Impressions of REANIMAL: Special in everything, you must try it

This demo is just the tip of the iceberg of a title that promises a magnificent and terrifying experience.

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There are names that are forged over time, and others that achieve success in unexpected ways, with doses of quality, narrative, and something different. That’s how a name made its way into our hearts: Little Nightmares had arrived to stay, and this made us think of a promising future.

However, something was happening internally in the relationship between Bandai Namco and Tarsier Studios, as the latter would no longer be in charge of the third installment of Little Nightmares. But this had an unpredictable background, and it’s not that they weren’t interested in development.

Tarsier Studios considered that what was told in the first two installments of their successful game was enough and represented a worthy closure. That’s why they were looking to work on something new, although this time they wouldn’t have the support of the Japanese giant.

REANIMAL emerges as their new terrifying IP and debuts with a new demo

This way, we arrive at a new IP, REANIMAL, which was being developed after their first games’ success. That’s how Tarsier Studios returns, after several advances and the promise of a demo on Steam, which is now available.

We’ve played it, and I can only say it’s great. You can check it out in this YouTube link to enjoy everything it has to offer. I’ll also share some details we’ve discovered while playing this short but substantial demo.

• Technical aspect: in this regard, the game exceeds expectations. From the moment you start on the sea, on that boat, you notice the attention to detail. If you explore the environments, you’ll notice the tremendous audiovisual work; it’s very well done and feels different from what we’ve seen in Little Nightmares, despite sharing that air of terror (played on an ASUS TUF Gaming RTX3050 with 32 GB of RAM).
• Local co-op (also online): this game is more enjoyable in company, and it’s a way to share and take advantage of your partner’s help. Co-op can be played locally or online, so you don’t have to worry, just enjoy the journey accompanied.
• The big surprise, voices?: this first approach has surprised me by including voices and a well-done Latin American Spanish dubbing (no Castilian version available). It’s not common to have these elements, but the way they’re included is superb and adds a deeper layer of immersion for both the player and the characters.
• Atmosphere: it’s no surprise that the scenarios and environment are completely dark, with an air of mystery and intrigue at the same time. It’s very well worked, with every detail making you shiver at every movement and situation. Lastly, they’re varied and substantial, with a good sense of freedom.
• Characters: we have two brothers seeking hope, although it seems that in this terrifying world, there’s not much of it. Both will share an adventure in which they’ll depend on each other.
• Gameplay: the formula has been refined, and it feels more dynamic and organic. Both characters complement each other and help each other in a more natural way. The AI of the other protagonist is active and doesn’t just wait for you. Additionally, in this demo, we have moments of stealth, action (running and escaping), exploration, and various environments. We even get to ride a boat and a cart on rails; it’s a marvel.
• Enemies: we have several of them, quite frightening and menacing. From the small, fast, and deadly ones to the larger ones, which are impressive and impossible to face. They provide moments of tension that can’t be missed and are part of the experience’s DNA.
• Difficulty: despite having several threats and challenges, dying a couple of times will be normal while you get used to the enemies. Don’t worry, it didn’t seem difficult to me; it’s just a learning process to advance and understand the intruders’ behaviors.
• Puzzles or riddles: as the developers have us accustomed to, we have a variety of moments that we must resolve, either with a key, a lever, or some necessary object to advance. You won’t have to break your head, but you’ll have to think a bit before continuing. I think it’s balanced and fair.
• Collectibles: in this demo, we have masks, and at least I’ve managed to get two out of three. That’s right, I explored and searched every corner; they’re not easy to get, you’ll have to put in the effort to get them and get 100% of what the game has to offer.

Overall balance: to conclude, despite being short, it’s enough to give us a deep idea of what REANIMAL has to offer. It’s direct, crude, and raises the tension with an extraordinary atmosphere. This is just the tip of the iceberg of a game that promises to be exceptional.