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Unknown 9: Awakening

Name: Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Unknown 9: Awakening
Item: Unknown 9: Awakening
Author: Critik Editorial Team

2024

GenresAdventure, Action, Single Player

AvailableOct 18, 2024

PlatformXbox One, PC, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

DeveloperReflector

Overview

Unknown9: Awakening is your entry point into a new Storyworld.

Elsewhere

Game analysis

Monster Scorecard

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Story and Narrative

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TL;DR

Critics have mixed feelings about the plot of Unknown 9: Awakening. Praise for the likable cast, engaging factions, and potential expansions is countered by criticism of a convoluted plot, lack of originality, and weak character development. While some appreciate the immersive world-building and performances, others find the story lacking depth. Ultimately, the game's story may appeal to fans of character-driven narratives but falls short in originality and coherence for some.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY

Story Score

Positive (80-100)

33%

Mixed (50-79)

50%

Negative (0-49)

17%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.

The Story of Unknown 9: Awakening has received mixed reviews from critics regarding its plot and narrative elements. Some positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the charm and likability of the cast, as noted by Checkpoint Gaming, who praised the period setting reminiscent of pulpy adventure stories. Push Square also commended the well-written story, interesting lore, and engaging factions, with particular emphasis on the excellent performances by the main voice actors, especially Anya Chalotra. These elements contribute to creating an engaging and immersive world within the Unknown 9 universe, setting up potential for future expansions, as mentioned by Checkpoint Gaming. On the other hand, several critics pointed out negative aspects of the story in Unknown 9: Awakening. God is a Geek criticized the plot for being somewhat convoluted and lacking originality, with predictable story beats. Metro GameCentral highlighted extensive lore with confusing terminology, a derivative plot, and bland dialogue lacking humor. Noisy Pixel raised concerns about the lack of character development and inconsistencies in narrative and world-building, impacting the overall experience. Shacknews described the story as functional at best, with cryptic exposition and a feeling of a greater story being reduced to mere cliff notes. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the Story of Unknown 9: Awakening leans towards a mixed reception. While some reviewers appreciated the charm of the cast, engaging factions, and potential for expansion within the universe, others criticized the convoluted plot, lack of originality, and issues with character development and world-building. The varying opinions suggest that the game's story may appeal more to players who enjoy immersive world-building and character-driven narratives, while others may find the plot lacking in depth and originality.

TL;DR

story and narrative

Gameplay Mechanics

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TL;DR

Critics praise Unknown 9: Awakening for its unique mechanics like the Step ability and magical powers, enhancing combat and stealth gameplay. Positive reviews highlight innovative features and engaging combat. However, some critics criticize the game for making players overpowered with Shade powers, repetitive combat, poor stealth elements, and unengaging exploration. Overall, opinions are mixed on the gameplay, with some enjoying its distinctiveness while others find flaws in execution, leading to a varied reception among critics.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY

Gameplay Score

Positive (80-100)

33%

Mixed (50-79)

67%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay of Unknown 9: Awakening has received mixed reviews from critics. Checkpoint Gaming and Metro GameCentral praise the game for its unique mechanics such as the Step ability and magical powers, which add a distinct flavor to the action-adventure experience. These elements provide players with a fresh take on combat and stealth gameplay, enhancing the overall enjoyment. Push Square also appreciates the entertaining combat and nifty abilities, highlighting the fun factor that the game offers. The positive aspects of the gameplay, as noted by these critics, include the innovative mechanics, engaging combat, and distinctive skills progression. On the other hand, several critics, including God is a Geek and Noisy Pixel, point out various shortcomings in the gameplay of Unknown 9: Awakening. God is a Geek mentions that while the Shade powers add variety to combat, they also make the player overpowered, potentially diminishing the challenge and balance of the game. Noisy Pixel criticizes the game for its repetitive combat mechanics, poor stealth elements, and unintuitive navigation, which can detract from the overall experience. Shacknews highlights issues with unengaging exploration, slow progression, and a progression system that hinders early gameplay, suggesting that the game may struggle to maintain player engagement throughout. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the gameplay of Unknown 9: Awakening is that while the game offers some unique and enjoyable elements such as innovative mechanics and entertaining combat, it also suffers from various flaws like repetitive gameplay, poor stealth mechanics, and unengaging exploration. The mixed opinions suggest that while some players may appreciate the distinctiveness of the gameplay features, others may find the overall experience lacking in certain areas. It is evident that the game's potential is somewhat hindered by its execution, leading to a varied reception among critics.

