31/08/2026
Platinum #123: Beast of Reincarnation (PS5)
Grind: 5/10
No missables in the game. There are a lot of collectibles, and exploration can be kinda tough. The map has a lot of verticality, but there are also many invisible walls, so using a guide is recommended for a more efficient completion.
Aside from the collectibles, you are required to grind to Level 100 and max out all skills and equipment in the game. You can easily finish the game without maxing everything, so there’s quite a bit of post-game grinding.
Finished the list after almost 50 hours.
Difficulty: 3/10
The basic gameplay feels like Sekiro, with melee combat and crisp parries, combined with tons of skills that make the game much easier, especially the end-game skills. Hard Mode is my personal recommendation if you want to make better use of the game’s core mechanics.
Fun: 7/10
It’s quite intriguing to see Game Freak try a new multiplatform game, moving away from their comfort zone of monster-collecting games. It really sparked my curiosity about how they would fare with this new IP, not to mention that the gameplay is right up my wheelhouse.
Combat is the bread and butter of this game. Honestly, I probably would have dropped it if not for the combat. I like Emma’s unique Blight powers, how they’re connected to the story, and how they’re utilized for overworld exploration. Koo is also an awesome buddy. The elemental effects in the game make customization much more fun.
The overall vibe and environment take inspiration from the Nier series, with some Princess Mononoke-esque elements mixed in. There are some notable tracks in the game, but I felt like more music should have been added.
The story itself is decent, but I think the narration and presentation have a lot of room for improvement. The assets, cutscenes, lighting, and textures can feel lacking or awkward at times.
There are some notable positives, but also some notable negatives to highlight. Game Freak clearly has something here. If they can improve the presentation, polish, and overall technical ex*****on while keeping this level of combat, their next multiplatform game could be something special.
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