Pokémon is one of the most successful franchises in the entire history of video games. The Japanese studio Game Freak is responsible for developing the main games, which have stood the test of time over three decades, encompassing very different gameplay styles. The studio is currently going through one of the most revolutionary periods since its foundation, seeking to take the franchise into much more ambitious territory. However, they have not been immune to criticism regarding the graphical quality and technical performance of their games – something that will come under close scrutiny with the release of Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

Nevertheless, Game Freak does not want to be pigeonholed within the Pokémon series, so they want to prove that they are capable of creating something different from the adventures of the pocket monsters. In the past, they have released smaller titles that have not had the same impact, as the demands of the Pokémon franchise are immense and the pace of annual releases was holding back their progress. Now that Pokémon releases are more spread out, the Japanese developers have embarked on the most ambitious project in their history: Beast of Reincarnation, a game whose graphics differ significantly from those of Pokémon and which has captured the public’s attention thanks to its stunning visuals.

Beast of Reincarnation draws directly on Japanese action RPGs: the protagonist teams up with a wolf to defeat some very unusual enemies in a real-time combat system that is also very different from anything Game Freak has done to date. It’s a game aiming to make its mark this summer, a period with few releases, and to get ahead of the tidal wave caused by the arrival of GTA VI on the calendar.

An RPG that pays homage to Japanese folklore and surprises with its visuals

Beast of Reincarnation isn’t a game designed to please those who merely expect to see the evolution of a familiar formula. It is, above all, a statement of intent. By turning its attention away from tactical, turn-based combat, the team has plunged into the waters of highly complex Japanese action RPGs, a genre where technical precision and fluid movement are fundamental pillars. The core of the concept is fascinating: the symbiotic relationship between the protagonist and his wolf companion.

Far from being a mere passive companion, the wolf acts as an extension of the player’s attacking and navigational abilities. The sense of control is radically different from the rigidity that sometimes weighs down Pokémon battles. Here, the real-time combat system demands quick reflexes and spatial awareness of the environment. You must dodge, block and synchronise attacks with your animal ally’s movements to break through the defences of enemies that finally feel like a real threat, rather than just an aesthetic obstacle on the map.

If one thing has caught the eye since the first trailer was released, it is the quantum leap in its visuals. Game Freak seems to have realised that artistic style should not be an excuse for a lack of technical fidelity. Beast of Reincarnation boasts a level of polish that is a far cry from the childish or, at times, erratic aesthetic seen in Scarlet and Violet. The game opts for a more mature artistic direction, with a palette of earthy colours and dynamic lighting that imbues the environments with an immersive atmosphere befitting a AAA title of this generation. The fluidity with which the protagonist interacts with the grass, the shadows cast by the wolf in the setting sun, and the absence of constant pop-in suggest that the studio has, at last, invested in a graphics engine capable of doing justice to its ambition. Visually, it’s a statement: Game Freak knows how to make beautiful games when it sets its mind to it and when the pace of production isn’t stifling it.

An opportunity for Game Freak to broaden its horizons beyond Pokémon

The date chosen for its debut is no coincidence. Launching a title of this kind in the height of summer – a time traditionally marked by fewer major releases – is a clever move. The market is exhausted following the tidal wave caused by the arrival of GTA VI and other giants on the release calendar, and Beast of Reincarnation arrives as a breath of fresh air for those seeking a role-playing adventure focused on a more contained, yet intensely polished, experience.

The game has what it takes to become one of the surprises of the year. It doesn’t attempt to compete on scale with the gigantic open worlds that dominate the market, but instead focuses on delivering a high-quality action experience, with a progression system that promises to reward those who immerse themselves in the story of this strange reincarnation and its connection to the beast. If Beast of Reincarnation manages to captivate the audience and prove that Game Freak can produce an action RPG with cutting-edge technical standards, the pressure on Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves will shift. There will be no more excuses. The community will know that, when the studio breaks free from the shackles of its annual release cycle, it can deliver titles that not only meet expectations but exceed them.