September 17, 2024, 8:42 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Until now, “Unknown 9: Awakening” has flown under the radar as a new video game in the making. At Gamescom, however, new information and, above all, the gameplay was made available, which sparked curiosity. TECHBOOK explains why you should definitely keep the game on your radar.
With Unknown 9, Bandai Namco has an exciting, cross-media, long-term project on the go. There are already comics, novels, a podcast – and soon, finally, a video game. Unknown 9: Awakening was actually due to be released in 2021; the first teaser was shown at Gamescom 2020. However, the pandemic slowed down development considerably. Now, the ambitious project is approaching the home straight. However, hardly anyone is talking about the video game yet – even though it looks very promising.
What is “Unknown 9: Awakening” about?
The upcoming game is about Haroona, played by Witcher star Anya Chalotra. She is a so-called Quaestor and has mysterious abilities that need to be explored and improved over the course of the game. Her powers come from a dangerous realm, “The Fold,” and allow her to take possession of her opponents, among other things. The concept of the game and the entire Unknown 9 franchise is based on Indian mythology.
On her journey, she comes up against a dangerous group called the Ascendants. Haroona’s motivation is revenge for the death of her mentor. However, it is probably also about protecting the secrets of humanity that are hidden in the breach and which the group is after.
In addition to these story elements in Unknown 9: Awakening, there is also a clear focus on the combat mechanics and solving various puzzles. The game seems to offer a mixture of action and stealth – individual elements are linked together by Haroona’s abilities.
First impressions from Gamescom
We were able to see these for ourselves during a demo at Gamescom 2024. One key aspect seems to be Haroona’s ability to become invisible for a short time. As already mentioned, she is also able to take over her opponent’s body for a short time and cause a lot of damage. She also has fairly standard attacks and defense mechanics, such as a shield.
The skills granted to her by the breach can be used in a variety of ways and can also be leveled up. In the Gamescom demo of Unknown 9: Awakening alone, we were able to test different approaches. One of them involves actively using the environment. For example, you can blow up gas cans or use your opponents’ weapons.
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“Unknown 9: Awakening” has potential
Another special feature of the entire Unknown 9 universe is that it is not necessary to engage with the other media content. Each spin-off is intended to function completely independently. Developer studio Reflector Entertainment is also said to be planning a series.