{"id":29082,"date":"2026-08-04T06:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nosmokesport.com\/chua-phan-loai\/kotaku-beast-of-reincarnation-review-game-freak-soulslike\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T06:30:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:30:19","slug":"kotaku-beast-of-reincarnation-review-game-freak-soulslike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nosmokesport.com\/vi\/game-news\/kotaku-beast-of-reincarnation-review-game-freak-soulslike\/","title":{"rendered":"Kotaku reviews Beast of Reincarnation, Game Freak’s ambitious Soulslike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kotaku published its review<\/a> of Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> on August 4, 2026. This new title comes from Game Freak, a developer primarily known for its Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> RPGs. While it’s a “pretty solid Soulslike” with “strong ambitions and good ideas,” the Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> review<\/a> indicates the game “struggles to stay consistently compelling from start to finish.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It represents a significant departure for the studio, tackling a scale of game it has “never created… before.” Despite its promising elements, the review highlights areas where the experience falters over its course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game Freak’s ambitious Soulslike debut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Game Freak has ventured into the competitive Soulslike genre with Beast of Reincarnation<\/em>. The developer, historically associated with the Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> RPGs, has tackled a project of a scale it hadn’t before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With assistance from support studios, Game Freak has crafted what Kotaku describes as a “pretty solid Soulslike.” It introduces enough originality to offer a fresh take on a genre that has seen considerable saturation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game also takes a “less intimidating, more accessible approach to difficulty” compared to many of its peers. Even so, it remains “an exceptionally difficult game,” though its punishing, post-apocalyptic world provides tools for various playstyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This attempt to make the genre more approachable could draw in a wider audience. However, the review suggests that Game Freak’s “fantastical, nature-loving vision” eventually “runs out of ideas” before the game concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A blighted world and desperate survival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> immerses players in a world where nature has dramatically reclaimed everything. The year is 4026, and Japan has been reshaped by a mysterious blight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post-apocalyptic setting pits you against both “blight-ridden wildlife and the decaying remains of human technology,” often simultaneously. It’s a brutal landscape where survival hinges on adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The narrative centers on Emma, a young woman raised in isolation within one of humanity’s last colonies. She possesses the unique and feared ability to absorb the blight that has devastated animals and nearly extinguished humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her community has effectively weaponized her to combat giant, plant-like creatures called malefacts. Despite her crucial role, Emma faces ostracization due to her “blight-stained” nature, creating a complex internal struggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creature design and environmental storytelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The creatures in Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> are a testament to Game Freak’s decades of creature design experience. They are, much like Emma, covered in overgrowth that has suffocated most other life on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The studio masterfully merges plant life with the skeletal structures of animals. Giant creatures found in the desolate Japanese cities appear as if they’ve emerged from centuries of vegetation, perfectly blending into the overgrown ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enemy variety, though not extensive, offers distinct challenges. Players will encounter birds that peck and claw from the sky, alongside giant bears that lunge with ferocity. There are even crazed robots, relics of humanity’s last attempts at self-preservation, providing additional layers of threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combat: precision parries and evolving powers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Combat in Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> demands precise reaction timing, a hallmark of the Soulslike genre. Enemies hit hard and can quickly overwhelm unwary players, necessitating a cautious and deliberate approach to every encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, players will rely heavily on timed parries, as Emma’s sidestep dodge offers only minimal safety. This limited early dodge forces a mastery of the parry system, serving as an effective teaching tool for the core combat mechanic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, players can upgrade to a more effective dodge roll through the skill tree. But even with advanced mobility, dodge rolls alone won’t suffice against the game’s formidable bosses, reinforcing the importance of parry proficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expanding Emma’s abilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Defeating the game’s incredible bosses requires a deep understanding of Beast of Reincarnation<\/em>‘s parry system. The satisfaction of deflecting a giant monster’s attack with a well-timed “clank” is a core reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma’s unique ability to absorb the blight from felled malefacts consistently expands her toolkit. Each boss defeated grants her new powers, making players eager to discover what new attacks will become available in her skill tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the game’s conclusion, Emma possesses a vast array of abilities. While the sheer breadth can be overwhelming, players naturally settle into preferred combos, relying on muscle memory rather than attempting to unleash every single acquired power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unique traversal and strategic freedom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond its challenging combat, Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> introduces innovative traversal mechanics that enhance gameplay. Emma’s blight-covered braid allows her to extend roots, elevating her several feet off the ground simply by holding the jump button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This unique ability lets players easily reach high ground when facing enemy squads, or create bridges to span small openings. It also provides opportunities for stealthy killing blows, descending upon unsuspecting foes from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These traversal options make the often-intimidating Soulslike genre feel more approachable. They elegantly facilitate movement through the world, enabling players to either avoid combat encounters entirely or strategically set them up to their advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game fosters strategic freedom, allowing players to approach encounters on their own terms. This ability to navigate the world from on high, rather than constantly sprinting past enemies, is key to formulating and executing personalized attack plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The loyal companion Koo and fractured