Awakening puts you in a maze of powers

If you think mastering supernatural powers is just another easy day at the games office, welcome to Unknown 9: Awakeningwhere the protagonist Haroona will show you that, in addition to being in an existential dilemma, she also has to deal with a group of people trying to explode humanity's secrets. All this, of course, with a lot of bullshit, magic and a combat system that will make you think twice before underestimating that skill that you only unlock at level 40.

Haroona: The most overpowered protagonist you respect

If you're tired of that typical protagonist who gets beaten until he learns to throw decent punches, let me introduce you to Haroona. In the new trailer for the game, Bandai Namco showed that it is not here to joke. With abilities that flirt with the supernatural (or is it Umbral?), Haroona is capable of manipulating enemies in ways that would make Professor X clap his hands. The combat in Unknown 9: Awakening revolves around your abilities to control your mind and space-time, which gives it a whole vibe. Doctor Strange meets The Matrix.

In the trailer, we see that you can choose how to approach the challenges: either you go for a Kratos-style beating, or you prefer a more stealthy approach, like Ezio from Assassin's Creedbut with an extra touch of magic. The combat system also appears to expand as you progress through the plot, with upgrades that improve both physical combat skills and psychic manipulation powers.

Threshold: The realm that everyone wants to explore, but no one understands

The Umbral is the place where all the magic happens. Literally. Unknown 9: Awakening promises an intriguing exploration of a realm beyond human understanding, where Haroona will discover that her powers are just the tip of the iceberg. During the trailer, it becomes clear that the player will unlock abilities to manipulate the world around them in ways that border on the omnipotent. You can control enemies, create mental traps and, if you're playing right, even change the course of events in real time – it's like playing a game. choose your own adventurebut with more punches and dimensional portals.

Interconnected narrative: More than a game, an entire universe

Remember The Matrixwhere you kept questioning whether the world you were seeing was real or not? Now add to that comics, podcasts, novels and the entire package of the universe of Unknown 9. Bandai Namco is betting big on building a narrative ecosystem where the game is not just the only source of entertainment.

In other words, if you think you'll understand everything just by playing the game, get ready to binge the comics and listen to podcasts in between missions. Unknown 9 is a transmedia experience – and it looks like it will live up to the hype. If you like crossovers and stories that intertwine across multiple platforms, like Star Wars does with his books and films, then you're in the right place.

Benchmarking It Against the Competition: Why Unknown 9 Might Be the control freak that you always wanted

Now, let's go to the comparisons that cannot be missed. If you enjoy the mind-bending scenarios of Control and the “WTF” narrative of Alan Wake, Unknown 9: Awakening can win you over. The game promises to mix everything we love about supernatural adventures, such as suspense and mysticism, but with a much more engaging combat system, full of customization of powers and strategic choices.

It is also possible to draw a parallel with Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Like Senua, Haroona is not only fighting enemies, but also facing internal and external forces that mess with the psychological. But while Hellblade focuses more on the personal journey, Unknown 9 seems to expand this narrative into something larger, with ramifications that affect not only the world around you, but entire realities.

Franchise history: How did we get here?

Unknown 9 It's not just a game; it is a universe. This title, Awakeningis just a gateway to the world created by Bandai Namco. The concept of Unknown 9 began to be developed as a transmedia franchise, where interconnected stories take place across different media formats. The intention is that players can discover secrets and understand what is really happening not only within the game, but also in comics, podcasts and other content released in parallel.

If that sounds a little ambitious, that's because it is. But the idea is that when playing Unknown 9: Awakeningyou are also encouraged to delve deeper into the lore of this universe, seeking the connections and mysteries that tie all the elements together. It's like the MCU, but with more magic, psychic punches and fewer colorful heroes.

Curiosities and what to expect

Now, some interesting facts that you may not know: the plot of Unknown 9 explores themes of ancient secrets and global conspiracies, something we've already seen in games like Assassin's Creed. But here, instead of a secret war between Assassins and Templars, we're talking about a war involving supernatural forces beyond our understanding.

Another interesting thing is that Haroona is not your typical action protagonist. She has a tragic past and a mysterious connection to the Umbral, which puts her at the center of a war bigger than anything ever seen. Oh, and of course, if you like customization, the game promises to provide many skill and power options, allowing you to customize your combat style – whether you're the type who likes to blow up everything or prefer a more tactical approach.

Prepare to have your mind blown (literally)

Unknown 9: Awakening It promises to be one of those experiences where you start without knowing what to expect and end without knowing how to process everything. Between dynamic combat, supernatural powers and a plot full of mysteries, the game is on its way to being one of the biggest surprises of 2024. If you enjoy a good mental challenge with hints of supernatural action and a narrative universe that makes you want to explore each little corner of lore, Unknown 9 will be the right choice.

So, get ready to dive into the Umbral and discover secrets that could very well change your view of reality.