When I first started up Beast of Reincarnation about a week or two ago, I saw a few things regarding the game that surprised even me. First thing that surprised me? The game was made by Game Freak (the guys behind Little Town Hero, Pokemon, etc.). The other surprising thing? It’s currently able to be played with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as of right now. For gathering thoughts, screenshots, etc., I went with the PS5 version as we got a review copy from publisher Fictions. Is this story-driven, action hack-and-slash any good, or is it a wasteful dud that should have no time invested in it? Let’s find out.
NOTE: Even though the PS5 version was played for review purposes, all screenshots come from the Xbox/PC version.
The Story so Far
In Beast of Reincarnation, you play as the (initially) emotionless Emma. Emma is a “Sealer” born with the Blight inside her. Joined by Koo, a corrupted stray dog, and various allies like Kagura, a few Golems, and the pilot Brad, she travels across the country on a mobile base called the Cleanse Walker to defeat regional Nushi.
Like any action or Game Freak game I played (like Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, Little Town Hero, etc.), however, there are plenty of twists and emotional turns in this story of survival.
Beast of Reincarnation begins with the introduction of the world people reside in, showcasing Earth two thousand years into the future, dated at the year 4026. Much of the organic matter living in the world is contaminated with Blight, as flora and fauna turn into corrupted beings called Malefacts, and stronger beings are corrupted into elite Nushi. The game thrusts you into battle immediately after starting a new game against Shidou’s forces (Shidou is someone you’ll encounter multiple times as he clashes with Emma to retrieve her power of The Vessel. As a result, he, alongside his Nue Malefact companion, are secondary antagonists that you must defeat multiple times).
This all makes for a moving, entertaining, sometimes confusing, and – by the end – heartrending story. But what good is a great story if the gameplay isn’t up to snuff? Speaking of the gameplay, is it any good to play?
Gameplay Is Intricate and Rather Complex
Emma has 3 options for attacking enemies: her wolf, Koo, a gun, and a longsword. The longsword is meant for close combat with tough enemies. The gun is meant for aerial enemies and possible environmental hazards. The bow is also useful for ranged first strike damage from afar on enemies, such as Falcons (no, not the Atlanta Falcons).
Spirit Stones can be equipped onto armor to provide beneficial effects for Emma and Koo. Such effects can include increased gun or bow damage, increased sword damage, etc. Other times, those stones can increase defense to survive tougher blows from elite enemies or Nushi bosses.
Emma’s hair can be used for traversal purposes. Elongated jumps are possible, or players can use that hair wisely to perform a triple jump midair! The jumping, though, is finicky at best, and often times, I’d try to do a triple jump but end up doing an elongated single jump instead.
Conclusion and Final Verdict
In closing, Beast of Reincarnation is a good game but with some hair-tangling control issues, such as doing triple jumps instead of elongated jumps and vice versa. With there being platforming puzzles and gaps that require triple jumps or elongated single jumps, figuring out which type of jump is needed becomes a game of trial-and-error.
The rest of the game makes up for it, however. The Spirit Stone buffs and level-up system via campsites are Pokemon-esque in nature. If Pokemon ever went full action-game with light RPG elements like this game, I’d be here for it. I’ll see you next time with Diablo IV.
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Fictions
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: 4th August 2026
Gaming Respawn’s copy of Beast of Reincarnation was provided by the publisher.
