If you want to know why you should play this game, just look at how awesome the header image above is.
Possessor(s), the latest game from studio Heart Machine (best known for the brutal action-adventure RPG Hyper Light Drifter), is impressive in every sense of the word. The art is vibrant, the gameplay moves at a breakneck pace, and the story is straight to the heart.
This is a story about haunted people and a haunted town. Its walls are full of secrets for you to discover and enemies that will test your skills. And that’s something I’ll never forget.
The Devil and the Ruined City
Set some time after an underworld invasion of the Sanzu City owned by a cyberpunk-adjacent corporation, Possessor(s) is the story of a young girl named Luca and a demon named Rhem. If they want to survive this changed landscape, they will need to put aside their mutual distrust and work together. And if you want to get home, you have to fight your way through a crazy city. This may sound difficult, but it’s actually fun with this tense and precise side-scrolling action gameplay.
Exploration is the central point of this game. The City of Sanzu is a vast place, full of dangers and secrets, but still hauntingly beautiful. Danger lurks behind every corner, as well as an array of memorable characters and formidable bosses.
This focus on exploration extends to the combat system, where you can choose from a variety of weapons, abilities, and upgrades to combine powerful synergies.
Difficulty here is at a surprisingly manageable level, as care is taken to ensure that the challenge posed by bosses, gauntlets, and regular exploration speaks for itself. Checkpoints are plentiful and fast travel options are plentiful. Even if you die, it’s the result of your own negligence and failure of skill, which feels fair and easy to try again. It’s a game where you can die in seconds if you’re not careful. However, it only takes a few seconds to respawn, so don’t get frustrated. It’s just refreshing.
Credit: Devolver Digital
Vibrant (and violent) visuals
Possessor(s) is definitely a great game. Atmospheric, understated music is fused with a sophisticated, colorful aesthetic, which itself boasts a seamless blend of 2D and 3D art, creating a rich world and unique characters.
Everything is lovingly crafted, from the character sprites, to the (many!) attack animations, to the enemy swarms, and of course the environments. The UI is also smooth and well-crafted. And you can feel that care every time you play.
Demonic invasions have rarely looked this beautiful.
Credit: Devolver Digital
But it’s more than just eye candy. The art is crisp and unique, but above all, it’s easy to read. Highly colorful games can sometimes run the risk of becoming visually noisy, but Possessor’s eye-catching style all poses no problems. Instead, pops of color and light movement fuse form and function. This lets you know at a glance where the line of attack is, when you can make your next move, and when is the right time to parry.
These all contribute to making the game’s core combat both look and feel great. With a punchy, stylish design, it’s designed to truly feel like a big hit.
It succeeds in slow moments and platforming sections as well. There isn’t a moment in this game that isn’t elevated by its style.
There are some things that could be done with a little more polish, but only a little. Those are the moments when a small adjustment doesn’t feel as impactful as it should. But the only reason those few moments stand out so much is because the rest of the game hits so hard.
Credit: Devolver Digital
cruel but convenient
Another aspect of this game that cannot be denied (although it may not be that obvious from the surface) is how useful it is. While many games of Possessor’s ilk delight in small difficulties and everyday inconveniences during play (sometimes to great effect), they instead focus on making combat and exploration the only difficult parts.
Everything else works smoothly. Let the biggest parts of your game shine and minimize the busy work.
Maps are probably the biggest example of this. Merchants, checkpoints, bosses, and unentered rooms are automatically marked and supplemented with a set of markers that you can place yourself, making it easier to explore and backtrack later.
Credit: Devolver Digital
There’s even a bank at the checkpoint, a feature I really wish other action platformers and metroidvanias had. Well, a large map and plenty of secrets to find means this game scratches your Metroidvania itch.
This light touch and forgiving nature creates a sense of security and encourages bolder playstyles. You don’t have to worry about getting confused or losing all your money in an area you’re not prepared for, not when the game is structured to minimize problems.
Some may find this approach makes play a little too smooth, as it lacks the jagged edges that make success in the more difficult and gritty games feel so satisfying and full of character. However, in my case, it actually felt as refreshing as drinking a glass of cold water.
tragic story
But while this game was full of intense moments and excitement, there was one aspect that failed to wow me. It’s a story.
That’s not to say it’s terrible, because it really isn’t – to be honest, the game has some really terrible plots, and Possessor doesn’t really rank among them. In fact, that’s fine. Overall it’s fun and has some memorable moments, but the best parts of the gameplay and art direction are few and far between.
Our story about a girl and her demons and the changed world they find themselves in is well integrated into the game. Memories cutscenes are well-defined and just as short and snappy as the rest of the game, telling their story without overstaying their welcome.
Some checkpoints feature extra dialogue, and once again it’s clear when the protagonists have something to say to each other. The game’s exploration is a dual quest of a shattered city and two shattered lives.
It’s fun to dive deep into tragic topics and tackle moral dilemmas head on. But for the most part, it’s predictable and fun, but not necessarily memorable.
Credit: Devolver Digital
There’s a bit of a contradiction at first. It attempts to handwave classic gameplay, allowing the protagonist to use mechanics that make sense to the player without forcing them to question how and why they function within the universe. Normally I’m fine with this, but there are some early elements where the protagonist expresses confusion and discusses it with his new demon friend. So it felt weird and inconsistent when certain other elements weren’t discussed. This made the play experience faster, but also felt a bit uneven. Characters were introduced, only to recede into the background to make way for gameplay.
Fortunately, the story is so seamlessly integrated into the game that it’s rarely presented as a real problem. The story moves along smoothly, whether you want to enjoy every snippet of dialogue or skip the cutscenes and return to the boss fight.
As you progress deeper into the game, you will encounter multiple paths that the story can take, increasing your engagement with the world.
Credit: Devolver Digital
final thoughts
It was exhilarating at every turn, but never frustrating or inconvenient, making every moment of my time with Possessor a joy.
Its stylish aesthetic is matched by punchy, action-packed gameplay, and when combined with its expansive world, it all comes together to create an amazing experience. I loved it. If you’re up for a challenge, I’m sure you will too.
4 1/2 stars (out of 5 stars)
Highlights: Punchy gameplay, great customization, and great art direction
Cons: Needs some polishing, story is weak at first
Developer: Heart Machine
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: Windows PC, PlayStation 5
Available: Currently
The review was conducted on a Windows PC using the release code provided by the publisher.
A featured header image is also provided by the publisher.
