Stepping into the deepest recesses of Bandai Namco’s domain at Summer Game Fest Play Days, we were immersed in the captivating realm of Unknown 9. This expansive narrative transcends traditional boundaries, encompassing comics, novels, podcasts, and soon, a thrilling video game. This project displays a remarkable level of ambition, with commendable effort put into constructing a captivating universe. However, it is only when we look beyond the specific names and terms that Unknown 9: Awakening truly reveals its potential.

However, if we attempt to comprehend it, so should you. The Unknown 9, as the name suggests, are immortal beings who possess a profound connection to The Fold, an enigmatic parallel dimension. It is believed that they have observed the entirety of human existence, yet the reason behind their vigil remains a mystery. There is a group called Quaestors who strongly believe in the profound wisdom and power of the number 9. Interestingly, these individuals have formed themselves into two distinct factions. The Leap Year Society is dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the number 9 and sharing its knowledge with humanity, all in the name of progress and benefit for all. Meanwhile, The Ascendants are determined to obtain this knowledge exclusively, with the goal of disrupting the repetitive pattern of humanity’s tumultuous past.

Haroona, our protagonist, possesses the ability to access The Fold, which grants her unique and extraordinary powers, including the ability to Step. She has the ability to briefly enter The Fold, allowing her to take control of individuals and manipulate various objects. She is driven by an unwavering determination to avenge her father’s death at the hands of Vincent.

The abundance of context provided here is crucial for establishing an intriguing narrative, although it can be quite overwhelming to process. Thankfully, based on the gameplay footage we were presented with, it seems that the game is coming along quite well. This action adventure game focuses heavily on combat and incorporates Haroona’s supernatural powers.

She can step into enemies to take control of them for a short time. When she does, you can control what the enemy does next. For example, you could hit a close danger or shoot another enemy. When she comes back to her own body, these things happen, and the bad guys basically kill themselves. Of course, Haroona can only use this skill very rarely, but it gives her an advantage even when she is surrounded.

You’ll be able to use this more often as the game goes on, but it’s still limited. You’ll also be able to unlock other skills along three paths. We’ve been told that you won’t be able to get all of these skills at once, so you’ll have to pick and choose which ones to use. But even though Stepping will become more common, enemies will take steps to stop it. A part of our hands-off practice happened at an enemy outpost where they had set up a zone that stopped people from stepping on it. You can’t use any of Haroona’s special abilities in that area, but you can sneak through and turn off the machine if you stay out of it. It looks like each task will have at least two different ways to complete it.

The Stepping concept seems like it could be very useful, even though we didn’t get to play it. You can set up some cool combinations, like having one enemy fire their gun at an explosive where other enemies are waiting, then having a different enemy attack the first enemy. It will also be used to solve simple puzzles and look around, since Haroona can also push and pull things. As you explore, you’ll find items that give you more information, and a beautiful journal will keep track of everything you’ve learned.

Even though the main story is a little hard to follow, Unknown 9: Awakening is a really fun game anyway. Keep in mind that each story in the larger world can be read on its own, so you don’t have to connect with the others if you don’t want to. Even so, it feels like a lot to think about. Since the game isn’t coming out until Fall 2024, we should be able to play it soon to see if the gameplay is good enough to keep it going.