Unknown 9: Awakening

The overall sentiment toward Unknown 9: Awakening is mixed, with several critics highlighting its narrative strengths. TheXboxHub notes that while the story starts slowly and feels confusing initially, it improves as it progresses, praising the well-written supporting characters for adding depth. Checkpoint Gaming commends the plot and cast for their charm and likability, emphasizing the period setting reminiscent of pulpy adventure tales, while Digital Trends applauds the rich cultural depth and character development centered on Haroona, a South Asian heroine on a revenge quest. Push Square and XGN also appreciate the immersive universe, with Push Square specifically praising the "well-written" story and "excellent" voice acting by Anya Chalotra, and XGN highlighting the central conflict against The Ascendants and the grand scale of the narrative. These reviews suggest that the game’s story has potential, particularly in its world-building and thematic elements, which resonate with fans of adventure and transmedia storytelling. However, numerous critics express significant dissatisfaction with the narrative’s execution. Atomix and Eurogamer Germany both describe the story as "boring," "flat," and "shallow," criticizing its reliance on clichés and lack of emotional engagement. Gameliner and Games.cz point to a disconnect between players and characters, with the latter noting "irrelevant dialogue" and "inconsistent world-building." GamingBolt and Noisy Pixel criticize the rushed pacing and insufficient character development, while Metro GameCentral and TrueGaming highlight confusing terminology and chaotic storytelling that alienate newcomers. Additionally, GameMAG and Gaming Age argue that the game falls into familiar tropes, and Oyungezer finds the narrative underwhelming with "cartoonish" character designs. These critiques collectively underscore a struggle to balance ambition with clarity, leaving many reviewers feeling the story fails to fully capitalize on its promising premise. The overall consensus reflects a divided reception, with praise for the game’s lore, cultural elements, and potential for future expansions clashing against criticism of its narrative coherence and depth. While some reviewers, like TheXboxHub and Push Square, acknowledge the story’s gradual improvement and engaging factions, others, such as Atomix and Eurogamer Germany, find it unoriginal and tedious. The game’s reliance on a transmedia universe and complex terminology appears to be a double-edged sword, offering richness for dedicated fans but confusing newcomers. Despite its flaws, Unknown 9: Awakening is seen as a story with ambition and charm, though its execution leaves much to be desired. The mixed feedback suggests that while it has moments of brilliance, the narrative’s inconsistencies and pacing issues prevent it from achieving a universally satisfying experience.

The gameplay of Unknown 9: Awakening receives mixed praise, with several critics highlighting its creative mechanics and engaging elements. TheXboxHub notes the inclusion of exploration, climbing, platforming, and combat with special abilities, while Digital Trends emphasizes the fun and intuitive combat system that encourages player strategy through Haroona’s unique powers. Checkpoint Gaming and Metro GameCentral commend the Step ability, which allows control of enemies, and the stealth brawler approach, respectively, calling them distinctive and enjoyable. XGN appreciates the third-person perspective and the variety of Fold powers, suggesting that the game’s magical abilities and combat options offer flexibility, even if they occasionally lead to mistakes. These positives indicate that the game’s core systems have potential, particularly in their innovative use of stealth and ability-based interactions, which some reviewers find refreshing compared to more formulaic titles. However, the negatives dominate the critique, with repeated complaints about repetition, poor execution, and lack of depth. Atomix and Gameliner criticize the gameplay as monotonous and overly complex, citing confusing controls and unengaging combat. Eurogamer Germany and Games.cz describe the melee combat as clunky, while Digital Chumps and IGN Benelux note that basic combat mechanics feel uninteresting and the enemy AI lacks variety. GamingBolt and Push Square point to repetitive encounters and predictable level designs, with the latter comparing it to "older gaming eras." Additionally, critics like Noisy Pixel and Oyungezer highlight unbalanced enemy types, frustrating navigation, and a progression system that hinders early gameplay. The consensus here is that while the game introduces unique ideas, their implementation often falls short, leading to a tedious and uninspired experience, particularly in later stages. Overall, the critics’ opinions reveal a polarizing reception. While some praise the game’s stealth mechanics, magical abilities, and creative tactics (as noted by Checkpoint Gaming, Metro GameCentral, and XGN), the majority condemn its repetitive combat, unrefined controls, and lack of innovation. TheXboxHub and Digital Trends acknowledge initial engagement, but many, like Atomix, Gameliner, and TrueGaming, argue that the gameplay feels outdated and shallow. The game’s linear structure and underdeveloped progression systems are frequently cited as flaws, with Shacknews and Gaming Age pointing to slow early gameplay and unbalanced difficulty. Despite pockets of praise for its distinct elements, the overwhelming sentiment suggests that Unknown 9: Awakening struggles to maintain momentum, with its positives often overshadowed by technical and design shortcomings that frustrate players over time.

