Review - I Am Your Beast

Developer: Strange Scaffold

Publisher: Strange Scaffold, Frosty Pop

Available on: PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5

Review system: Xbox Series X|S via Xbox Game Pass

You might be done with the past, but the past isn't done with you. In the case of former special operations soldier Alphone Harding, the past finds him in the woods, like a horrifying monster stalking prey. Sometimes when the past doesn't want to let you go, you have to fight to keep the past where it belongs. 

I Am Your Beast comes from Strange Scaffold, the same developer behind El Paso, Elsewhere. This time around, the developer trades vampires and Max Payne-inspired gameplay for a lightning-fast first-person shooter where the enemy is the military industrial complex and its ruthless inhumanity.

First Blood

I Am Your Beast is a first-person shooter with a focus on fast-paced, combo-focused gameplay. As a former agent of the Covert Operations Initiative, players possess a particular set of skills that make them dangerous to those who would dare cross them. You just want peace, and they are out to get you.

The gameplay centers on kinetic action and combat. Harding is a soldier who specializes in movement, navigation, and quick ways to dispatch enemies. The tutorial introduces players to the quick movements of the game. Players can run, climb walls, and navigate trees. Understanding the movement is essential as the game doesn't blink for a moment. Levels take place in micro-sandbox environments, giving flexibility to both players and enemies.

Machine of War

Moving around has a heft to consider. Harding is fast, but he isn't a cyborg or Sonic the Hedgehog. There is a weight to consider and get a feel for, which is crucial for eliminating enemies in rapid succession. Understanding movement is especially important when jumping from the air and kicking an enemy in the head. This brings us to the combat, which is immeasurably satisfying. 

I Am Your Beast taps into what a “Beast Mode” is. Being locked in, some fire in your gut, and taking down enemies in a talented fashion. The start of the game begins with simple melee attacks, but soon brings more tools into the mix. I Am Your Beast becomes not just about fighting enemies but how well they can be taken down, as well as how fast. 

The Beast Awakens

Eliminating an enemy is a start, but shooting a group of enemies right after throwing a knife at one and stomping another is a very unique and different kind of brutal thrill. It's action-packed and fresh, constantly encouraging players to think fast and fight faster. Mix in firearms and environmental hazards like hornet nests, and there is quite an exciting variety of ways to take down enemies. 

Each level in I Am Your Beast provides a different challenge. One level sets players to eliminate all hostiles, while another encourages running through a level to an exit. Secondary objectives set new challenges, such as only performing headshots or securing laptops. I Am Your Beast challenges players but encourages them as well. Each objective completed felt like a rewarding rush and and the game silently tells the player, “Yeah, you're good, but can you do better?” At the end of each level, players are graded. The score factors consist of time, eliminations, and the type of eliminations. Speed is everything, and the faster a level can be completed, the better the score.

The Beast roars 

Playing I Am Your Beast is euphoric, charged, aggressive, and white-knuckle. Each level and action gives players that needle drip of dopamine that hits like a bat out of hell. There is a unique level of badassery to the gameplay when bad guys are being felled in spectacular fashion. one moment, a bad guy gets kicked in. Next, another bad guy gets murdered by hornets from a well-placed buckshot. The next, a slick slide and a well-placed shot at an explosive barrel blow up a squad of helpless soldiers.

The ebb and flow is fluid. Think fast, fight faster, get creative, and make them play. There is this encouragement to the gameplay that confronts [layers to play good but get even better. Sure, there's going through a level once and completing it, but can you do it better? Can you go harder and faster? Can you beat the times and complete special objectives? Yes, of course you can, even if they are a challenge.

Strike Hard and Fast

The stylized comic-book-inspired visuals lend themselves to the carnage. The game's visual accessibility keeps the world clean and identifiable. It adds to the plunacy and over-the-top action set pieces that players experience during their time with I Am Your Beast. Had the visuals been more realistic, I Am Your Beast would not have the same kind of impact. Its identity would be nonexistent.

A thumping electronic soundtrack pumps blood through the veins like a pump-action shotgun. It definitely feels reminiscent of hard shooters like Hotline Miami, but it works here with the fluidity of both the movement and the combat. It works tremendously to accelerate the excitement and punctuate the action.

Hotline Beast

Between each mission are cutscenes that tell the story of Harding and his yearning for a peaceful life, only to be interrupted by the COI. This is a tale about the inhumanity of the military-industrial complex. Harding is similar to John Rambo in that he is a special ops soldier looking for a peaceful life, but now he's pushed and is trying to fight back. The scenes are told in text messages with full voice-over, making a compelling narrative that is simple but effective. 

Perhaps the only drawback to I Am Your Beast is the length. The game can be completed in four hours, with a little extra time for secondary objectives and improving one’s score. There is an additional campaign, including a list of super-challenging levels. This makes I Am Your Beast excellent for a quick afternoon or quick bursts of gameplay. I would have wanted to see another batch of levels or an additional small campaign, but the length is optimal for this kind of game and gameplay style. 

I Am Your Beast

I Am Your Beast is an exciting and action-packed good time. Its gameplay hook and strong story make for a short but engaging and thrilling adventure that will keep players coming back. There's still life left for this style of game, and I Am Your Beast sees that there is plenty of opportunity to tap into if you mix heart with imagination. They struck first. Strike back. 

I Am Your Beast is Highly Recommended