Unknown 9 Awakening is a type of uncommon new IPs that, flaws and all, alerts a powerful begin for a possible franchise. Not that Unknown 9 Awakening is flawless—no sport is, in spite of everything—however it undoubtedly has a robust basis.
That is the primary launch from Reflector Leisure, revealed by Bandai Namco, and some of the intriguing features is its strategy to storytelling throughout a number of media. And by that, I don’t imply consoles; I imply that Unknown 9 Awakening has its story threaded throughout comics, a trilogy of novels, an audio drama podcast, two upcoming net sequence, and the platform Unknown 9: Nexus, which brings collectively all of the characters, places, and occasions throughout these media.
It’s bold, little question. After beginning the comedian sequence, the unbelievable podcast Unknown 9: Out of Web site, and the novel Unknown 9: Genesis, I’m excited to see the way it all connects on this expansive, globe-spanning narrative.
Now, onto the sport itself.
Story
Unknown 9 Awakening story is ready lengthy earlier than the opposite entries within the Unknown 9 universe. You play as Haroona, a strong younger lady and disciple to her mentor, Reika. Her journey begins in a desert oasis scattered with ruins of a misplaced civilization, the place she follows Reika on a mysterious mission. As they draw nearer to their vacation spot, Haroona learns about Reika’s former disciple, Vincent Lichter, who has since turned rogue. Tragedy quickly follows when Haroona witnesses Reika’s loss of life at Vincent’s fingers, however she narrowly escapes.
The story picks up 4 years later, in 1912, as Haroona, now in northern India, is on a path of revenge, monitoring down Vincent. Alongside the best way, she meets Luther, a gun-slinging American who rapidly turns into an ally, hiding her from enemy patrols and providing his help as she pursues her objective. Collectively, they handle to steal Vincent’s airship, The Morning Star, and study that Haroona’s childhood village has been destroyed. Haroona retrieves a strong amulet given to her by Reika, whereas Luther reveals his ties to the Leap Yr Society, a secret group lengthy thought misplaced.
What follows is a journey with Luther and the Leap Yr Society as they work to cease Vincent from liberating Seshin, a strong being imprisoned in The Fold, a mysterious realm between worlds. Seshin was sealed away by the Unknown 9, a collective of entities generally known as the Sahin, who’ve maintained Earth’s cycles to keep away from the destiny of their fallen civilization.
I received’t delve additional, as the sport’s story is its strongest asset. What I can say is to be ready for a story that hooks you in, connects you with Luther, and divulges lore that interweaves with the Unknown 9 universe. It’s stuffed with twists that hold issues fascinating. Whereas not the very best story in gaming, it’s refreshingly authentic in an period stuffed with recycled plots.
Gameplay
Gameplay is the place Unknown 9 Awakening actually excels, largely because of the progressive use of The Fold. The Fold is akin to a mystical “upside-down” world, just like Stranger Issues’ alternate dimension, the place time is fluid. For Haroona, a Quaester, The Fold supplies skills that assist her on her journey, although many have grow to be misplaced souls inside its boundaries.
A method Haroona makes use of The Fold is to glimpse into this different realm, revealing enemies, environmental hazards, and collectibles. That is just like the detective imaginative and prescient from the Batman: Arkham sequence, and it is smart right here, becoming seamlessly into the sport’s mechanics. Haroona can even draw on The Fold throughout fight, using an array of skills unlocked by means of a talent tree that branches into Fight, Stealth, and Umbric Skills. Talent factors, amassed by means of accumulating anomalies, improve her powers in a number of areas:
Takedowns – Stealth strikes that allow you to silently eradicate enemies; expertise unlocked over time permit for takedowns of more and more highly effective foes.
Crush – A capability to set off environmental hazards, like gasoline canisters, to blow up and injury close by enemies.
Push and Pull – Helpful for shoving foes close to ledges (as you possibly can think about).
Shroud – Grants non permanent invisibility, preferrred for mixing stealth with takedowns.
Stepping – Maybe essentially the most enjoyable talent, letting you possess enemies briefly and use their skills towards different foes. Initially restricted to at least one use per fight, the sport ultimately permits three steps. Stepping tokens may be replenished by means of stealth and head-on fight.
With this arsenal, the fight feels addictive, fluid, and genuinely gratifying. It could take some follow, however it rapidly turns into second nature. By the ultimate chapters, when swarms of enemies come at you, it feels empowering to make use of each trick in Haroona’s e book—luring enemies close to ledges, triggering explosive distractions, vanishing into the Shroud, and at last getting into one enemy after one other. The sheer selection retains fight contemporary, a welcome aid from the repetitive grind some motion video games fall into. That is simply the sport’s standout characteristic.
Graphics and Technical Hiccups
Sadly, Unknown 9 Awakening suffers considerably within the graphics division. Visually, it appears like a throwback to the PS3 period—jarring in 2024, to say the least. Textures typically pop out and in or load slowly, which may be distracting, particularly in cutscenes. Character fashions lack element, and environments typically look bland. On the upside, the body price stayed regular, and I didn’t encounter any game-breaking bugs, although some glitches with NPCs sometimes required me to reload from the final checkpoint.
The dearth of visible selection in enemy NPCs—each in look and voice—was one other downside, although ultimately, I managed to disregard it. It’s a disgrace these visible components drag down what’s in any other case an immersive expertise.
Writing, Voice Performing, and Music
Whereas the story holds its personal, it’s the dialogue and character interactions that shine. The writing is sharp, and the voice performing does it justice. Anya Chalotra, recognized for her position as Yennefer in The Witcher, is unbelievable as Haroona, although the standouts for me had been Luther and Vincent. The atmospheric music enhances the story, including depth to the sport’s immersive high quality.
Last Verdict
Unknown 9 Awakening is an bold sport, extending past the standard gaming narrative with its transmedia storytelling. The story is intriguing, the fight participating, and the dialogue well-crafted, however the expertise is marred by its visuals, which really feel a decade outdated. Regardless of its flaws, this sport lays a promising basis for what might grow to be an expansive and rewarding franchise. With that in thoughts, I’d price Unknown 9 Awakening a 6 out of 10.
Unknown 9 Awakening is offered now on Xbox Collection S and X, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC. This evaluation relies on an Xbox Collection X playthrough.
Unknown 9 Awakening Trailer
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