Unknown 9: Awakening is a much-awaited action-adventure game made by Reflector Entertainment and published by Bandai Namco on October 17. In this game, players become Haroona, a character with magical abilities who can enter a parallel world known as "the Fold." Here, she learns to harness her supernatural powers while being chased by a group called "The Ascendants."
Disappointment After Launch
It appears that the creators of Unknown 9: Awakening have not met expectations. Although there was considerable excitement prior to its release, the game quickly turned into a letdown, perhaps even more disappointing than Sony's recent flop, Concord. Data from SteamDB indicates that the game only reached a meager peak of 285 players since its launch. In contrast, Concord had about 700 players at the same time.
Poor Ratings and Reviews
The reviews are just as disappointing, with Unknown 9: Awakening garnering a low Metascore of 62 and a shocking user score of just 1.5. On Steam, the feedback is similarly grim: only 42 percent of the 280 reviews were positive.
Technical Issues and Criticism
Behind the scenes of Unknown 9: Awakening, there are numerous issues that both players and reviewers have pointed out. A major complaint is the outdated graphics, as the game was developed using Unreal Engine 4, making it look old-fashioned when compared to modern AAA games like Black Myth: Wukong or Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Additionally, many players have reported technical problems like stuttering and frame drops, even on high-end computers.
Controversial Depictions
Users on Reddit have criticized the game for its portrayal of social and political issues, claiming it’s clichéd and overdone. The representation of white men and the look of the female protagonist sparked intense debates, leading to frequent use of the term "woke."
Ambitious Plans for the Future
Reflector Entertainment, the Canadian studio behind Unknown 9: Awakening, had grand aspirations for the game. The story was intended to unfold not just in video games but also through novels, comics, and films. However, it remains uncertain whether these ambitions will proceed following such a rocky start.
Steam DB, Steam, Metacritic
Image source: Bandai Namco Entertainment
