Possessor(s)

A stylish metroidvania with crunchy combat and a delightfully melancholy mood, but some will find it too safe and frictionless.

Initially full of potential, Heart Machine's latest eventually runs out of gas when it's not stumbling off some awkward combat issues.

Possessor(s) isn’t short on heart and style, but sometimes the gameplay doesn’t seem as innovative and tight as the concept. I desperately wanted to find out what would happen to Luca and Rhem, and seeing what happened to the demons and the world as a result of corporate greed.

Possessor(s) is a visually striking journey supported by agile combat, yet it lacks the boldness that could have made it truly memorable. The relationship between Luca and Rhem adds emotional weight to the story, and the battle system provides exciting moments, but the metroidvania structure feels too basic. In the end, the game manages to engage and hold our interest, but it settles for playing it safe, delivering a competent experience, though far from the potential its premise promised.

This experience is far from perfect, something embodied by its initial tendency to lead you into dead ends. Thankfully, these roadblocks eventually gave way to some real progress, both in terms of traversal and storytelling, as the silky smooth movement alleviated some of these long, dull hikes. 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) is like any solid pact with a demon—a good time, but with its own drawbacks.

Possessor(s) boasts stunning visuals and a solid story, but its exploration—a core pillar of the Metroidvania genre—is severely undermined by critical flaws and frequent bugs. Ultimately, it's a game of 'all style over substance,' recommended for its characters and narrative rather than the joy of exploration.

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.

Beautiful yet flawed, Possessor(s) misses the mark with its blend of Metroidvania exploration and brawler combat, resulting in an unfortunately frustrating fusion.

This feels like a sadly squandered opportunity that was rushed to release. Whether it's the ambiguous map, frustrating stunlock instakills, vague poise system, or the inexplicably awkward jump animation over water, it's outright hard to recommend Possessor(s) over a growing backlog of this year's better metroidvanias.