Possessor(s) is a fast-paced action game that gets off to a slow start

I remember being blown away by the 2024 trailer for Owner(s)The new game from Hyperlite Drifter Heart machine developer. The trailer features stunning art design, as you explore an animated 2D character and fight in side-scrolling environments with gorgeous 3D backgrounds, all set to powerful, moody music. The final game, released this month, wasn’t quite as stunning as it looked in that initial trailer, and I almost put it down — but I’m really glad I saw it through to the end.

in Owner(s)You will play the role of Luka, a girl possessed by Rihm, a demon from another world. After the disaster strikes, Rehm saves Luka’s life by creating legs for her – but since then, Luka has been acting as Rehm’s host, meaning they can talk to each other all the time and occasionally see each other’s memories. The two have a controversial relationship. They are quarreling constantlyWhich made it difficult for me to care for her sometimes. But over the course of the game, their relationship develops as they come to understand more about each other and the worlds they come from.

Description of the heart machine Owner(s) As a “fast-paced action side scroller”, but that is Metroid– Or CastlevaniaGame style through and through. You’ll explore an interconnected world with distinct areas, spending a lot of time looking at the map to try to find the next path to explore, and collecting useful traversal upgrades like wall running to help you reach new areas. Very early on, you’ll pick up a whip, which serves double duty as a scouting tool for crossing large chasms and a main weapon in battle.

Battles are inspired by platform fighters such as Super Smash Bros.Which means it’s fast-paced and crunchy, and you’ll be facing off against enemies with weapons inspired by ordinary objects you might have around your house. My usual strategy consists of whaling enemies up close with a large baseball bat, shocking them with an electric shock from a cell phone to make room, and throwing demonic silverware across rooms to hit distant targets. Parrying is an essential part of battles as well.

Early, however, Owner(s) He was very harsh. Regular enemies hit hard, and if you lose concentration for even a second or fall into an unlucky combo, you may die without having any time to react. Death brings you back Owner(s) Equivalent Dark souls Flames, but journeys back to the place where they died can be long, arduous and full of dangers. (The game also uses a Souls– Like the bottle system, where you can replace bottles with painkillers to restore your health.)

Normally, I like this kind of challenge, but something Owner(s)The level and enemy design often made the early game seem more frustrating than fun to me. I got too very I got lost after the first few hours, exploring more of the map than I needed to because I couldn’t figure out how to get past some mysterious walls with glowing cracks. I’ve considered quitting the game for good.

However, after I finally learned how to open those walls (use the whip!), got some health upgrades and painkillers, and saw more nuance in Luca and Rhem’s relationship, I started to enjoy the game a lot more. I have finally settled in satisfactorily Metroid Loop to explore a new area, find a new upgrade, use that to get to the next boss, get the next MacGuffin, and then do it again in the next area.

Owner(s) You didn’t own me the way I expected. Based on my initial impressions, the game seemed cooked in a lab to suit my specific tastes. I just need some patience. The game culminated in a final level that really put my skills to the test and an amazing battle arena for the final boss. As I watched the credits, I realized that all of this had finally sparked some of those feelings I had when I watched the first trailer for the game.

^{Owner(s) Available now on PC and PS5.}