Unknown 9: Awakening is the video game developed by Reflector Entertainment and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, now available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series since October 18, 2024. The game plunges players into early 20th-century India, into a mysterious universe filled with mystical powers, in the company ofHaroona, a young woman with the ability to astrally project herself into the bodies of others... But that's not all!
Unknown 9: Awakening 's gameplay is distinguished by its fluid handling and original mechanics. Players will embody Haroona, a young woman endowed with extraordinary abilities that enable her to perceive and manipulate alternate realities. These abilities, known as the "Passage", add a strategic dimension to battles and exploration.
"You play Haroona, a Quaestor born with the ability to enter the Reversal, a mysterious dimension that spills over into our own. On her quest for priceless secret knowledge, Haroona will learn to master her unique connection to the Reversal, which allows her to harness its power in our world. But this kind of power doesn't go unnoticed, and Haroona will soon become the target of the Ascendants, a splinter faction of a secret society that calls itself the Leap Year Society and wishes to harness the Reversal to alter the course of human history".
In addition to its gameplay, Unknown 9: Awakening features a rich narrative universe. Haroona (played by Anya Chalotra, aka Yennefer de Vengerberg in the Netflix series The Witcher) will have to discover the secrets of her powers and face a variety of enemies in a variety of environments.
Our review of Unknown 9 Awakening :
Playtime: story over
After a preview organized by Bandai Namco, we tested the game in its entirety... And we've got mixed feelings about it, generally speaking. Graphically, it's complicated, as the game doesn't seem to be finished, a bit like Forspoken... In any case, we're left wanting more on that score.
The gameplay, on the other hand, is quite satisfying, at least in its approach to the genre. It does take a little getting used to, but it's pretty instinctive. So, as the chapters progress, we have fun infiltrating various locations, using the range of powers available. Infiltration becomes increasingly fluid and interesting as you unlock new abilities, making the whole experience highly enjoyable.
The "Passage" is well thought-out, allowing you to juggle various abilities such as astral projection,invisibility and telekinesis ( Unknown 9 style). These are interesting, with a"Doctor Strange" vibe (you make gestures worthy of Marvel's Wizard when you become invisible, for example...). The gameplay is certainly interesting, but lacks a little diversity, with our character switching from moving scenes to infiltration scenes in a loop. An observation we already made in our preview, and which is confirmed here.
Be that as it may, Unknown 9: Awakening remains an interesting piece of software. A game that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of mystical single-player adventure games... All you have to do now is wait for the game's release to make up your own mind!
A title to keep a close eye on, obviously...
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