A Polygon opinion piece argues that Beast of Reincarnation, Game Freak's new action RPG marketed as a "one-person, one-dog" adventure, is let down by its companion dog Koo, whose constant on-screen alerts strip away any sense of discovery. Although the game features large maps with side paths and hidden items, the writer says Koo's pop-up notifications flag virtually everything of note the instant players approach, turning exploration into a rote exercise of following markers rather than genuinely finding anything.

The reviewer also criticises Koo's repeated barking to signal nearby enemies, calling it excessive and unhelpful given players are often already aware, though the piece notes enemies themselves never react to the noise. Combined with maps that lack visual variety and some awkward invisible walls, the writer concludes that Koo functions less like a character and more like a blunt gameplay mechanic, undermining what should otherwise be a promising exploration-focused game from the Pokémon studio.