TL;DR

gameplay mechanics

Graphics and Visual Design

Analysis Unavailable

Summary unavailable

TL;DR

graphics and visual design

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Music and Sound Design

Analysis Unavailable

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TL;DR

music and sound design

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Voice Acting

Analysis Unavailable

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TL;DR

voice acting

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Technical Performance

Analysis Unavailable

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TL;DR

technical performance

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Replay Value

Analysis Unavailable

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TL;DR

replay value

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Overall Verdict

MONSTER

OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION

Monster Score

Positive (80-100)

Mixed (50-79)

82%

Negative (0-49)

13%

Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.

Unknown 9: Awakening has garnered praise from critics for several aspects. Checkpoint Gaming commends the game for its engaging story, likable characters, fun gameplay mechanics, and stunning visuals. Push Square also highlights the compelling narrative-driven action-adventure experience and engaging stealth mechanics. These positive aspects contribute to creating an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience for players. The game's unique gameplay elements and interesting lore add depth and intrigue, making it appealing to those seeking a pulpy action-adventure experience. However, there are notable criticisms raised by some critics regarding Unknown 9: Awakening. Noisy Pixel points out weak character development, repetitive combat, and technical issues that detract from the overall experience. God is a Geek mentions that the game falls short in terms of originality and technical polish, lacking groundbreaking elements and feeling somewhat derivative. These shortcomings, such as the lack of depth in antagonist portrayal and issues in boss fights, hinder the game from reaching its full potential and may impact player enjoyment. Overall, the consensus among critics is mixed regarding Unknown 9: Awakening. While some critics appreciate the game's strengths such as its engaging story and fun gameplay mechanics, others express concerns about its lack of originality, technical flaws, and overall execution. Metro GameCentral notes that the game offers a fun and unusual take on the third-person stealth genre but acknowledges room for improvement in writing and visuals. Shacknews, on the other hand, criticizes the game for feeling like a proof of concept that fails to deliver a compelling experience. The varying opinions suggest that while Unknown 9: Awakening has its merits, it also has significant areas that could be improved upon to elevate the overall gaming experience.

TL;DR

Unknown 9: Awakening impresses with its engaging story, likable characters, and stunning visuals, offering an immersive gaming experience. However, criticisms about weak character development, repetitive combat, and technical issues have been raised. While some critics praise its unique gameplay elements, others feel it lacks originality and polish. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some highlighting its strengths and others calling for improvements in various aspects.

MONSTER

Reviews

91 reviews found

Checkpoint Gaming

PlayStation 5

Oct 17, 2024

AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details

Unknown 9: Awakening is praised for its engaging story, likable characters, fun gameplay mechanics, and stunning visuals. Despite some shortcomings in boss fights and antagonist depth, the game is described as a great experience that may appeal to players looking for a pulpy action-adventure with unique gameplay elements.

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God is a Geek

PlayStation 5

Oct 17, 2024

AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details

Unknown 9: Awakening is a decent self-contained adventure with enjoyable combat and exploration, despite being somewhat derivative and not groundbreaking. It offers fun moments but falls short in terms of originality and technical polish.

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Push Square

PlayStation 5

Oct 17, 2024

AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details

Unknown 9: Awakening is a good debut with rough edges but offers a compelling narrative-driven action-adventure experience. The linear level design and lack of innovative ideas are balanced by interesting lore and engaging stealth mechanics.

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Metro GameCentral

PlayStation 5

Oct 17, 2024

AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details

A fun and unusual take on the third person stealth game with room for improvement in writing and visuals.

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Shacknews

PlayStation 5

Oct 17, 2024

AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details

Unknown 9: Awakening is criticized for failing to deliver a compelling experience, feeling like a proof of concept for a multimedia franchise that falls short.

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Noisy Pixel

PlayStation 5

Oct 17, 2024

AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details

Unknown 9: Awakening is described as a fun but flawed adventure, reminiscent of PS3-era gameplay, with weak character development, repetitive combat, and technical issues.

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KonsoliFIN

Oct 17, 2024

Summary and quote unavailable.

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CGMagazine

Xbox Series X

Oct 17, 2024

Summary and quote unavailable.

Digital Trends

PlayStation 5

Nov 12, 2024