The games market is tough right now. Developers and companies are making redundancies, and entire teams are being cut. Launching a new IP is a risky endeavour, especially with the soaring costs of triple-A game development.
Yes, established franchises like Astrobot, Like a Dragon, and remakes like Silent Hill continue to perform well, but introducing something entirely new is a gamble.
Unknown 9: Awakening is one such gamble. Let’s see if the odds are in its favour.
I attended a presentation for this game earlier in the year, impressed by the team’s ambition. They envisioned a vast franchise spanning comics, novels, and other media, with Unknown 9: Awakening serving as the foundation. Initially slated for a summer release, the game was delayed. Now that it’s finally arrived, while there are some positive aspects, it feels somewhat underwhelming and reminiscent of games from a bygone era.
Set in an alternate history of the early 20th century, you play as Haroona, a Quaestor capable of venturing into a mysterious realm called The Fold, which overlaps with our own. An organisation known as The Ascendants seeks to eradicate Quaestors like Haroona. Your journey involves thwarting their plans, understanding your powers, and uncovering the origins of this conflict.
The narrative starts slowly, struggling to introduce its core concepts effectively. It improves as the game progresses, becoming more intriguing, but initially, it feels confusing. But that’s not to say that the supporting characters, such as your mentor, gunslinging allies, and the formidable antagonist, are not well-written, for they add depth to the story.
Gameplay comprises exploration, climbing, platforming, and extensive combat with special abilities. Let’s start with the combat, as it’s a significant component of the experience. You’ll face numerous enemies in various arenas, often in quick succession, requiring proficiency to progress. You can identify and track enemies using one of your skills, allowing for stealthy approaches to eliminate them discreetly. Invisibility and environmental hazards like exploding lamps or generators offer additional tactical options.
However, direct confrontation is sometimes unavoidable. You have light and heavy attacks, a shield, and a dodge at your disposal, as enemies utilise both melee and ranged attacks, keeping you on your toes. As you progress, you unlock special abilities like a force push and a ground slam.
The most unique and enjoyable mechanic though is ‘Stepping’, the ability to possess enemies for a short time. For example, possessing a soldier allows you to use their rifle against other foes. The problem is, while the combat system is functional and initially engaging, it becomes repetitive and stale after repeated encounters. Games like Uncharted and The Last of Us feature similar combat loops, but their encounters feel consistently fresh and exciting.
The same can be said for the platforming and exploration, which offer some interesting mechanics but lack originality.
But I’ve also found that Unknown 9: Awakening is inconsistent visually. There are moments of visual splendour, with expansive vistas and impressive environmental effects, but these are interspersed with bland textures and repetitive enemy designs. At times, it looks like an Xbox 360 game, while at others, it showcases the Series X’s capabilities. That’s not helped by the fact that character models are nothing more than adequate; far from remarkable.
The sound design, however, is excellent, with a robust score and strong performances from the main cast.
I had high hopes for Unknown 9: Awakening. I was eager for a new IP that could rival established franchises. Unfortunately, it falls short of that ambition. The story’s initial confusion and the overall journey’s lack of excitement hindered my early engagement and whilst I appreciated the combat mechanics, their repetitive nature diminished the appeal over time.
While there are elements to like in Unknown 9: Awakening, it doesn’t feel particularly innovative, except for the enemy possession mechanic. However, just as the first Assassin’s Creed didn’t immediately redefine its genre, perhaps this is just the beginning for the Unknown 9 franchise.
Unknown 9: Awakening debuts a gameplay trailer – https://www.thexboxhub.com/unknown-9-awakening-debuts-a-gameplay-trailer/
Unknown 9: Awakening – A World of Hidden Knowledge Awaits – https://www.thexboxhub.com/unknown-9-awakening-a-world-of-hidden-knowledge-awaits/
Buy Unknown 9: Awakening on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/unknown-9-awakening/9P486ZCVT126