4 Key Insights About Pokémon Studio’s Upcoming Action RPG, Beast of Reincarnation
Game Freak’s upcoming action RPG, Beast of Reincarnation, is just around the corner, and the developers recently let a select group of players dive into an early segment of the game to experience its sci-fi fantasy world. Overall, the feedback has been positive, with many players noting that this is a title best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, allowing time to master its movement and combat mechanics rather than rushing through it under time constraints typical of pre-release demos.
The preview kicked off right at the start of Beast of Reincarnation. While there’s an official plot synopsis available, the initial moments of the game come off as somewhat minimalistic and enigmatic in conveying its post-apocalyptic narrative. As one player observed, “I don’t fully grasp what’s happening with the story. My best understanding is that the main characters, Emma and Koo, are unique beings capable of defeating infected creatures and somehow absorbing them. It seems Emma’s role is to cleanse the world of these malevolent entities.”
The gameplay has drawn comparisons to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, known for its challenging mechanics. However, it appears that Beast of Reincarnation may offer a slightly less punishing experience, providing players with more flexibility in their playstyle through its magic systems and abilities that can be activated during pauses in action.
One player shared their thoughts, saying, “I love Sekiro; it’s one of my all-time favorites. I’ve played it countless times, and this felt familiar. It’s definitely a bit easier, with a longer parry window, so you don’t need to be as precise. There’s more room for maneuvering. Sekiro forces you into a specific playstyle, which is one of its strengths, but this game offers more tactical options.”
Those who participated in the preview had the chance to explore the first 90 minutes of gameplay. However, some challenges arose from not having enough time to fully grasp the game’s systems before facing tougher challenges. It was noted that the early mechanical explanations were “too minimal,” and players only discovered an in-game tutorial codex at a save point campfire, which provides insights into the RPG systems. The information is there, but it requires some exploration, which is easier when not under the pressure of a timed demo.
By the time players reached the first significant boss fight—a towering stag known as a Nushi—they often felt unprepared, lacking familiarity with many of the skills the game expected them to use. One player mentioned, “I thought this fight would be a good opportunity for the game to explain advanced combat mechanics, like finishers and the two bars charging for Emma at the bottom of the screen, but that didn’t happen! I assumed the bars activated something like Kratos’s Spartan Rage from God of War, but when I tried it, I just ended up vulnerable to a huge hit. I still don’t know what it actually does!”
While Beast of Reincarnation diverges from the family-friendly vibe of Pokémon, it retains some of the series’ environmental themes and the idea of cooperation between humans and animals. Emma’s wolf companion, Koo, plays a crucial role in combat and exploration, helping to uncover secrets and solutions.
Koo also assists in exploration by barking to alert players of nearby enemies and items. The alerts are specific, often accompanied by additional UI indicators, while item notifications are more subtle, ranging from Koo retrieving items to simply indicating something is nearby. This variability enhances the natural feel of exploration and combat. As the director noted, “We didn’t want Koo to become just another weapon for the player, nor did we want to create a situation where players had to be overly attentive to him.” Thankfully, Koo can be downed, but during the playtime, the player found themselves dying long before Koo did, which was preferable.
Beast of Reincarnation is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on August 4.
