PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
The first game from Canadian developers Reflector Entertainment, Unknown 9 takes us back to an alternate version of the early 20th Century India where a young woman named Haroona has discovered that mystical powers have been bestowed upon her. These powers allow Haroona to enter another dimension, known as the Fold, where she can perform all kinds of magical tricks. Unknown 9 follows Haroona’s quest to learn more about her powers, but she soon finds herself becoming the target of a secret society who wants to use the Fold to alter the course of history…
Haroona’s supernatural abilities allow her to push and pull enemies, stun foes with projectiles and make herself invisible. Her biggest skill, though, is her ability to “step” into enemies, taking over their body and consciousness to control their movements. A few skill trees allow you to upgrade pretty much all of these abilities to make them last longer or generally increase their effectiveness, eventually allowing you to step into chains of enemies and set up satisfying sneak attacks without being seen. There are lots of fun mechanics to play with, but the hand-to-hand combat – which you’ll need to use fairly often – doesn’t quite measure up, with a lock-on system that doesn’t really lock onto anything at all and melee attacks that feel weak and underwhelming.
Elsewhere, other elements also fall slightly flat – the storyline and setting aren’t especially novel or intriguing, and the game would benefit from some more well-rounded characters and livelier voice acting. Reminiscent of a mid-priced AA game from the late 2000s, Unknown 9‘s 10-hour linear adventure shows a lot of promise but its execution perhaps isn’t quite as accomplished as other titles in the genre. Something to pick up if you’ve got a bit of spare time and don’t want to get too invested in anything that’ll take over your life.