The reviews for Unknown 9: Awakening highlight a mixed reception regarding its graphics and visual design, with several critics praising its artistic and environmental strengths. Checkpoint Gaming and Digital Trends commend the game’s "gorgeous visuals" and "visually awe-inspiring segments," particularly noting the creative and diverse locations, such as the "elthritic otherworld" and the "Fold" dimension, which are described as "beautifully realized" and "visually interesting." Push Square and XGN also emphasize the game’s aesthetic appeal, with the latter pointing to "beautiful environments with Eastern influences and futuristic designs" despite its lack of AAA polish. Gameliner and Gamer.no acknowledge the visual beauty of the settings, though they critique the game’s linearity, which limits players’ ability to fully engage with the artistry. These positive remarks often center on the game’s imaginative world-building and the effort to create a visually distinct experience, even with a modest budget. However, the negatives dominate discussions about technical execution and consistency. Atomix and Eurogamer Germany criticize the graphics as "outdated" and "lacking detail," comparing them unfavorably to titles like Uncharted 4 and noting "generic environments" and "awkward character models." GamingBolt and IGN Benelux highlight "stilted facial animations" and "poor detail" in character design, while Noisy Pixel and Softpedia point to "technical issues like bugs and graphical inconsistencies" that disrupt immersion. TheXboxHub and Multiplayer.it describe the visuals as "inconsistent," with "bland textures" and "inadequate" character models overshadowing moments of beauty. Additionally, PlaySense and Gamer.no note that cutscenes and animations fail to match the quality of the environments, and Shacknews criticizes performance issues on PC, suggesting the visuals deteriorate over time. These critiques often focus on the game’s inability to fully leverage modern hardware or engine capabilities, such as Unreal Engine 4. The overall consensus reflects a divide between the game’s artistic ambition and its technical shortcomings. While Checkpoint Gaming and XGN argue that the visuals are "amazing" and "commendable" despite being non-AAA, many critics, including Atomix, Eurogamer Germany, and TrueGaming, feel the graphics fall behind current standards, appearing "reminiscent of older console generations." Metro GameCentral and Multiplayer.it note a lack of standout elements, with Gameliner and Gamer.no emphasizing that the linearity restricts appreciation of the design. Despite these flaws, the game’s environments and creative concepts are frequently praised, suggesting that its visual design has potential but is undermined by inconsistencies, poor animations, and technical issues. The mixed feedback underscores a title that excels in imagination but struggles to deliver a polished, cohesive visual experience across platforms.

