I Am Your Beast is a lightning-fast first-person shooter developed by Strange Scaffold, known for their stylistic games like El Paso, Elsewhere. With its comic book-inspired visuals, a heart-pounding soundtrack, and a unique blend of parkour and combat mechanics, I Am Your Beast challenges players to improvise, adapt, and survive in a world where speed and precision are key.

A relentless pursuit

I Am Your Beast is an electrifying revenge thriller that drops you into the boots of Alphonse Harding, a retired secret agent who, after refusing ‘one last job,’ ignites a furious guerrilla war against the Covert Operations Initiative (COI). Set against the backdrop of frosty wilderness, the game is a masterclass in speed, improvisation, and brutal combat, challenging players to fight, evade, and survive in a chaotic landscape littered with bodies and bullet casings.

Harding’s motivations are clear from the outset—he’s a man who has seen too much, done too much, and now simply wants to be left alone. The game does an excellent job of quickly establishing his character through excellent voice acting and early narrative beats. The player is immediately drawn into his world, understanding his reluctance to return to his former life and the fierce determination that drives him to protect his home from the encroaching forces of the COI. It’s a simple yet effective commentary on the inescapability of one’s past. No matter how hard Harding tries to leave his old life behind, it catches up with him, dragging him back into a world of bloodshed.

“…a masterclass in speed, improvisation, and brutal combat…”

The interactions between Harding and other characters, particularly through the in-game dialogue, add depth to his character. The banter is sharp, often laced with dark humour, and helps to humanise this killing machine. These moments of levity provide contrast to the extreme violence of the gameplay and offer insights into Harding’s psyche.

Between missions, the narrative unfolds through “kinetic typography” dialogue. While rendering its characters faceless, the pacing is generally tight, with the story moving quickly from one mission to the next, reflecting the game’s emphasis on speed and momentum.

Despite this, the narrative does suffer from a few inconsistencies. The missions, while exciting and varied in gameplay, don’t always align with the overarching plot. Some missions feel like filler, serving more as a vehicle to move the player to the next set piece rather than advancing the story in a meaningful way. The ending of I Am Your Beast is also a letdown. After a short and sweet three hours of building up a tense storyline, the conclusion feels anticlimactic. The final mission, though accompanied by an energetic and fitting hip-hop song, is just a wave-based challenge (which we’ll come back to later) that lacks the narrative punch expected from a climax.

I Am Your Beast Review – Ultra-violence power fantasy

Killer instinct

The gameplay and mechanics of I Am Your Beast are where the game truly excels, offering a blend of speed, improvisation, and intensity that creates a highly engaging and dynamic experience. The game places a strong emphasis on fluid movement, quick decision-making, and satisfying combat, all of which are integral to its overall design.

Each mission is a John Wick movie, eliminating enemies, avoiding traps, and achieving specific objectives within often tight, confined spaces. The health system, for example, allows you to charge through agents and take more than one hit before dying, with health packs found throughout levels. The haste of the gameplay hits you like a brick wall, encouraging relentless momentum from one objective to the next.

“The haste of the gameplay hits you like a brick wall, encouraging relentless momentum from one objective to the next.”

The combat in I Am Your Beast is visceral and fulfilling improvisation. Harding can use a variety of weapons, from pistols and sniper rifles to more unconventional tools like bear traps and throwing knives. The environment is also a weapon, picking up firearms dropped by enemies, setting traps, and even throwing empty guns as projectiles to stun opponents. Players are encouraged to think on their feet, consistently switching between weapons mid-battle.

Parkour mechanics, while enabling great traversal across levels, have flaws. Transitioning from one surface to another—such as moving from one tree branch to the next—can feel clunky. There’s a short stop that disturbs movement, which is crucial for a game that relies so heavily on swiftness. This momentary hesitation can be jarring, especially when you’re in the middle of a chaotic chase or combat sequence. Despite these issues and when the movement works as intended, it adds to the enjoyment. The ability to quickly scale trees, vault over obstacles, and drop down on unsuspecting enemies captures the feeling of an unyielding hunter, always on the move and always one step ahead of your enemies.

Mastering the art of war

The mission structure in I Am Your Beast is designed with replayability in mind. Each mission is graded based on performance, with ratings ranging from C to S. To achieve the highest rating, you’ll need to complete missions quickly—often by completing additional objectives such as executing a specific type of kill or avoiding damage. Additional challenge missions unlock progressively as you complete the main story. Without a doubt, fans of Neon White and Superhot are going to have an absolute blast playing this game over, and over, again fighting for the fastest speed runs and stylish clips.

“…fans of Neon White and Superhot are going to have an absolute blast playing this game over, and over, again…”

The game does include a few difficulty spikes, particularly in missions against large numbers of enemies at once or dealing with environmental hazards. These spikes may be frustrating for some, especially when they interrupt the otherwise smooth flow. However, they also add a sense of tension, reminding players even the most skilled can be brought down if they are not careful.

That said, wave-based missions are at odds with the design goals. These missions require clearing spawning agents from all directions, slowing down a game that wants you to keep moving. The enemies aren’t AI geniuses, either. They’ll appear right behind Harding’s line of sight and move slowly towards him until eliminated. Wave-based missions feel so out of place and simply don’t make the most of the fun gameplay mechanics.

Symphony of destruction

I Am Your Beast draws heavily from comic book-inspired art styles. The world is rendered in bold, vivid colours that emphasise the intensity. Enemies, hazards, and environments, whether it’s golden and sunlit or the pitch-black of night, are rendered with a slightly exaggerated, stylised look that evokes the feel of an ultra-violent graphic novel.

The soundtrack, composed by RJ Lake, is a major highlight of the game. Known for his work on titles like Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator and El Paso, Elsewhere, Lake delivers an adrenaline-charged, high-tempo score that perfectly complements the game’s accelerated action. The music is a blend of electronic beats and driving rhythms that heighten the sense of urgency during missions.

“There were moments the music was so engaging that I was actually distracted from the objectives at hand, absorbing me into the rhythm of combat.”

Each track feels like it matches the tempo of gameplay, with the music often ramping up in intensity during key moments. There were moments the music was so engaging that I was actually distracted from the objectives at hand, absorbing me into the rhythm of combat. The soundtrack not only enhances the gameplay experience but is an integral part of what makes I Am Your Beast so memorable.

The sound effects are well-crafted with each gunshot, explosion, and melee attack accompanied by a crisp and impactful sound. However, the mix is certainly loud and missions including helicopter fire may be grating on the ears. There is an opportunity for audio balancing that may help make the game more accessible for those with hearing troubles.

Voice acting is another strong point, with the narration and character dialogue delivered with conviction and emotion. The voice work does an excellent job of conveying the intensity of Harding’s motives and journey, as well as the personalities of the various characters he encounters.

9

Amazing

Positive:

Fun, fast-paced gameplay
Stylish comic book visuals
Adrenaline inducing soundtrack
Great supporting story with replayability
Strong voice acting and dialogue

Negative:

Clunky parkour transitions
Wave missions disrupt flow

I Am Your Beast delivers an adrenaline injection of action with style. The game’s intense, fast-paced gameplay is driven by its pulse-pounding soundtrack and engaging story. While a few rough edges in parkour mechanics and mission design prevent it from achieving mastery, its thrills and aesthetic make it an ultra-violence power fantasy. This is a game where every second counts and every kill is a testament to skill.