Short Cut: Beast of Reincarnation

Playing games as a Game Pass member isn’t about value for money, it is about value for time. That is why we’re stepping down from the traditional review model to let you know about a game in around 400 words.

Summary

Beast of Reincarnation wraps a gorgeous Studio Ghibli-esque world around a dynamic combat system, complete with a helpful canine companion and fun traversal mechanics. However, its charm quickly fades under the weight of a severe identity crisis, clunky UI, and a claustrophobic camera that ruins combat precision. Unless you are willing to look past heavy technical polish issues for the sake of its art style, your time is better spent elsewhere.

Facts

• ⏱️ Playtime: 20–25 hours (Main Story) | 35+ hours (Completionist)
• 💾 File Size: 36.7 GB (on Xbox Series X)
• 📱 Cloud Ready: Yes
• 🏆 Achievements: 35-40 hours to unlock all 38 achievements (moderate to high difficulty)
• 👥 Multiplayer: None
• ⏱️ Time-to-Action: Quick to jump into, but early frustration sets in fast.

👍 The Pros

• Great atmosphere: Exploring the world genuinely feels like stepping inside a Studio Ghibli film. Keep the voiceovers set to Japanese with English subtitles for the most authentic experience.
• Dynamic combat: The action is fast-paced, featuring clever skills and seamless combat integration with your loyal dog companion, Koo.
• Fun traversal: Using Emma’s hair to hook and reach hidden platforms adds an enjoyable layer of lightweight exploration to the world.

👎 The Cons

• Identity crisis: The game lacks a distinct core identity. Almost every mechanic it attempts has been executed significantly better by other titles in the genre.
• Wayward camera: While combat has potential, the camera sits far too close to the character. In a game heavily reliant on precise parrying, off-screen attacks and visual chaos make boss fights frustrating for all the wrong reasons (even after recent stability patch).
• Unpolished execution: Disorienting zone layouts, an unhelpful UI, and vague companion prompts ("Koo found something") leave you searching in circles. After a few hours of fighting the systems rather than the enemies, I had to walk away.

⏱️ Worth Your Time?

• Worth your time if: You are willing to forgive noticeable design flaws purely to soak in a beautiful, anime-inspired aesthetic.
• Not worth your time if: You have zero tolerance for fight-ruining camera angles, blurry visuals, or unpolished game loops. I couldn't look past them, and dropped it after a few hours.