The overall sentiment toward the sound design and music of Unknown 9: Awakening is mixed, with several critics highlighting its strengths. TheXboxHub praises the sound design as "excellent," emphasizing a "robust score" and strong performances from the main cast, suggesting the music effectively complements the game’s atmosphere. TrueGaming similarly commends the sound design as the "strongest aspect," noting the "period-appropriate music" that enhances immersion. Vandal acknowledges the positive contribution of Spanish voice acting, which adds cultural authenticity and enriches the experience. These reviews indicate that the game’s audio elements, particularly its musical composition and localized voice work, are seen as commendable and well-executed in certain areas, offering a cohesive and engaging auditory backdrop. However, several critics express dissatisfaction with the sound design and music, pointing to inconsistencies and lack of memorability. Atomix describes the sound design and music as "generic and forgettable," criticizing the absence of standout compositions and the overshadowing of the score by sound effects. God is a Geek highlights "inconsistent sound direction" and "weird audio issues," such as abrupt dialogue triggers, which disrupt the flow. PlaySense notes that while voice acting is "decent," the sound effects are "unremarkable," failing to leave a lasting impression. GameMAG calls the sound design "underwhelming," lacking depth and memorable effects, though they praise the localization. These critiques suggest that while the game has moments of quality, its audio design often falls short in creating a distinctive or immersive experience, with technical flaws and repetitive elements detracting from its potential. The overall consensus among critics is divided, reflecting a blend of praise and criticism. While some reviewers, like TheXboxHub and TrueGaming, celebrate the music and sound design as integral to the game’s appeal, others, including Atomix, God is a Geek, and GameMAG, find them lacking in originality and technical polish. PlaySense and Vandal add nuance, acknowledging decent voice acting but pointing to unremarkable sound effects or limited details on the audio design. This divergence indicates that Unknown 9: Awakening’s audio elements may resonate differently depending on player expectations, with its strengths in musical atmosphere and localization offset by weaknesses in consistency, memorability, and technical execution. The mixed feedback suggests the game’s sound design is a polarizing aspect, neither universally lauded nor entirely dismissed.

The majority of critics praised the voice acting in Unknown 9: Awakening, with particular emphasis on Anya Chalotra’s performance as the protagonist Haroona. TheXboxHub highlighted the "strong performances from the main cast," while Checkpoint Gaming commended her "endearing earnestness," noting it enhanced the character’s likability. Digital Trends and IGN Benelux both lauded her portrayal for its "depth and emotional resonance," with God is a Geek and Push Square emphasizing her ability to convey vulnerability and charisma effectively. GamingBolt and PlaySense also celebrated the voice talent, stating that well-written characters were "complemented by strong voice performances," and Multiplayer.it acknowledged her as a "highlight" despite technical limitations. These reviews collectively underscore the positive impact of the voice acting, especially Chalotra’s work, on the game’s narrative and character immersion. However, some critics raised concerns about the voice acting’s consistency and quality. Atomix criticized Chalotra’s performance for being "poorly directed," resulting in an "exaggerated accent," while TrueGaming called the overall voice acting "generally weak," pointing out that many NPCs and enemies lacked emotional depth. Multiplayer.it also noted that technical limitations affected both character animations and voice acting, suggesting a disconnect between performance and execution. Additionally, GameMAG and Oyungezer offered lukewarm assessments, with GameMAG stating that Chalotra’s involvement "did not significantly enhance the experience," and Oyungezer failing to elaborate on the quality at all. These critiques highlight areas where the voice acting fell short of expectations, particularly in supporting roles and technical implementation. Despite mixed feedback, the overall consensus leans positive, with most reviewers recognizing the voice acting as a standout element, especially Chalotra’s work. While some critics like Atomix and TrueGaming pointed out flaws, the majority—such as Digital Chumps, who compared it to "90s action films" for its "entertaining and meaningful" presentation—emphasized its contribution to the game’s atmosphere and storytelling. The technical limitations mentioned by Multiplayer.it and the occasional lack of depth in NPCs were seen as minor drawbacks against a backdrop of generally strong performances. This suggests that while the voice acting isn’t flawless, it is a significant strength that enhances the game’s appeal, particularly for players drawn to its narrative and character-driven elements.

