las mecanicas de koo es algo bastante fressco para un gamplay de parrys tipo souls. Mi nota final 6/10