Possessor(s)

"Beautiful yet flawed, Possessor(s) misses the mark with its blend of Metroidvania exploration and brawler combat, resulting in an unfortunately frustrating fusion."

"Possessor(s) took me by surprise. I knew nothing about it going in, bar the reveal trailer I watched as I discovered it. It is fun, funny, and heartfelt. It tells a fairly emotional story, one that reflects on humanity, our …"

"Possessor(s) is one of the most unconventional Metroidvanias that I&s;ve played thanks to its visceral dystopian world and focus on equipment-based combat that rewards experimentation, practice, and patience much more than brute force. Now, that&s;s clever and quite cool indeed. …"

"Possessor is a work of obvious and fascinating contradictions. A title that shines at its highest peaks, but stumbles loudly in its structural flaws. Heart Machine has crafted an exceptional combat system: fast, technical, deep, and free of unnecessary frustrations …"

"Possessor(s) is a brave return to the 2D genre that made Heart Machine famous. The fighting is fun, the main characters are interesting, and the art direction is definitely stylish. However, it struggles to maintain that pace throughout the entire …"

"Heart Machine has done a stellar job in trying to make it into the Metroidvania space. Whilst the art direction and combat are enjoyable, quite a few other things lets down this demonic extravaganza. Thankfully, it doesn’t outstay its welcome …"

"With a map that pleads to be unlocked and explored wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, as well as tremendous combat inspired by the best platform fighters, Possessor(s) is a heartfelt, and most unexpectedly great, Metroidvania that treats story and action, two distinct and …"

"A stirring story of emotional abuse and the horrors of capitalism reinforce fine search-action play."

"While Possessor(s) doesn’t fully break from a crowded field of search-action games, its compelling characters and pointed commentary give it some personality of its own. If you’re eager to explore man-made horrors, this flaming wreck of a company town will …"

"Possessor(s) creates a disconnect when you hold the controller. There&s;s a disconnect between what it seems to offer (adversity, atmosphere, powers) and its execution (the fluidity and frenetic nature of the gameplay). This near-dissonance makes it feel generic, like many …"

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

"Possessor(s) is a beautiful Metroidvania with an open structure that encourages exploration and lets you progress at your own pace. While its platforming and combat are both solid, they lack the distinctive flair needed to match the game’s stunning art …"

"Possessor(s) isn’t short on heart and style, but sometimes the gameplay doesn’t seem as innovative and tight as the concept. PC version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes."

"Possessor(s) is perfectly fine while it&s;s happening, but its rote exploration and weak enemy variety mean it&s;ll be hard to remember once it&s;s over."

"Possessor(s) is one of those games that sticks with you more for its moment-to-moment experience than for its overall plot. The story’s corporate-villain angle is serviceable but nothing new, what makes it special are the characters, the world, and the …"

"Possessor(s) combines a compelling narrative, solid understanding of Metroid-like design and genuinely fun combat for an experience that is intensely captivating."

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

"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 …"

"Possessor(s) just does’t live up to the potential. It’s a functionally competent and serviceable metroidvania title that does little to stand out in the wave of excellent metroidvania titles. There are some good ideas, and I had a blast with …"

"Heart Machine&s;s Possessor(s) is an attractive 2D metroidvania, with odd design choices."

"Possessor(s) is a polished, character-driven Metroidvania that blends fluid combat, rewarding exploration, and emotionally engaging storytelling. It doesn&s;t change the genre, but its bright visuals, smart gameplay, and memorable main characters make it a fun and enjoyable experience."

"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 …"

"Initially full of potential, Heart Machine&s;s latest eventually runs out of gas when it&s;s not stumbling off some awkward combat issues."

"A Metroidvania set in a mega-city ruined by demons, Possessor(s) unfortunately fails to fulfil its potential due to clunky combat and general lack of polish."

"Heart Machine&s;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 …"

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

"Possessor(s) is a good Metroidvania experience crafted by the talented studio Hear Machine. The mechanics are well-established and reminiscent of the classics of the genre, but what impressed us most was the art design, which is one of the best …"

"Possessor(s) isn’t a genre-defining metroidvania, but it grips you with its dark, stylish world. Heart Machine delivers a satisfying combat system, striking art direction, and a ’90s anime vibe. Despite chaotic progression and some questionable design choices, exploring Sanzu and …"

"Possessor(s) is flash, stylish and fabulous in its presentation, but where the strong visuals and weighty soundtrack offer a glimpse of an incredible game under the surface, the mediocre pacing and unusual design choices hamper the experience. Even so, Metroidvania …"

"It&s;s a Metroidvania with some problems, but it delivers what it promises. It doesn&s;t offer anything new, it&s;s not very original, but it works well with what it has. If you&s;re not used to the genre, Possessor(s) is NOT for …"

"Possessor(s) brings a lot of success to the table: lots of boss fights, chunky and engaging combat, and a robust world to explore. Combine that with a strong narrative, and you have a recipe for success. The whip needs some …"

"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 …"

"Possessor(s) has attractive visuals and a well-presented story, but is hampered by its Metroidvania structure, which doesn&s;t offer enough rewarding exploration to justify itself. The uninteresting exploration and the fast-paced but unvaried combat prevent the game from standing out in …"

"Possessor(s) is an enjoyable, smooth-running, well-presented title with a fun combat system and polished art direction. It&s;s a product that works and that knows how to entertain anyone familiar with the genre. However, it cannot escape what we might call …"

"Possessor(s) is many things: stylized, satisfying, occasionally frustrating, and short but sweet despite its large map. It&s;s a familiar yet solid gameplay loop with few frills, save for shirtless demon protagonists and neon stylizations."