Key Takeaways
- Unknown 9 hasn’t been on my radar, however a couple of hours of hands-on time has modified that.
- Its throwback linear third-person motion fortunately jogged my memory of Uncharted, whereas the soul-jumping powers give it a novel twist.
- The model I performed wanted a bit extra polish, so I am hopeful that the final month earlier than launch shines issues up a bit.
2024 hasn’t been fairly as stacked as 2023, however it’s nonetheless been an extremely busy yr for gaming. That’s principally a great factor, however it does imply that some gems handle to slide via the cracks. I wish to assume I’m fairly on high of my launch calendar as somebody who tries to play as many titles as doable, however there are nonetheless video games that fly underneath my radar.
One of many greatest examples of that this yr is Unknown 9: Awakening. I used to be usually conscious of its existence and had seen some trailers for it at Bandai’s current occasions, however I hadn’t researched it to loss of life like I do for many upcoming releases as I’d figured it wasn’t going to be for me. That was a mistake – after two hours of hands-on time at a current preview occasion grabbed each my curiosity and my soul (you’ll get that in a minute).
Unknown 9 has you entering into the sneakers of Haroona, a Quaestor (somebody who’s conscious of and seeks out the mysterious Unknown 9) born with the flexibility to leap into and manipulate the Fold, a ghostly universe that provides her powers like with the ability to flip invisible, summon a defend, and even leap into individuals’s souls to take management of them.
Quaest? What Variety Of Quaest?
Haroona’s distinctive skills make her a goal for the Ascendants, a secretive group that desires to make use of the Fold for themselves to vary historical past, which results in somebody near Haroona being taken away from her. This tragedy units up her quest to seek out the Ascendants’ chief and use her powers to get revenge on the faction.
Proper from the get go, I didn’t anticipate Unknown 9 to have such a lore-heavy and developed world. It does take some getting used to with what number of new phrases and names are thrown round, however leaping in is made loads simpler due to how likeable, assured, and charismatic Haroona, as performed by The Witcher’s Anya Chalotra, is.
My preview kicked off shortly after the sport’s prologue and adopted Haroona as she made her method across the fictional Indian metropolis of Chamiri to seek out somebody known as Vincent. As I climbed across the metropolis and made my method via the linear stage by leaping throughout rooftops and sliding via again alleys it pleasantly jogged my memory of Uncharted, which was cemented the extra Haroona quipped and talked to herself about her environment.
Unknown 9: Awakening is about in 1912, which is a pleasant change of tempo for a third-person motion sport.
Fight That is Full Of Soul
Finally, Haroona discovered herself nose to nose with a few of the Ascendants, which led to my first style of what actually makes Unknown 9 particular – the powers. By manipulating the Fold, Haroona can block projectiles, distract enemies, restore a few of her well being, and even end individuals off by brutally tearing their souls to shreds.
The true star of the present, nonetheless, is the flexibility to leap into individuals and take management of them, which provides the participant a ton of various playstyle choices throughout a battle. At first of my demo, I used to be simply hopping into individuals and strolling them over to wherever I used to be hidden for a simple stealth kill, however as I unlocked the flexibility to do it greater than as soon as, I used to be forcing one rifle-wielding guard to shoot their good friend within the head earlier than leaping into another person and making use their electrical energy sword on an unsuspecting Ascendant.
Haroona can really feel very overpowered when you get the grasp of her Fold skills, however it by no means stopped being a pleasure manipulating enemies and cleverly taking them out one after the other. The energetic stealth was the spotlight of my time with Unknown 9 and by no means didn’t make me really feel like each a genius and a badass.
Issues do finally get a bit harder when the Ascendants come up with alarms that set off for those who get too shut, forcing you to be a bit extra cautious with how you employ your powers.
An Uncharted Expertise
While you’re uninterested in sneaking round enemies and resolve to go in Fold blazing, the hand-to-hand fight is satisfying and, notably, a bit tougher than stealth. Haroona has a mixture of punches, dashes, and block-breaking heavy strikes which make her fairly a troublesome cookie, however the Ascendants are surprisingly nimble and can frequently dodge and counter assault for those who’re not cautious.
After making my method via Chamiri and feeling fairly cocky about my new soul-ripping powers, my preview took Haroona to a jungle throughout the water, the place she meets Luther, who I hope turns into her fundamental companion. Luther is principally Unknown 9’s reply to Sully from Uncharted, proper right down to him being a cocky but clever American treasure hunter.
Haroona is initially distant from Luther, however quickly drops her guard and begins to work with him in the direction of their widespread aim of stealing a blimp to flee the jungle. Similar to Haroona, Luther is a really well-acted character that dragged me even deeper into Unknown 9, particularly when the 2 begin to get alongside and speak extra as associates than reluctant journey buddies.
One in every of my favorite particulars throughout my preview was Haroona’s journal, during which she sketches and makes charming observations, like calling Luther a cowboy.
A Soul In Want Of Polish
The jungle part closed to my Unknown 9 preview and completed with a boss battle towards somebody known as Mila, who was capable of counter numerous Haroona’s powers and made for an honest problem since I couldn’t simply go invisible and stealthily take her out. It’s a great signal that I used to be unhappy when the preview ended and that I used to be desperate to see how Haroona’s quest for revenge completed and the way far her powers may very well be taken.
Though my time with Unknown 9 bought me on its soul-jumping journey, I did come away with a couple of considerations. Whereas Haroona does have loads of powers, I hope the ultimate sport has a couple of extra for her to unlock to maintain issues recent, because it felt like I used to be nearing the tip of the surprisingly massive talent tree after only a few hours.
My greatest fear, although, is with the sport’s efficiency. The grasp construct that I performed was slightly tough, with the efficiency dipping and diving and characters glitching out and in of cutscenes. It was nothing game-breaking or sufficient to place me off, however for one thing that’s only a month away, I hope the ultimate launch is a little more polished.
Nonetheless, even with these worries, I used to be stunned at simply how a lot Unknown 9 clicked with me. Its characters, world, and gameplay really feel each like a throwback to the late PS3 period of linear third-person motion video games and an evolution of them due to its distinctive suite of powers. Right here’s hoping that extra individuals grow to be conscious of the Quaest earlier than it launches subsequent month.
