Ever since developer Coronary heart Machine burst onto the scene with its hyper-stylized 2D motion recreation Hyper Mild Drifter, each effort from the studio comes with the promise of visible splendor and tight gameplay, and Possessor(s) is not any totally different.
If Hyper Mild Drifter is Zelda-like, then Possessor(s) is the group’s tackle the Metroidvania. Though their dev group will most likely get mad at me for calling it that, as they like the unique style time period of “search-action.” Regardless of which label you favor, you’ll discover the style’s acquainted hallmarks right here. Possessor(s) drops you in an enormous open map full of highly effective demon enemies and branching paths that aren’t all open to you simply but.
In contrast to Coronary heart Machine’s previous video games with stylized, however masked or hooded, heroes, Possessor(s) is led by a solid of superbly hand-drawn characters whose tales I’m curious to be taught extra of. Set in a fictional, Japan-inspired, metropolis, the participant controls Luca, who survives a devastating, apocalyptic occasion. However solely simply barely. She awakens to discover herself with out her legs, which had been broken in the course of the assault. Fortunately (or not), she makes contact with a demon named Rehm, who provides her the traditional satan’s cut price. She will be able to get her legs again, however provided that she helps him get revenge on some unnamed however highly effective demonic forces.
Equally, Possessor(s) feels closely impressed by city fantasy anime. Reveals like Jujutsu Kaisen come shortly to thoughts as Luca and Rehm discover a ruined metropolitan metropolis and combat off demon-possessed on a regular basis objects like haunted searchlights and demon fridges. This extends to Luca as properly. Whereas she’s now powered by demon-magic legs, her weapons are additionally on a regular basis objects. Issues like kitchen knives and even a pc mouse she will wield like a whip.
All of this combines right into a fast-paced action-adventure. Fight feels rapid-fast, which is nice as a result of there are so much of enemies to reduce by way of. And operating by way of the devastated metropolis, or leaping and grappling over obstacles, additionally feels quick and nice, which is a plus as a result of I get the sense it is a fairly large recreation. The portion of the map I performed already felt fairly massive and I solely performed a 20-minute demo.
Mechanically, I wouldn’t say Possessor(s) upends the search-action style, or on the very least not within the early portion of the sport I noticed. However each narratively and within the design there’s tons extra that I’m all for studying extra of. Possessor(s) has moments the place the digital camera pans out into the ruined metropolis, highlighting a cinematic sense of scale that Coronary heart Machine has explored earlier than in video games like Photo voltaic Ash. And even in my brief hands-on time there was so much of dialogue and exposition between Luca and Rehm.
There’s additionally probably extra to the RPG aspect that I haven’t found but. Luca’s character menu appeared to present empty slots for a spread of weapons and upgrades – far more than the couple I discovered throughout my demo. And having solely been given a glimpse of the map, which was primarily so much of deserted and destroyed workplace buildings, there’s clearly much more beneath the hood in Possessor(s) than what I noticed. I’ll be maintaining a tally of this one.
Matt Kim is IGN’s Senior Options Editor.