Beast of Reincarnation review: Game Freak’s PS5 action RPG

Game Freak released Beast of Reincarnation for PlayStation 5 as a single-player action role-playing game that combines challenge-focused combat with traversal mechanics and a companion system. The game centers on Emma, a playable protagonist, and Koo, a combat-capable dog that follows player commands.

Gameplay emphasizes methodical encounters and progression. Emma can parry and, later in the campaign, unlock a dodge roll. Koo learns abilities that deal damage, apply status effects and support crowd control. Emma also gains aerial movement options, including a boost and an extendable hair mechanic that spans long gaps and opens routes for revisiting areas. The game uses checkpoint mechanics common to Souls-style titles and offers an easier difficulty setting.

Critics identified boss battles and creature design as standout elements. Reviews note that boss encounters demand timing, resource management and coordination between Emma and Koo, and reward players who master parrying and rolling. Reviewers also highlighted the visual design of corrupted beasts and larger enemies as a distinguishing element compared with the developer’s previous franchise work.

Reception also identified limits in exploration and narrative delivery. Several reviews describe exploration as yielding keys and basic rewards more often than notable lore or memorable locations. Standard enemies, particularly golem-like foes, were often described as repetitive. Cutscenes drew criticism for length and limited emotional expression from characters, which reviewers said made the opening hours slower to progress.

The game represents a stylistic departure for Game Freak, which released a non-Pokémon console title, Tembo the Badass Elephant, in 2015. Reviews commonly state the project establishes a foundation that could be expanded with tighter level design, more varied enemy types and streamlined narrative pacing. A digital review copy was provided by the publisher; the review covered version 1.004.000 of the game.