When a studio like Game Freak announces a brand new project, the entire gaming community automatically expects invisible creatures and the classic turn-based formula we’ve known for decades.
However, with Beast of Reincarnationteam is stepping out of its Pokémon comfort zone to deliver a dark, fast-paced RPG with a linear progression and a unique twist on souls. It’s a very intense journey for developers, for sure, and before you dive headfirst into this mysterious world, it’s always good to know exactly how much time you’ll need to invest – and what kind of mysteries you’ll find there.
Now, a batch of new previews has just surfaced with a lot of interesting information showing everything we need to know (while remaining spoiler-free, of course) about the upcoming title.
A Strong, Action-Filled Journey
First, the developers revealed (thanks, IGN!) that wrapping up the main story of Beast Reborn will take players around 30 to 40 hours.
For comparison, that actually puts its range completely in line with modern hits like this one The Stellar Blade, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Spirit of Yōteiagain Final Fantasy XVI. Interestingly enough, it also sits very close to the studio’s Pokémon games, which are typically around 30 hours – the latest. Legends of Pokémon: ZA it takes about 28 hours, while Pokémon Pokopia it stays around 36, according to HowLongToBeat.
When you reach that length, it certainly hits the genre’s sweet spot: it’s long enough to provide a satisfying, narrative-heavy journey without overstaying its welcome with unnecessary filler.
The developers have revealed that wrapping up the main story of Beast of Reincarnation will take players around 30 to 40 hours.
Moving on to new details, while the game certainly draws inspiration from hard-hitting action titles, it seems you don’t need to panic about sticking to one boss for days on end. The developers created a much more generous parry window compared to Sekiro’s unforgiving intensity, making it more accessible than brutally punishing Souls titles. So, instead of getting frustrated with the difficulty, the focus here is on fast, responsive controls and pure fun with combat that’s easy to pick up but rewarding to understand.
In combat, the preview shows that the action is very fast, but it gives players smart tactical options. You can slow down the time by performing command-based special moves alongside your friend Koo, a mechanic that feels reminiscent of ATB’s pop-up menu system. Final Fantasy VII Remake. Combine that with the main character Emma, whose hair uniquely extends from tree roots to help you avoid large open spaces, and you get a dynamic game loop full of stylish encounters against tall, large bosses.
Between these intense battles, you’ll also take a break in the cars to improve your skills and catch your breath – this is where we get into my favorite details about this new title. Visually and atmospherically, previewers say Beast Reincarnation emits a lot of light. NieR: Automata vibes, wrapped in a fascinating dream setting that carries energy Princess Mononoke an aesthetic mixed with thematic influences taken directly from it Blade Runner.
Having been in continuous development for about five to six years, it represents a huge creative shift for Game Freak, proving that they can create a mature and beautiful world that looks far from the cozy lanes of Paldea or Kanto. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long to experience this big change for ourselves. Beast of Reincarnation officially launches on August 4th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
