The studio behind Pokémon struggles to find its voice in Beast of Reincarnation
Game Freak's new action game outside the Pokémon franchise is packed with familiar ideas and lacks freshness.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Game Freak launches a brand new action game outside the Pokémon franchise called Beast of Reincarnation
- The story takes place 2,000 years in the future in a post-apocalyptic Japan blending sci-fi and magic
- Combat shines through protagonist Emma, who utilizes hair-based powers and a magical canine companion
- The major drawback is that the game's world pushes mystery to a frustrating and obscure extreme
You have to imagine that the team at Game Freak is bursting with ideas. The studio puts out new mainline Pokémon adventures with a machinelike precision, but every so often it launches a curious experiment—whether an action title about a militarized elephant or turning horse races into a card game—showing it is capable of more than just pocket monsters. That makes the idea of Beast of Reincarnation so enticing as an established studio breaks free from its iconic franchise to craft a blockbuster action title. Unfortunately, new ideas are in short supply in Beast, and aside from slick action, there is little that hasn't been done before.
Beast of Reincarnation takes place exactly 2,000 years in the future within a postapocalyptic vision of Japan blending sci-fi and magic. Humans still exist, though many transferred their consciousness into robotic golems to survive the planetary calamity. The real problem is a mysterious blight infecting the landscape and turning wildlife into vicious mutants, portending the return of the titular immortal beast. Players control a wandering mercenary named Emma, who can absorb powers from fallen mutants and must traverse the world to power up and take down the beast for good.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
It is not a bad setup for an action game, giving players a reason to keep moving forward as Emma hunts for big creatures to grow stronger. The game is not open-world, instead divided into large locations visited as the story progresses. The standout feature is undoubtedly the action. Emma is a speedy samurai-type wielding a blade and various bows. At first, Beast resembles Dark Souls or Elden Ring with high-stakes dodging and parrying, but unlocking new powers reveals something different. Emma's signature ability allows vines and plants to grow from her hair, enabling her to build bridges across gaps or use hair like a grappling hook, alongside an adorable, gigantic magical dog companion assisting in combat and gathering loot.
When a legendary studio known almost exclusively for traditional turn-based creature-collection RPGs pivots toward a fast-paced three-dimensional action game, it represents a monumental design shift. While Game Freak has occasionally dabbled in experimental side projects, scaling up to a high-budget console action title involves blending demanding combat mechanics with narrative depth—a delicate balancing act that often defines whether a studio can successfully expand its creative footprint beyond its signature franchise.
Emma's powers prove especially helpful in battle as she gradually gains abilities to zip across the battlefield, deliver aerial strikes, or perform devastating combo moves with her giant pup. Her hair even enhances stealth by sprouting tall plants when she crouches, offering temporary cover for silent kills. It takes a few hours for things to open up, but eventually, Beast's combat offers plenty of room for freedom and creativity.
The same cannot be said for the rest of the experience. Initially, the postapocalyptic world is compelling because it is shrouded in mystery. With almost zero historical context, intriguing hints emerge regarding human-infused machines and their divergence from flesh-and-blood humans. However, Beast pushes this concept to a frustrating extreme. Everything in the game remains shrouded in absolute obscurity: the landscape, Emma herself, her two human companions, the giant dog, a little girl visible only to Emma, and other wandering fighters encountered along the way.
Source: The Verge
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