Reviewed on Xbox Series X
Action RPGs have become one of the most competitive genres in gaming. Every year, we see games attempting to combine fast combat, massive worlds, deep progression systems, and memorable stories into one experience.
But every once in a while, a game comes along that tries to approach the formula from a different direction.
Beast of Reincarnation is one of those games.
Developed around a dark vision of a future where humanity has been pushed to the edge of extinction, Beast of Reincarnation combines fast-paced katana combat, exploration, elemental abilities, and a unique relationship between its protagonist and her wolf companion.
Instead of simply making the player feel like an unstoppable warrior, the game constantly reminds you that the world around you is dangerous. Nature has become corrupted, civilization has collapsed, and survival depends on understanding the environment as much as mastering combat.
After playing through Beast of Reincarnation on Xbox Series X, I walked away impressed by its world design, combat mechanics, atmosphere, and the relationship between Emma and Koo.
However, technical issues, camera problems, and a few underdeveloped systems prevent the game from reaching its full potential.
So, does Beast of Reincarnation deliver a memorable action RPG experience, or does it struggle to stand out in an already crowded genre?
Let's break it down.
A World Consumed by the Blight
Beast of Reincarnation puts players in the role of Emma, a warrior known as a Sealer.
Emma possesses a unique ability that allows her to absorb the mysterious corruption known as the Blight.
The world she inhabits is far removed from the Japan we know today. Civilization has collapsed, nature has taken over, and the Blight has transformed the landscape into something both beautiful and terrifying.
Traveling alongside Emma is Koo, her loyal wolf companion.
The relationship between Emma and Koo becomes one of the most important elements of the entire experience.
Koo isn't simply another character following Emma around. The wolf plays a direct role in combat, exploration, traversal, and progression.
As Emma travels through the corrupted world, she begins uncovering information about the Blight and the mysterious force connected to it.
What starts as a journey focused on survival gradually becomes something much more personal.
Emma has to understand not only what happened to the world, but also her own connection to the forces responsible for its destruction.
One of the things I enjoyed about the story is how heavily it focuses on the relationship between humanity and nature.
The game constantly shows what happens when the natural world reclaims what humanity has built.
Overgrown forests consume abandoned structures, corrupted creatures roam areas that were once populated, and the environment itself becomes a reminder of what was lost.
The story doesn't always explain everything immediately, which encourages you to explore and pay attention to the world around you.
While the narrative isn't always the strongest part of the experience, Emma and Koo provide an emotional foundation that helps keep the journey moving forward.
A Beautiful World Filled With Destruction
The presentation is easily one of Beast of Reincarnation's biggest strengths.
Built using Unreal Engine 5, the game creates a visually impressive world that combines Japanese-inspired environments with post-apocalyptic fantasy.
The contrast between nature and ruined civilization is particularly effective.
Forests have grown over abandoned structures, ancient locations have been reclaimed by vegetation, and corrupted creatures occupy areas that once belonged to humanity.
There is a constant feeling that the world has continued moving forward without people.
That gives exploration a sense of purpose.
You're not simply walking through another fantasy environment.
You're exploring the remains of a civilization that has already lost its battle against the forces surrounding it.
The environmental detail also helps make each area feel distinct.
Forests, ruined settlements, abandoned structures, and corrupted regions all have their own visual identity.
Lighting plays an important role as well.
Bright natural environments can suddenly transition into darker areas filled with shadows and strange visual effects.
This contrast makes the world feel both beautiful and dangerous.
On Xbox Series X, the game offers a performance-focused option targeting 60 frames per second, which is particularly important for combat.
When the performance is running smoothly, sword attacks, parries, and dodges feel responsive and satisfying.
Unfortunately, the presentation isn't completely flawless.
There are moments where frame-rate drops and stuttering can appear, particularly during larger encounters or when exploring more demanding areas.
Still, these problems don't overshadow what is otherwise an impressive visual presentation.
The sound design is another strong point.
Sword clashes have weight, enemy attacks are clearly communicated, and environmental audio helps make the world feel alive.
The musical score also complements the setting extremely well.
The soundtrack blends Japanese-inspired sounds with fantasy and atmospheric elements, creating music that fits the game's themes of loss, survival, and hope.
Fast and Satisfying Katana Combat
Gameplay is where Beast of Reincarnation really establishes its identity.
At its core, this is a fast-paced action RPG built around Emma's katana combat and her partnership with Koo.
Combat emphasizes timing.
Emma can attack quickly, dodge incoming attacks, and perform defensive maneuvers that reward players for learning enemy patterns.
Perfect parries are particularly satisfying because successfully timing a defensive move can create opportunities to turn the battle around.
This makes combat feel more strategic than simply attacking an enemy until its health bar disappears.
You have to pay attention.
You have to understand what an enemy is doing.
And when you successfully predict an attack and respond with the right counter, the game feels fantastic.
