Unknown 9: Awakening Reviews
Unknown 9: Awakening is an ambitious yet flawed experience, blending good ideas with execution issues. While not the best action game, it serves as an intriguing introduction to its transmedia universe.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Apart from some interesting choices in the approach to combat and its gradual development, Unknown 9: Awakening fails to rise to the occasion
Review in Greek | Read full review
The opening video game chapter of the Unknown 9 universe is not great. The combat is disappointing, the animations undercooked, and the performance takes a nosedive throughout the second half of the game. Some stunning vistas, but hardly enough to warrant a recommendation.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening left me with a mixed feeling, but I ultimately had a good time. I love the lore and world that is being built through this game and all the other forms of media around it, and the voice acting is superb against the mediocre story. The powers you have really shake up combat a lot, and it is so much fun when chaining everything together, but the janky camera and small issues all build up and create an obnoxious when not using the abilities you have. And while it is technically playable on Steam Deck, it does require compromises and will have drops. But, if you are looking for a linear adventure with PS3/Xbox 360 vibes, you are in the right place and will have a great time here.
Overty ambitious, but marred by glitches and lack of polish, this game borrows many elements from famous games in history with some new ideas. The setting is great, but the scope seems too big for a debut title. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen from this new universe.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening is not inherently bad, but it's not really good, either. The fun seems to be caught in the rift between worlds.
Review in German | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening tries to operate like a AAA game but lacks the high-budget resources. Reflector Entertainment's debut is a disaster in every aspect: the narrative is weak despite an intriguing universe; the gameplay, apart from enjoyable stealth phases, is clunky and boring; the technical component is a mess.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening feels like it wants to be greater than it is, which is a big shame given how much effort was seemingly put into it.
Unknown 9: Awakening is a decent game that is mostly playable because of its interesting approach to combat. But apart from combat, there is no other quality that helps the game stand out. The graphics are only good for a few levels, but continue to be an average game from there. With the selection of games offered this year, you are better off avoiding this one for now.
There’s a lot to like about Unknown 9: Awakening and I’m glad I played it. The story and characters are among the best of the year, and the skills Haroona possesses and stealth gameplay has it’s moments. Ultimately though the game is held back by its weightless combat and outdated graphics. If Bandai ever gives the franchise another chance there truly is enough here to build upon, but I fear this might be a one and done situation. That said, if you are looking for a game with a great story to connect with like I do, you can absolutely find that in Unknown 9. If you are someone who puts gameplay above all else though, you will likely want to look elsewhere.
Unknown 9: Awakening is a title that came too late to the market. While it’s true that the narrative aspect works, it’s also evident that, gameplay-wise, it’s a title that is barely adequate and often "unbearable," especially in today’s context. Accepting its outdated structure, marked by a fundamental repetitiveness, it’s hard to recommend a product with such a low level of polish, both technically and in gameplay mechanics.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It is a game that covers but does not squeeze and it shows. He wants to be like his older brothers but he is still a kid. With a little more preparation it would have been an incredible title but its problems hinder it among the most critical. I definitely gave it a chance.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you're a fan of narrative adventures and are willing to forgive a few technical flaws, Unknown 9: Awakening still offers an interesting journey. However, for me, the game will be remembered more for its promises than its fulfillment.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening is a story-driven title that try's to be the next big cinematic gaming experience but fails due to poor gameplay mechanics, lackluster graphical presentation, and missing core game factors.
Unknown 9: Awakening is a game full of lost potential, with a unique and promising story that’s poorly executed, leading to a disconnect with the world and characters, clunky controls, repetitive animations, lackluster combat, underwhelming enemy AI, and limited exploration, making it hard to recommend in its current state.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening is a game that brings an interesting narrative in a rich, mysterious and promising multimedia universe, but it suffers from technical issues that impact the overall experience. The story is engaging and manage to captivate a little, providing interesting and even fun moments throughout the adventure. However, the game is hampered by its inconsistent performance, outdated graphics and clumsy gameplay, characteristics that clash with expectations for a title released on the current generation of consoles. Not that I was asking for something flawless, but it was clear that the overall quality of the title was greatly damaged in the end, given what was presented throughout 2024 after years of development without any public update on the project.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Overall, the biggest problem with Unknown 9: Awakening is that it tries to be bigger than its technical limitations—and budget—allow. While it genuinely tries to tell a good story, several small missteps end up getting in the way. The universe is solid, but it may be hindered by a mediocre game filled with performance issues.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Unknown 9: Awakening is an ambitious debut title from Reflector Entertainment that is brimming with charm. It has a world worth exploring but fails to capitalise on that with a plot that leaves a lot to be desired.
Unknown 9: Awakening is the perfect example of having great ideas, interesting lore, and well-written characters that are randomly thrown to the wall to see if they stick together. The plethora of technical issues is so large that by the time the game gets going, one's investment is long gone.
Unknown 9: Awakening is a single-player adventure with enormous potential, mixing exhilarating gameplay and a mysterious universe. The game provides very memorable moments, but the average graphics and poor performance prevent it from being one of the most entertaining experiences of the year.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review