The gaming landscape has seen its fair share of forgettable titles - especially these days, but Unknown 9: Awakening is shaping up to be a notch in the long line of Sweet Baby Inc.-influenced failures. As the game approaches release, the excitement levels are… well, pretty much non-existent.
Unknown 9 failed to capture the attention of gamers in the reveal and gameplay trailers, and (surprisingly) even professional reviewers aren’t exactly singing its praises with their early looks and time spent with it. Instead, many are labeling it as "very average"—a kiss of death in today’s ultra-competitive market.
From the gameplay revealed so far, Unknown 9 feels like a cheap throwback to the generic titles of the late 2000s. While admittedly, there’s a certain nostalgia to that era, it’s also a style of game that publishers have largely left behind—and for good reason. The linear, narrative-driven, clunky combat, QTE-laden approach is still appreciated by a small niche of players, but it simply doesn’t sell in the current era. Games that look and feel like a decade-old release rarely make an impact, and Unknown 9 feels more like a relic than something ready to compete with the blockbuster games of today. Pair that with the over-the-top 'cultural' injections... Well.. It makes you wonder what "audience" they're even aiming for here.
It’s hard not to see the parallels between Unknown 9 and previous Sweet Baby Inc.-influenced games that have tanked in the market. Unknown 9 boasts the usual set of generic mechanics—climbing up conveniently placed ledges, stealth sections, and combat that feels more clunky than satisfying.
The game’s biggest hook is a “stepping” ability, which allows you to control enemies momentarily. But even this mechanic seems to be "tacked-on" rather than fleshed out, and early feedback has indicated that the novelty wears off quickly anyways...
Then we see the community reaction on the YouTube trailers. It's... Not pretty.
One of the more troubling aspects is the lack of genuine excitement from even the most forgiving corners of the gaming community. "Professional" reviewers have noted that while Unknown 9 is “fine” it doesn’t do enough to stand out. In an age where “fine” simply doesn’t cut it, this game’s average status will spell disaster.
To make matters worse, the game is part of a broader 'transmedia' push that includes comics, novels, and podcasts—bold ambitions for a game that can’t even drum up enthusiasm on its own. Again, like Concord, putting the cart before the horse and jumping knee deep into marketing without naturally creating an audience first.
In the end, Unknown 9: Awakening looks like a PS3-era indie that's about to join the growing list of Sweet Baby Inc.-influenced games that failed to resonate with players or critics.
Despite some potentially 'novel' ideas, the game’s underwhelming execution and overall lack of innovation will likely keep it from being anything more than a minor blip on the radar. Unknown 9 is simply not the title to change anyone's mind about Sweet Baby Inc. And in today’s unforgiving market, “very average” just will not sell.
~Smash