Koo Makes Combat More Interesting
The relationship between Emma and Koo isn't just part of the story.
It is built directly into the gameplay.
Koo can assist during combat and provide abilities that complement Emma's fighting style.
The game encourages you to think about both characters rather than treating Koo as a simple companion character.
This creates some interesting opportunities during encounters.
Instead of simply focusing on Emma's attacks, you have to think about how Koo's abilities can create openings and help you control the battlefield.
That partnership also carries over into exploration.
Koo can assist Emma as she moves through the environment, and the two characters gradually become more important to each other's progression.
This is one of the areas where Beast of Reincarnation feels different from many other action RPGs.
The relationship isn't just there for emotional storytelling.
It actually affects the way you play.
Elemental Abilities Add Another Layer
Another important part of the combat system is the elemental mechanic.
Different elemental effects can be used against enemies, encouraging players to experiment with different approaches depending on the situation.
This gives combat another strategic layer.
Instead of relying on one weapon or one attack pattern throughout the entire game, you can adjust your approach based on enemy weaknesses and the abilities available to you.
The system isn't overly complicated, but it adds enough depth to make encounters more interesting.
It also encourages experimentation, which is something I always appreciate in an action RPG.
Exploration and Progression
Combat may be one of the game's biggest attractions, but exploration plays an equally important role.
Beast of Reincarnation gives Emma abilities that allow her to navigate the environment and reach areas that were previously inaccessible.
This creates a familiar but satisfying progression loop.
You explore.
You discover new locations.
You fight enemies.
You find upgrades.
And eventually, you return to previously inaccessible areas with new abilities.
The game also includes camps that act as important points for resting and improving your character.
The Walker also provides an interesting addition to the experience, functioning as a mobile base during Emma's journey.
These systems help keep the adventure moving while giving players reasons to continue exploring the world.
The problem is that the rewards aren't always as exciting as they could be.
Where Beast of Reincarnation Falls Short
Beast of Reincarnation has plenty of great ideas, but it also has several issues that prevent it from becoming an exceptional action RPG.
The biggest problem I encountered was technical performance.
Even though the game can run smoothly at times, there were occasions where I experienced frame-rate drops and stuttering.
This becomes particularly noticeable during intense combat sequences.
For an action RPG that relies so heavily on timing, even small performance problems can affect the experience.
The camera is another issue.
During larger battles and fights in tighter environments, the camera can occasionally struggle to keep the action properly framed.
This can make it more difficult to read enemy attacks or position Emma correctly.
When you're trying to land a perfect parry, losing sight of an enemy because of the camera is frustrating.
Koo is also helpful, but his constant guidance can occasionally become distracting.
His dialogue and callouts can sometimes interrupt exploration rather than enhance it.
The loot system is another area where I think the game could have done more.
Exploration provides rewards, but some of them don't feel particularly exciting.
There are moments where you explore an area expecting to discover something meaningful, only to receive materials or resources that don't feel as rewarding as they should.
These aren't game-breaking problems.
But they are noticeable enough to prevent Beast of Reincarnation from feeling completely polished.
Final Verdict
After completing Beast of Reincarnation, I walked away impressed by what the game attempts to accomplish.
This is an action RPG with a clear identity.
The combination of fast katana combat, elemental abilities, exploration, and the relationship between Emma and Koo gives the game something that separates it from the competition.
The world is easily one of the biggest highlights.
The mixture of post-apocalyptic environments, Japanese-inspired locations, corrupted nature, and beautiful environmental design creates a setting that I genuinely enjoyed exploring.
Combat is also extremely satisfying when everything comes together.
Perfect parries, fast attacks, dodges, elemental abilities, and Koo's assistance create a combat system that rewards timing and experimentation.
Unfortunately, technical problems and camera issues keep the experience from reaching the level it could have achieved with additional polish.
The loot system also feels underdeveloped, and some of the game's systems could have benefited from more depth.
But despite those problems, Beast of Reincarnation remains an enjoyable action RPG with a strong visual identity and some genuinely memorable moments.
If you enjoy fast-paced combat, dark fantasy worlds, Japanese-inspired settings, and games that combine exploration with action, Beast of Reincarnation is definitely worth checking out.
It may not reinvent the action RPG genre, but it does enough differently to make the journey worth taking.
The Gamer Section Score: 4/5
Pros
Beautiful post-apocalyptic Japanese-inspired world
Fast and satisfying katana combat
Excellent parry and dodge mechanics
Unique Emma and Koo partnership
Interesting elemental combat system
Strong atmosphere and environmental design
Excellent soundtrack and sound design
Rewarding exploration and traversal
Cons
Occasional frame-rate drops and stuttering
Camera problems during larger encounters
Some repetitive combat situations
Loot rewards could be more meaningful
Koo's constant guidance can occasionally become distracting
Some systems feel underdeveloped