humanity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Emma doesn’t face the blighted world alone; she’s accompanied by Koo, her blighted wolf companion. Koo provides invaluable assistance, making Beast of Reincarnation<\/em>‘s challenges more manageable without trivializing the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koo, too, is affected by the blight and absorbs abilities from defeated bosses, mirroring Emma’s power progression. He primarily fights autonomously, proving to be a capable combatant in his own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players can also order Koo to use various elemental affinities and status effects by accumulating points from successful parries. This adds a layer of tactical depth, reminiscent of the new Pok\u00e9mon products<\/a> and Game Freak’s heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crucially, pulling up Koo’s command menu momentarily slows down time. This brief pause offers a vital moment to assess hectic situations, catch your breath<\/a>, and plan the next move, though it won’t save you if you’re already being overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human connections in a desolate future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the bond between Emma and Koo is foundational, the review notes that Emma’s relationships with her fellow humans offer a different kind of compelling dynamic. The traveling group consists of recluses who struggle to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma’s lifelong isolation due to her blight-stained status has left her without social skills. Kagura, the group’s child cook, has spent most of her life in servitude, and Brad, the gruff elder, has willfully avoided people for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These interactions, despite their emotional stoicism and stilted delivery, are revealing. Emma, lacking human intuition, describes allies in purely factual terms, highlighting her inability to grasp emotions or articulate observations beyond cold data<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These exchanges between Emma and Kagura, often about mundane topics but lacking proper vocabulary, powerfully illustrate humanity’s gradual deterioration over 2000 years. It’s a stark contrast to more conventional storytelling and character development<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The loss of basic decorum, hope, and vision for the future is evident in these characters. Their childlike understanding of the world, coupled with Brad’s pity, underscores the profound cultural loss, prompting Emma to seek understanding of human drive beyond being a weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recurring challenges and technical concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite its many promising foundations, Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> ultimately “overstays its welcome,” according to the Kotaku review. The game’s robust core struggles with a perceived lack of sustained fresh ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around the midway point, the game begins to recycle boss encounters. This means facing moderately beefier versions of enemies already defeated, which unfortunately kills initial momentum and makes later challenges less impactful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A chapter later, players encounter yet another familiar boss, often using the same attack patterns. This reliance on muscle memory from previous encounters diminishes the challenge and excitement of what should be climactic battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This feeling of artificial extension isn’t limited to boss fights; nearly identical conversations between the main cast also recur. The review suggests that a shorter, tighter experience would have made the game’s most impressive moments more memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance issues across platforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another point of concern lies with the game’s technical performance, particularly given Game Freak’s past with titles like Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet<\/em> and Violet<\/em>. While the company outsourced much of the development, its directorial role remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reviewer noted experiencing “minimal performance issues” on PS5, primarily “framerate drops in the endgame as enemies became more abundant.” This suggests the PS5 version generally held up well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, reports from players on PC and Xbox Series X\/S indicate “significant trouble on those platforms.” These varied experiences highlight potential optimization issues that could impact player enjoyment, especially when considering the prevalence of critical software bugs<\/a> in other tech sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such inconsistencies, coupled with finicky controls \u2014 where pressing a button for a healing item or a special attack sometimes failed to register \u2014 can be game-breaking. Even a split-second delay in response time can determine the outcome of a fight in a Soulslike title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A promising but flawed Soulslike journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At its best, Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> delivers truly “incredible boss fights” and some of the genre’s most intuitive mobility options. Its existential and sci-fi narrative elements also stand out as particularly strong, providing a unique backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Game Freak, in this ambitious new endeavor, falls into a rhythm of “playing the hits,” leading to a sense of repetition. The initial thrill of its best moments wanes when they’re re-presented in less challenging forms later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game possesses a strong foundation and offers an exciting challenge. However, it ultimately loses its momentum due to recycled content and technical inconsistencies, before finding its footing again towards the very end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Beast of Reincarnation<\/em> review concludes that while it’s a solid entry with good ideas, a tighter overall package, perhaps with fewer repetitive elements, would have allowed its strongest aspects to truly shine. It’s a good game, but one that could have been great with more polish and less padding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kotaku has published its Beast of Reincarnation review, examining Game Freak’s latest project. The new Soulslike from the Pok\u00e9mon RPG developer has strong id…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":29081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3920],"tags":[12989,12987,12103,12988,12986,12985],"class_list":["post-29082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-news","tag-beast-of-reincarnation-review","tag-emma","tag-game-freak","tag-koo","tag-kotaku-review","tag-soulslike"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":3920,"label":"Game News"}],"post_tag":[{"value":12989,"label":"beast of reincarnation review"},{"value":12987,"label":"emma"},{"value":12103,"label":"game freak"},{"value":12988,"label":"koo"},{"value":12986,"label":"kotaku review"},{"value":12985,"label":"soulslike"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/nosmokesport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kotaku-beast-of-reincarnation-review-game-freak-soulslike-1024x538.png",1024,538,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Larry Parkson","author_link":"https:\/\/nosmokesport.com\/vi\/author\/kevinsbnagmail-com\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":3920,"name":"Game News","slug":"game-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3920,"taxonomy":"category","description":"

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