Possessor(s)

A stylish metroidvania with crunchy combat and a delightfully melancholy mood, but some will find it too safe and frictionless.

All in all, there’s some entertainment in the story, dialogue, and possessed objects that attack you. The bosses are nicely designed, and the world-building is pretty great – but it all wears thin too quickly when it’s such a slog to play.

The most disappointing aspect of Possessors is that it plays it quite safe compared to Heart Machine’s past titles, Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash. Little about its formula will surprise Metroidvania enthusiasts; still, the studio has nonetheless notched another entertaining single-player action game under its belt, proving its action and world-building chops transcend genre.

Heart Machine's latest game, Possessor(s), is a remarkable 2D indie.

Possessor(s) is a beautiful metroidvania with a compelling story and world design. However, it doesn’t introduce any particularly game-changing features. The combat is perfected, but it’s what we’ve come to expect as the standard for Metroidvanias, with familiar weapons and abilities in clever reskins. I was left wanting more and expecting to see a gameplay hook that would set it apart from other games in the genre, but this never materialised. It’s a game that I would recommend to people who are curious about Metroidvanias and are looking for a place to start. After playing it, you will understand the genre’s language. Because if there is something especially strong in Possessor(s), it’s the foundations.

It's a Metroidvania with some problems, but it delivers what it promises. It doesn't offer anything new, it's not very original, but it works well with what it has. If you're not used to the genre, Possessor(s) is NOT for you. If you don't like exploration, it's also not for you. And if you're in a hurry, definitely forget about the game.

With a distinctive look and some unique ideas this Metroidvania stands out, but not everything comes together

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Heart Machine's new game is challenging in terms of gameplay, intriguing in its exploration, and captivating with its delightful aesthetic—though it does stumble a bit along the way. Possessor(s) is a solid Metroidvania. I believe that with just a couple of quality-of-life improvements, it could become a much better game than it currently is. That’s why I can’t help but think about its untapped potential, and the difficulties plaguing the studio, which undoubtedly hindered the game’s ability to reach its full potential.

Possessor(s) aims to combine action platforming and Metroidvania in a devastated urban world, offering great mobility and a combat system without contact damage, making battles more fair and dynamic. The original visual atmosphere, good writing by the Luca–Rhem duo, and creative level design are somewhat overshadowed by some graphical oversights and a control system that is not always precise. The lack of a grace period when taking damage can be very punishing when there are multiple enemies on screen. A solid game, but with imperfections that limit its impact in one of the most competitive markets.