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Unknown 9: Awakening (PS5) Review
Developer: Reflector Entertainment
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Genre: Action-Adventure / Stealth
Release: 2024
Unknown 9: Awakening is an ambitious new IP that combines third-person action, stealth, supernatural abilities and globe-spanning adventure. Set within the larger Unknown 9 universe, the game follows Haroona, a mysterious young woman capable of accessing the Fold, a hidden dimension connected to our own.
The game has some genuinely interesting ideas, particularly its Stepping mechanic, which allows Haroona to temporarily take control of enemies and use them against each other. Unfortunately, Unknown 9: Awakening doesn't always execute those ideas as well as it could. The result is an enjoyable but uneven action-adventure that feels like a promising first chapter rather than a fully realised blockbuster.
Gameplay & Mechanics
The central gameplay revolves around Haroona's supernatural connection to the Fold.
Combat combines conventional melee attacks with supernatural abilities. Haroona can dodge, parry and attack enemies directly, but her Fold abilities give encounters a much more interesting dimension.
The standout mechanic is Stepping. Haroona can leap into an enemy and temporarily control them, allowing her to attack other enemies from within their ranks. This can create some satisfying chain reactions, particularly when several enemies are positioned close together.
You can use one enemy to attack another, exploit environmental opportunities and then return control to Haroona. It gives encounters a strategic quality that separates the game from more conventional third-person action games.
Unfortunately, the mechanic isn't used as extensively as it could have been. The game occasionally feels like a conventional action title with an excellent supernatural system layered on top rather than a game completely designed around that concept.
Strengths
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Stepping is an original and entertaining mechanic.
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Good combination of combat and supernatural abilities.
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Stealth provides an alternative to direct confrontation.
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Abilities become increasingly versatile as the game progresses.
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Different approaches can be used during encounters.
Weaknesses
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Combat can feel stiff.
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Some animations lack polish.
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Enemy AI is inconsistent.
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Stealth can become predictable.
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The best mechanics aren't always fully exploited.
Exploration & World Design
One of the most appealing aspects of Unknown 9: Awakening is its global setting.
Haroona travels through locations inspired by different parts of the world, including India, Mauritania and other distinctive environments. This gives the adventure a welcome sense of scale and helps distinguish it from the increasingly common fantasy and science-fiction settings found in action games.
The levels are predominantly linear rather than open-world. This isn't necessarily a problem, as the focused design allows the game to maintain a steady narrative pace.
There are collectibles and optional areas to discover, but exploration isn't particularly deep. The environments are more about moving between story sequences, combat encounters and stealth sections than providing a huge amount of player freedom.
The locations themselves are often visually impressive, however, and provide some of the game's best moments.
Story & Themes
The story follows Haroona, a woman who possesses the ability to interact with the mysterious Fold.
The Unknown 9 are presented as mysterious beings who have influenced humanity throughout history. Different factions seek to understand or exploit their knowledge and power, placing Haroona in the middle of a much larger conflict.
The game's narrative benefits from its unusual mythology and global perspective. It feels different from the standard fantasy and science-fiction stories found in many modern action games.
The problem is that Unknown 9 spends a considerable amount of time introducing its mythology and terminology. There is a lot of lore surrounding the universe, and the game sometimes prioritises explaining its world over developing its characters.
Haroona herself is nevertheless a likeable protagonist, and her journey provides enough motivation to keep the story moving.
Mission Design & Progression
The campaign follows a straightforward structure of exploration, stealth, combat and cinematic sequences.
The progression system allows Haroona to unlock and upgrade abilities, giving players reasons to experiment with different powers.
Stealth encounters can be particularly enjoyable when the game gives you enough room to manipulate enemies using Stepping. Taking control of one opponent and using them to eliminate others can make otherwise ordinary encounters considerably more entertaining.
Unfortunately, mission design doesn't evolve dramatically throughout the campaign. Once you've experienced the main gameplay loop, much of the remainder of the game builds upon the same formula.
Boss encounters are also somewhat inconsistent and don't always take full advantage of Haroona's unique abilities.
Final Verdict
Unknown 9: Awakening is an interesting example of an AA action-adventure that tries something different. Its biggest achievement is the Stepping mechanic, which provides a genuinely entertaining way to manipulate enemies and creates some memorable combat encounters. The global setting, supernatural mythology and likeable protagonist also give the game an identity of its own.
Unfortunately, the execution doesn't consistently match the ambition. Combat can feel awkward, enemy encounters become repetitive, and the technical presentation occasionally reminds you that this isn't a major AAA production. The extensive lore can also make the narrative feel more complicated than necessary.
Still, there is something worthwhile underneath the rough edges. Unknown 9: Awakening is entertaining, relatively focused and introduces a world with considerable potential. It feels less like the definitive beginning of a major franchise and more like a promising first attempt that could have benefited from another layer of refinement.
Score: 7/10
