Possessor(s) Reviews
A stylish metroidvania with crunchy combat and a delightfully melancholy mood, but some will find it too safe and frictionless.
All in all, there’s some entertainment in the story, dialogue, and possessed objects that attack you. The bosses are nicely designed, and the world-building is pretty great – but it all wears thin too quickly when it’s such a slog to play.
The most disappointing aspect of Possessors is that it plays it quite safe compared to Heart Machine’s past titles, Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash. Little about its formula will surprise Metroidvania enthusiasts; still, the studio has nonetheless notched another entertaining single-player action game under its belt, proving its action and world-building chops transcend genre.
Heart Machine's latest game, Possessor(s), is a remarkable 2D indie.
Ignoring its current serious problems, Possessor(s) is a merely adequate Metroidvania that doesn't excel in anything except its art direction. At very specific moments, one can glimpse the grandeur of the Heart Machine that gave us Hyper Light Drifter… but it's such a fleeting vision that it feels like a hallucination.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Possessor(s) aims to combine action platforming and Metroidvania in a devastated urban world, offering great mobility and a combat system without contact damage, making battles more fair and dynamic. The original visual atmosphere, good writing by the Luca–Rhem duo, and creative level design are somewhat overshadowed by some graphical oversights and a control system that is not always precise. The lack of a grace period when taking damage can be very punishing when there are multiple enemies on screen. A solid game, but with imperfections that limit its impact in one of the most competitive markets.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Heart Machine's Possessor(s) is an attractive 2D metroidvania, with odd design choices.
Possessor(s) is a beautiful Metroidvania with an open structure that encourages exploration and lets you progress at your own pace. While its platforming and combat are both solid, they lack the distinctive flair needed to match the game’s stunning art direction. The narrative is deep and layered, but its delivery sometimes undermines immersion. Despite being a strong and engaging adventure, it doesn’t always capture the magic its visuals promise.
Possessor(s) brings a lot of success to the table: lots of boss fights, chunky and engaging combat, and a robust world to explore. Combine that with a strong narrative, and you have a recipe for success. The whip needs some optimization, and progressing the story can easily stagnate once the map opens up. Possessor(s) may not be able to contend with the titans of the genre, but it doesn't need to. It still provides a good experience for anyone interested in Metroidvanias.
Possessor(s) is perfectly fine while it's happening, but its rote exploration and weak enemy variety mean it'll be hard to remember once it's over.
Possessor(s) is hauntingly beautiful. It’s a stunning world that begs to be delved into with curiosity. Luca and Rhem’s dynamic is an absolute standout, with an excellent balance of snark and heart between the two. It’s almost to the game’s detriment, as every other NPC (besides the antagonist and one of the eye holders) falls flat in comparison. Movement feels great, as does combat, for the most part. Some unfair enemy design and stun issues drag the experience down, alongside moments where progression stalls, especially if you miss the unclear whip skill interaction. Despite this, though, Possessor(s) still manages to shine with genuine merit and contains a beautiful story well worth seeing through to the end.
Initially full of potential, Heart Machine's latest eventually runs out of gas when it's not stumbling off some awkward combat issues.
With a map that pleads to be unlocked and explored wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, as well as tremendous combat inspired by the best platform fighters, Possessor(s) is a heartfelt, and most unexpectedly great, Metroidvania that treats story and action, two distinct and unique facets of game design, as equals in this lovely story of coexisting
Possessor(s) is many things: stylized, satisfying, occasionally frustrating, and short but sweet despite its large map. It's a familiar yet solid gameplay loop with few frills, save for shirtless demon protagonists and neon stylizations.
Possessor(s) combines a compelling narrative, solid understanding of Metroid-like design and genuinely fun combat for an experience that is intensely captivating.
Beautiful yet flawed, Possessor(s) misses the mark with its blend of Metroidvania exploration and brawler combat, resulting in an unfortunately frustrating fusion.
While Possessor(s) doesn’t fully break from a crowded field of search-action games, its compelling characters and pointed commentary give it some personality of its own. If you’re eager to explore man-made horrors, this flaming wreck of a company town will provide.
Possessor(s) has attractive visuals and a well-presented story, but is hampered by its Metroidvania structure, which doesn't offer enough rewarding exploration to justify itself. The uninteresting exploration and the fast-paced but unvaried combat prevent the game from standing out in the crowded action-platformer genre, making it recommendable only to those who appreciate the aesthetics and theme of a race of demons.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A Metroidvania set in a mega-city ruined by demons, Possessor(s) unfortunately fails to fulfil its potential due to clunky combat and general lack of polish.
Possessor(s) is one of the most unconventional Metroidvanias that I've played thanks to its visceral dystopian world and focus on equipment-based combat that rewards experimentation, practice, and patience much more than brute force. Now, that's clever and quite cool indeed. 🩸