Gaming
Game Freak ventures into post-apocalyptic action RPG: Beast of Reincarnation arrives in August
The studio behind Pokémon is releasing a distinctive action RPG about a young woman and her dog in an overgrown Japan. It arrives August 3 on PC, PS5 and Xbox, also via Game Pass.
Game Freak, the developer best known for countless Pokémon titles, has unveiled a new action RPG that has nothing to do with pocket monsters. Beast of Reincarnation launches on August 3 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S - and is playable from day one via Xbox Game Pass. According to the studio, it is 'one of the largest-scale projects ever' outside the Pokémon series.
The story is set in an overgrown, post-apocalyptic Japan, two thousand years in the future. You play as Emma, a young woman who travels through the ruins with her dog Koo. The blight (overgrowth) that has transformed the land has also affected Koo - part of his body is overgrown. Emma can absorb this blight into herself and use it to manipulate plants: she creates temporary platforms from vines or shoots thorns from the ground.
Hybrid combat system and 'Nushi' bosses
In combat, Emma combines fast, real-time action with a sword and crossbow along with giving commands to Koo. According to the creators, it is a hybrid system that encompasses both action and turn-based tactics. To defeat the titular Beast of Reincarnation, Emma and Koo must absorb the powers of so-called 'Nushi' monsters - a mechanism that will be familiar to Pokémon fans, though the execution is completely different.
The game is not open-world, but consists of larger, explorable levels. Developer Kota Furushima compared the setup to a road movie: a journey with a clear beginning, middle and end, but with plenty of room for side paths. The project started around 2020 as part of Game Freak's internal 'Gear Project', where employees can pitch their own ideas. Furushima wanted to capture themes of loneliness, isolation and warmth in the design.
Notably, Game Freak is collaborating with multiple external studios for Beast of Reincarnation. The core team is relatively small, but by involving partners, the director hopes that the technical ambition - think smoother animations and larger environments - is achievable. Whether that means we won't encounter any technical hiccups remains to be seen, but the team seems to have learned from past experiences.
More information about pre-orders, pricing and any special editions is expected soon. I'm curious whether Game Freak can make a lasting impression with this title outside the shadow of Pikachu. On August 3 we'll know more.