Bandai Namco is in a period of boom, as it does not stop publishing success after success in the world of video games, and we have seen this recently with the DLC of Elden Ring and last year with Armored Core VIAnd although this could leave them alone for a while, they have decided not to rest and continue releasing new products wholesale.
One of the games that are about to arrive is none other than Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, the latest release in the much-loved saga of Budokai Tenkaichi. In fact, not long ago we had an invitation to try it out, and you can read our first impressions right here, where we have a text and a previous video.
However, that’s not all we saw in the Bandai Namco Latam Showcasesince we were able to play for a few minutes Little Nightmares III and Unknown 9: Awakeningwhich are highly anticipated within the industry. So in this new text we will let you know what we think and if it will be worth waiting for the full release of each one.
With all this information in mind, let’s start analyzing that first look at gameplay.
The nightmares return for the third time
The first thing we will review is Little Nightmares IIIa game that, to tell the truth, is a miracle that it exists, since the development team of the first two, Tarsier Studiosis no longer in charge of development, leaving that role to Supermassive Games. Upon learning this information, I feared the worst for the future of the saga.
Despite all of the above, I must tell you not to fear, as it is clear that the essence of this new adventure remains very faithful to what was seen in 2017 and 2021. That is, we find controlled scenarios that we must complete with one of the available characters, using parts of the environment to our advantage to solve puzzles.
The novelty this time is the possibility of completing the game with a friend, becoming the first multiplayer release of the franchise. The protagonists are Low and Alone, whose names are in keeping with the game’s universe, maintaining coherence with the lore.
The best thing is that these characters aren’t just avatars without personality, as each one has unique skills to support each other, from the use of a bow and arrow to a key that can break locks. There are also interactions to reach high places and other details designed for cooperative play.
Another interesting detail is that Bandai Namco is encouraging the title to be played as it was intended, with two users owning the game. This will be encouraged with the friend passwhich you can give to a friend to accompany you on the adventure, whether on console or computer.
My time playing the game was short, but I can say that it feels very similar to its predecessors in terms of movement, using the same buttons to jump, crouch and climb, with no significant changes. I found the new puzzles I had to solve satisfying.
The demo I tried on PC It performed well in terms of performance, so for now we can give the benefit of the doubt to those in charge of development. We don’t have a definite release date yet, but it is known that it will arrive sometime in 2025 for all consoles on the market, including next-gen ones; for now, it has my approval.
As for the artistic part, that sombre style with influences of Tim Burtonand the character design remains faithful to the principles of the series. It will be interesting to see how it competes with the rival game, Reanimals.
The ancestral powers of the sorceress
The next game I tried was Unknown 9: Awakeningwhich, in its first videos, was shown as a narrative-focused launch, a project that aims to be similar to other big titles in the industry. As the months have passed, we have learned more about its ambitions, including the team in charge, Reflector Entertainment.
In this game, we take the lead role of Haroonaa sorceress who apparently has Indian ancestry and belongs to a clan known as Quasterora. This makes her someone capable of manipulating different types of magic, which will lead her on a journey full of enemies and allies to discover.
I had less than an hour to play, and the first few minutes covered two levels. The first was a sort of market in the Middle East, where I controlled the protagonist. The gameplay mechanics are quickly understood, although it sadly feels like many other market releases.
At this stage of the market, I remembered scenes from Uncharted 3running through alleys and climbing vines and other ledges, in a parkour style. The original thing is the spells and a dash to dodge, since there are no firearms here, only the power of magic.
Among the available skills is attracting enemies like a magnet and possessing them, which allows us to slightly freeze time to turn their allies against them. There is also hand-to-hand combat, which I didn’t find very polished, as it is easy to miss when landing blows.
The second level, set in a jungle, suggests that we can be stealthy. If we get behind enemies, we can take them out. However, we have to crouch walk to do so. If we are spotted, we will have to defeat them with our powers, something reminiscent of games like The Last of Us either Assassin’s Creed.
As I mentioned before, the movement is simple to understand in Unknown 9: Awakeningbut I’m worried that it doesn’t feel like it has its own identity. I think it can go unnoticed right now. I don’t deny that the story sounds interesting, but the gameplay I was not impressed.
Performance was also a concern, as the frame rates weren’t stable, and I played it on a computer that I imagine was state-of-the-art. I feel like they should take more time before releasing it, because if the final product is anything like what I tried in the demo, things won’t turn out well.
The game is scheduled to be released on October 18, 2024 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Two experiences that will have to be played in more depth
These are my views regarding Little Nightmares 3 and Unknown 9: AwakeningAs I mentioned in their respective sections, I didn’t have the chance to try them out for many hours. If I do more precise calculations, I could say that I played exactly 60 minutes of each one, which doesn’t allow me to form a completely solid opinion.
The first one, Little Nightmares IIIleft a good taste in my mouth, as it feels very faithful to its predecessors. Both the character physics and the gloomy atmosphere that has always characterized the series are still present. The experience is enhanced by the new skills to discover and the focus on cooperative mode.
On the other hand, Unknown 9: Awakening I wasn’t really surprised. It feels like another attempt at an action-adventure game, where of course, there are the typical sections of the genre. Although the title has some powers that try to give it its own identity, I found it rather simple. I feel like I’ve already played something similar, despite not having played it for a long time.
Of course, I am aware that I may be being too hasty in judging both games. So, despite all the drawbacks, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. We will see at their respective releases if they really have something good to offer. There is still some time for that, so we have to wait. At least, Little Nightmares III has my hopes on the table.
Thanks to Bandai Namco for inviting us to such an interesting Showcase.
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