Possessor(s) steps into the Metroidvania space with a distinctive identity, blending fast, aerial combat with a world shaped by interdimensional collapse. Set in the sprawling remnants of Sanzu, the game builds its tone from the first moments: a suffocating quiet, a city buckled under its own history, and a partnership between two unwilling companions who must navigate its dangers together. It’s an immediately striking foundation, and one that signals a blend of emotional storytelling and demanding action long before the first major encounter.
The opening hours reinforce that sense of unease, casting players into a labyrinth where Luca and the entity bound to her, Rhem, push forward out of mutual necessity. Their bond is tense and uncomfortable, yet it quickly becomes the emotional spine of the journey. Sanzu’s fractured districts ripple outward in every direction, offering the impression of a city caught mid-transformation, its ruins giving way to strange new structures and impossible geometries.
On PlayStation 5, the aesthetic stands out sharply. Characters are hand-drawn and animated with a fluidity that contrasts against soft, desaturated 3D environments, giving each location a layered, haunted atmosphere. The stark outlines of the characters fit naturally against the city’s muted decay, though some of the larger areas feel more like transitional spaces than fully realized locales. Even then, the world carries a subdued beauty that matches the themes of loss and reconstruction threading through the narrative.
Luca and Rhem’s relationship deepens as they traverse abandoned plazas, submerged tunnels, and half-collapsed towers. Their personalities clash in ways that give the story momentum – Luca’s directness and Rhem’s guarded nature forming a push-and-pull that shapes how the journey unfolds. As memories surface and new threats appear, quiet interludes between them often say more than dialogue could, offering glimpses of how the catastrophe reshaped not just Sanzu, but those who survived it.
Moment-to-moment play hinges on mobility and precision. Traversal feels lively, built around quick dashes, confident jumps, and attacks that carry a rhythmic, almost improvisational quality. Combat leans heavily on air juggles and rapid transitions between grounded and aerial strikes, with weapons ranging from traditional blades to repurposed everyday objects. This fluidity can occasionally stumble – grapples don’t always behave consistently, and some platforming sequences reveal spacing issues that interrupt the game’s otherwise confident motion.
Exploration highlights both the ambition and the occasional friction within the city’s design. Sanzu unfolds as a dense network of interlinked districts, but navigation doesn’t always guide players naturally. Loops, dead ends, and long stretches of backtracking can interrupt the sense of progression, especially in the early hours. New traversal abilities gradually open alternative paths, and hidden narrative pockets give the world extra texture, though the overall flow isn’t always as smooth as the game’s style suggests.
The upgrade systems introduce a layer of tactical tension. Croma – earned through combat and exploration – can be used to enhance weapons and unlock customization slots, but any unbanked currency lost on death adds pressure to risky encounters. It’s a mechanic that encourages careful planning, though sparse save points and long returns to difficult fights can make setbacks feel heavier than intended. Some early materials also lack clear purposes, creating hesitation about committing to upgrades until later in the game.
Atmosphere carries much of the weight. The soundtrack drifts in and out, letting ambient sound shape the mood while the world leans into somber, sci-fi-tinged melancholy. Performance on PS5 is generally solid, though occasional stutters and uneven transitions reveal technical seams that stand out more during tense moments or fast traversal.
Taken together, Possessor(s) offers an evocative journey defined by its visual identity, emotional core, and expressive combat. It doesn’t always strike the balance it aims for – navigation can be uneven, and the precision demanded by its systems sometimes wavers – but its strongest moments leave a lasting impression. For players who appreciate Metroidvanias that value atmosphere and character as much as fast, technical action, this is a world worth venturing into.
Score: 7.3/10
Press Play Media 