Beast of Reincarnation - Everything Announced During the Xbox Direct

The second game at the Xbox Direct was Beast of Reincarnation, a new action-RPG from Game Freak, the studio behind most Pokémon games. While this isn't the first title outside the franchise that the studio has made, it is probably the first AAA one and their largest project yet.

The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic Japan, in the year 4026. Humanity is mostly gone, and the world is overrun by The Blight, a plant-like entity that consumed everything. The main enemies in the game are the Malefacts, creatures that combine plant and animal elements, with their most powerful numbers being the Nushi (meaning Boss/Lord). The purpose of the game is to hunt those Nushi to become powerful enough to kill the titular Beast of Reincarnation.

The protagonist of the game is Emma, who herself is connected with the plants, and is joined by Koo, a wolf-like Malefact whose purpose is a mystery. There are other characters joining you in this quest, like Kunai, another warrior who has a Malefact companion of her own, but Emma is mostly isolated from what remains of humanity due to her nature.

The final faction shown in the direct are the Golems, humans who transferred their souls into robots. One member of the Golems is shown giving Emma the mission to kill the Beast of Reincarnation, but they're also presented as enemies, so it remains to be seen where their allegiance lies.

As for how the game plays, it's an action-RPG with fast-paced combat that reminds me of Devil May Cry. However, there are also ranged and stealth options, and Koo can also be partially controlled. You'll have access to Blooming Arts, very powerful attacks you can unleash after you build a meter up, which slows down time, allowing you to select what attack to use next. Traversal will be facilitated by your plant powers, allowing you to reach high places and create bridges for you to cross.

No exact release date was given for the game, aside from a general Summer window. It will release on Xbox, PC and PlayStation, and will be available on Day 1 on Game Pass. Learn more in the Xbox's official blog post or the live stream.

What do you think of Beast of Reincarnation? Do you believe Game Freak will deliver on this ambitious non-Pokémon title? Let us know in the comments below!