The technical performance of Unknown 9: Awakening on the PlayStation 5 and PC receives mixed acknowledgment, though positives are minimal. On the PS5, critics like Atomix and Digital Trends note that while the game suffers from performance issues, they are not severe enough to make it unplayable, with Digital Trends emphasizing that bugs and NPC glitches are "manageable." Similarly, Gamer.no and Gameliner highlight that the game’s flaws, such as frame rate drops and lag, are present but do not entirely derail the experience. For PC, Gaming Age mentions "glitches and inconsistent performance," though it lacks the nuanced praise seen in the PS5 reviews. Overall, the game’s technical foundation is seen as functional, but its execution falls short of expectations, with no major platform-specific strengths reported. The negatives for Unknown 9: Awakening are more pronounced and consistent across both platforms. On the PS5, Eurogamer Germany criticizes the "shaky frame rate and lack of graphical fidelity," while GamingBolt and TrueGaming point to frame drops and bugs during combat, especially in large group encounters. Noisy Pixel and Softpedia emphasize "graphical inconsistencies" and "unpolished animations," and XGN highlights "unresponsive controls" and "poorly placed save points." Multiplayer.it calls the technical performance a "disaster," citing frequent bugs and poor animation quality. For PC, Gaming Age echoes similar concerns, though the review is brief. These issues collectively create a sense of incompletion, with TrueGaming specifically noting the game "feels incomplete and in need of updates." The overall consensus among critics is that Unknown 9: Awakening struggles with technical performance on both the PS5 and PC, with no platform escaping significant flaws. While some reviewers, like Atomix and Digital Trends, acknowledge the game’s playability despite its issues, the majority—Gameliner, GamingBolt, Multiplayer.it, and Vandal—paint a more dire picture, citing frame rate instability, animation problems, and persistent bugs that undermine immersion. The PC version, though less detailed in the provided reviews, aligns with the PS5’s shortcomings, suggesting a lack of optimization or polish across platforms. This widespread criticism indicates that the game’s technical execution is a major hindrance, overshadowing its potential and leaving players with a frustrating experience.

TheXboxHub and Checkpoint Gaming highlight some positive aspects of Unknown 9: Awakening that could theoretically enhance its replay value. TheXboxHub acknowledges the "fun tactical options" provided by the Step ability and combat mechanics, suggesting that these elements offer a degree of engagement during the initial playthrough. Checkpoint Gaming praises the game’s "brisk pace" and "varied locations," which make each chapter feel "valuable and memorable," even if the overall duration is not overly long. Additionally, Push Square notes that collectibles provide "extra insight into the story and characters," which might appeal to completionists or fans of narrative depth. These points indicate that the game’s design includes features that could sustain interest, particularly for players who appreciate its combat systems or story-driven exploration. However, the negatives dominate the critical reception regarding replay value. Atomix and Gamer.no both describe the game as something players will "forget quickly" and "not want to revisit," citing repetitive combat and predictable gameplay as major drawbacks. God is a Geek criticizes the "wasted real estate and dead ends," arguing that exploration feels unrewarding despite the presence of collectibles and skill upgrades. Softpedia and Push Square point to the game’s "linear" structure and lack of side quests or New Game+ options, which diminish its longevity. TheXboxHub’s observation about the "repetitive nature of combat" and Oyungezer’s blunt statement that the game is "boring" and "not recommend[ed]" further reinforce the consensus that the core mechanics and design fail to justify multiple playthroughs. These critiques collectively suggest that the game’s shortcomings in variety and incentive outweigh its initial strengths. Overall, the critics present a largely negative consensus on Unknown 9: Awakening’s replay value. While a few elements like tactical combat and narrative collectibles are praised, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game’s repetitive structure, limited exploration, and lack of meaningful post-game content make it a one-time experience. TheXboxHub, Atomix, and God is a Geek emphasize that the gameplay becomes monotonous quickly, with no substantial rewards to encourage revisiting. Push Square and Softpedia also note that the absence of side quests or New Game+ options reduces its appeal for repeat play. Even Checkpoint Gaming, which acknowledges the game’s memorable chapters, concedes that boss fights are repetitive, underscoring the broader issue. This suggests that Unknown 9: Awakening struggles to balance its engaging mechanics with the depth or diversity needed to sustain long-term player interest.