Beast of Reincarnation looks set to kick off a busy August when it launches early in the month, and ahead of its arrival, we’ve gotten a fresh look at Game Freak’s upcoming action-RPG. While Game Freak is well-known for its Pokemon games–including Pokemon Winds and Waves in 2027–Beast of Reincarnation is unlike anything that the developer–and several external teams–has made before. The studio has produced fan-favorite games like Pocket Card Jockey and Tembo the Badass Elephant between Pokemon releases, but with Beast of Reincarnation, it’s mixing tactical gameplay with the sharp edge of Sekiro-influenced action.
The good news is that Beast of Reincarnation doesn’t look like it’ll be as brutally challenging as From Software’s 2019 classic, as the windows for parries and counters are more forgiving, and you can always slow down time to command your companion, Koo, to lend a helping paw. That’s not to say that the game won’t have moments of difficulty, as senior video producer Jake Dekker described how one of the game’s open-ended zones was home to a particularly challenging boss after he spent some time playing it recently. Remember, if you see a skull above an enemy’s head, it’s usually a good idea to cheese it.
But beyond the Sekiro inspiration, players will also have access to powerful abilities that can give them an advantage in battle. From growing roots to crossing chasms to using her plant-based powers to get some serious airtime and instant kills, the protagonist Emma is a force to be reckoned with. Finding the right synergy between Emma’s attacks and Koo’s assists will be the key to success, and each character features their own upgradeable skill tree.
Beast of Reincarnation launches on August 4, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.