Beast of Reincarnation Review: Game Freak Delivers a Stunningly Confident Sci-Fi Action RPG

With a name like Beast of Reincarnation, players might expect a game filled with aggressive enemies and intense combat encounters. And while the game certainly delivers on that front, it doesn’t take long to discover that there are profound layers to this world and the characters who inhabit it. These layers transform what could have been a fun but shallow action game into a strong, deeply resonant experience. Game Freak, the legendary studio best known for creating the Pokémon franchise, has stepped boldly outside its comfort zone to deliver something entirely unexpected—a mature, challenging action RPG that proves the developer’s creative ambitions extend far beyond catching pocket monsters.

The game places players in control of Emma, a young woman tasked with an seemingly impossible mission: slaying the titular Beast, the source of post-apocalyptic Japan’s devastating Blight. This mysterious corruption mutates animals into nightmarish creatures, spreads beautiful but deadly foliage across the landscape, and claims countless human lives. Before Emma can confront her ultimate quarry, she must hunt down and destroy numerous giant creatures known as Nushi, absorbing their power to strengthen herself while cleansing the surrounding territories. The journey is relentlessly dangerous, with hordes of lesser enemies standing between her and each colossal Nushi encounter.

Emma Stands Apart as a Thoughtfully Written Protagonist

It’s important to distinguish Beast of Reincarnation from other recent action games featuring sword-wielding heroines. Unlike Stellar Blade’s Eve, who navigates danger in form-fitting bodysuits that prioritize aesthetics over practicality, Emma is dressed like an actual fighter who takes her deadly profession seriously. Her armor is functional, her demeanor professional, and most importantly, she behaves like a genuine character with depth and complexity. Emma’s initial aloofness isn’t mere stylistic choice—it stems from specific narrative reasons that slowly unfold throughout the campaign, and she experiences meaningful character growth as the story progresses. This attention to characterization reflects Game Freak’s commitment to creating a protagonist players can genuinely invest in emotionally.

The combat system presents a formidable challenge from the very first encounters. Many players may find themselves tempted to lower the difficulty within the opening hour, and doing so is a perfectly valid way to enjoy the experience. However, persevering through the challenge yields tremendous satisfaction. Emerging from a brutal fight battered, resources depleted, teetering on the edge of death—but ultimately victorious—creates moments of genuine triumph that easier difficulties simply cannot replicate. This approach to difficulty hearkens back to classic action games that demanded mastery rather than merely participation.

Parrying and Companion Tactics Drive Deep Combat

The combat system appears deceptively simple on the surface. Emma wields a sword and eventually two bows, and that’s the extent of her weaponry. There’s only one attack button for melee combat, with the system’s depth emerging from the mechanics surrounding it. Parrying stands as an integral component of the gameplay experience. While the industry’s recent obsession with parry mechanics has grown somewhat tiresome, Beast of Reincarnation implements the system exceptionally well. Perfect parries produce a beautiful combat flow, particularly during boss encounters. Much like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice with touches of Nier’s stylish sensibilities, mastering each enemy’s unique attack pattern transforms battles into something resembling a rhythm game. Learning to parry to the tune of each foe’s strikes creates an almost musical quality to combat that few games achieve.

Emma’s companion Koo—a giant mutated dog—represents another crucial element of the combat equation. While players can order Koo to attack enemies independently before detection, he otherwise acts autonomously during combat. Players retain responsibility for leveling his attributes alongside Emma’s and determining which abilities and stat-altering charms to equip. This customization directs Koo’s battlefield presence, particularly regarding Bloom Arts. These powerful abilities depend on points accumulated during combat and activate only on command. Similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s companion system, communicating with Koo slows time dramatically, allowing players to select from currently equipped Arts even when simply needing a moment to breathe and assess the battlefield.

Philosophical Depth Without Sacrificing Momentum

Emma and Koo share a mech that serves as their base of operations, a space populated by a small cast of supporting characters. This mobile sanctuary provides a wonderful oasis of calm within the relentlessly hostile world, and the optional conversations available between missions add considerable depth to the experience. The game encourages players to develop rituals—chatting with young Kagura, washing away accumulated blood and grime in the showers (yes, Koo shakes himself off like a real dog afterward), and spending quiet moments stroking your faithful companion. The ability to pet the dog, while seemingly trivial, speaks to the game’s understanding of emotional pacing and player connection.

The broad strokes of Beast of Reincarnation’s narrative might suggest reliance on tired tropes: a post-apocalyptic setting, a threat called The Blight, a singular hero destined to save the world. However, appearances prove deceiving. The game surfs on waves of philosophy and existential questions that provoke genuine thought without ever becoming preachy or heavy-handed. These thematic elements weave naturally into the narrative fabric rather than interrupting gameplay with lengthy expositions. The ending deserves particular praise—it represents one of the best conclusions seen in gaming in recent memory, striking a perfect balance between narrative closure and interpretive openness that trusts players to draw their own conclusions.

Navigation Hiccups and Occasional Difficulty Spikes

Despite overwhelming strengths, a few issues prevent Beast of Reincarnation from achieving absolute perfection. Occasionally, the path forward becomes frustratingly unclear. Despite standard waypoint markers, the distance between point A and point B sometimes features seemingly impassable platforming sections. Some players may find themselves circumventing obstacles through unintended methods, hopping around mountain edges and exploiting Emma’s aerial abilities in ways developers likely didn’t anticipate. Additionally, the game features literal skill trees for both Emma and Koo that grow visually as abilities unlock—a charming environmental touch, though it means players won’t unlock everything in a single playthrough and must choose upgrades wisely.

More frustrating are rare combat situations that cross the line from challenging to genuinely unfair. When punishing combat employs parry and dodge mechanics, finding yourself surrounded should result from player error. However, Beast of Reincarnation occasionally fails to provide adequate tools for escaping such predicaments skillfully. The camera and auto-targeting system conspire against players when multiple enemies close in simultaneously, making it impossible to keep all threats visible. Parrying attacks you literally cannot see coming tests patience rather than skill. These moments generate considerable frustration, though thankfully they remain rare and brief enough to forgive within the broader context of an exceptional game. Emma’s traversal abilities—including her hair-based grapple, portable water spout for aerial maneuvers, and temporary bridges deployable from virtually anywhere—offer creative engagement options that help compensate for occasional frustrations. New Game Plus adds one final sword and powerful new abilities, providing compelling incentive for repeat playthroughs.

Game Freak Proves Its Creative Range Extends Far Beyond Pocket Monsters

Common Questions About Beast of Reincarnation