Possessor(s) [REVIEW] – Stylishly Demonic Metroidvania Action

Possessor(s) arrives at that ideal time… you know… when most players might’ve beaten Silksong and are itching for another Metroidvania adventure. It helps that it also happens to be a visually striking 2D action-adventure built around slick combat and streamlined yet satisfying exploration, and whilst it is held back a little by some mechanical inconsistencies, it still offers an enjoyable journey for players to embark upon.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The story of Possessor(s) begins with Luca, a teenager severely injured when a catastrophic demon outbreak tears through her city. With her legs gone and death seemingly moments away, she agrees to share her body with a demon named Rhem. This partnership between the two really shines as you progress through the story and uncover the role of a powerful corporation behind the disaster, whilst the piecing together of fragments of shared memories help bring a deeper sense of scope to the emotional toil it players on the characters. This dynamic between Luca and Rhem keeps the narrative engaging from start to end, with their initially hostile arrangement growing into something far more intriguing as you progress – and sure, the tale does have its wobbles where some events or characters can feel a little under-baked, but there’s enough going on to keep things interesting.

Combat is undoubtedly the standout feature of Possessor(s), offering a mixture of standard melee beat downs, special abilities, and traversal tools to ensure showdowns with enemies are both strategic and stylish. Luca has access to multiple melee weapons throughout the game, each with their own timing and reach to help diversify her skillset, whilst secondary weapons drawn from everyday objects help grant unique effects that add to the flair of your attacks. Launching enemies, stunning groups, parrying attacks, using the whip to close space, or juggling airborne foes… it all contributes to a combat system that feels intuitive, flexible, and, most importantly, a lot of fun. There’s a good balance of attacking prowess, thoughtful defending, and slick manoeuvrability that all come together nicely to ensure that showdowns with foes are always rewarding.

“Possessor(s) has some imperfections, but it’s still an atmospheric, rewarding, and stylish Metroidvania that offers plenty for players to enjoy.”

There’s also an element of progression that allows players to tweak stats and abilities, encouraging them to adjust their loadout to suit different encounter types. Upgrades can be purchased by collecting a currency that’s dropped by enemies, but be warned: it must be deposited through specific rift-like portals to be used, and if you die, you risk losing it all in a despairing Souls-like fashion, adding a somewhat mild sense of risk and reward to longer excursions away from checkpoints. It’s a system that works well in theory – rewarding careful planning and those who are patient in their approach – but can sometimes feel inconvenient if upgrade points are far away, often making it a bit of a drag to actually reap the rewards of your efforts.

Whilst the combat of Possessor(s) is mostly strong, there are some elements of its design that are a bit more inconsistent. Dodging can often feel a little unreliable, chain attacks don’t consistently link together fluidly, and certain enemies can stun-lock or overwhelm players in ways that feel unintentionally punishing. These aren’t necessarily game-breaking issues, but they occur often enough to interrupt what are otherwise satisfying encounters. Players who find these bumps too disruptive can select an Easy Mode, which eases the difficulty without removing the core combat features, but it won’t completely erase the mechanical roughness… hopefully it’s something that can be fixed pretty soon, because it does detract from what is otherwise a sharp and rewarding combat system.

Check out some screenshots down below:

When it comes to exploration, Possessor(s) follows a Metroidvania structure that players familiar with the genre would be used to. New abilities gradually widen access to areas, allowing players to re-tread previous territory to hit what were previously inaccessible areas, whilst there are plenty of secrets to uncover along the way. That being said, it should be noted that exploration is a bit more streamlined, with Possessor(s) a lot less demanding than similar titles with maze-like interconnected areas that’ll often leave you wondering where to go next (this is something that some players might actually appreciate). Limited fast travel points and the need to revisit banking portals can bring with it some backtracking stretches that slow the pace down, but overall, Possessor(s) is a lot more forgiving than similar titles in the genre when it comes to exploration.

It also shines brightly with its presentation, and whilst the world is one of bleak, industrial decay, some delightfully bold colours and imaginative creature designs help make the city feel surreal and alive. Character portraits are expressive, the animation style enhances the personality of combat, and there’s a real sense of… well… coolness to be found across the board (bad choice of word but it makes snese), with Possessor(s), one of those experiences that’s simply oozing with style. The audio design is great too thanks to the banging soundtrack – it would have been nice if there was voice acting, but that’s a minor quirk as opposed to being a real issue.

Developer: Heart Machine
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2132890/Possessors/