The main thing that sets Unknown 9: Awakening apart from other similar games is the set of abilities that the main character Haroona can use during her adventure. However, she does not start the journey with all these abilities, so here’s when you’ll get each ability and how it works.
Crush
The first ability you’ll receive in Unknown 9: Awakening is Crush, which can be found in the opening chapter of the game with Haroona and Reika. When you acquire the magical braces, Reika will ask you to use them on the wall to break it and open a passage by pressing the triangle button on PlayStation or Y on Xbox. But this is just one of the uses of this ability. Crush has multiple capabilities; it can be used to detonate explosives and items to activate them, or to disable machines and traps, and even use it on the surrounding environment to open a path. Each time you encounter a crushable element, it is likely to be helpful in one way or another.
Crush may seem limited in use at first, but it quickly becomes a crucial tool in combat to freeze and stop enemies.
Heal
One of the most useful abilities you will unlock in Unknown 9 is the Heal ability, which allows Haroona to regain some health using magical energy Am by pressing the left button on the D-Pad. You will get this ability after your first combat encounter in the first chapter. Heal does not become more complicated as you progress in the game, but it remains useful as it was when you first obtained it. Haroona will usually heal after most combat encounters, but if you are in desperate need of health during battle, attacking enemies to collect Am energy and then using it to heal is a wise choice.
Push
It’s time to summon Jedi powers, as the next ability in Unknown 9: Awakening is Push. Just like the Crush ability, you will get this ability in the opening chapter of the game while exploring with Reika after several combat encounters. As the name suggests, this ability allows you to push enemies away from Haroona by pressing the L2 button on PlayStation or LT on Xbox.
The uses of Push are largely clear, but it can be used to create distance between you and the enemy, as well as push them towards objects to activate them, such as explosives or gas canisters. The best use of Push is when you are near an edge or a high place, where you can push the enemy to make them fall and get an instant kill, which is very helpful in later combat arenas.
Peek
One of the most useful abilities in Unknown 9: Awakening is Peek, which allows Haroona to take a peek into the other dimension to spot enemies in the adjacent area by pressing up on the D-Pad. Haroona is taught how to use this ability in the opening chapters of the game and it comes shortly after you acquire the Push ability.
While Peek starts off simple, you can upgrade it to highlight collectible items and even keep enemies tagged once you look at them using this ability. It doesn’t consume any Am energy, so it’s useful to use it every time you’re in a stealth encounter and want to track enemies.
Step
Without a doubt, the most important ability in Unknown 9: Awakening is Stepping, which allows Haroona to jump into enemies’ bodies and control them for a short time by pressing the square button on PlayStation or X on Xbox. You will get this ability at the end of the first chapter of the game and receive a short training on how it works.
After using the Step symbol and jumping into an enemy’s body, Haroona can move them for a short period and can also use their basic attack against their friends or nearby objects in the surrounding environment. Though you start with using only one Step, you can get up to three uses as you progress through the story and gain experience. The Step ability recharges each time you defeat an enemy or cause sufficient damage.
There are various ways you can use Step, but some of the best include walking the enemy towards Haroona to execute a quick stealth attack, or using it to place the enemy near an edge to perform an instant kill by pushing them, or creating a shockwave when there are a large number of enemies gathered. It’s a fundamental tool that must be mastered in stealth or combat.
Shroud
Another essential tool in the game Unknown 9 is Shroud, which Haroona will unlock early in the second chapter of the game. By pressing the Down button on the D-Pad, Haroona can hide herself for a short period of time and become completely invisible to her enemies, making it ideal for stealth.
The Shroud ability does not last long and consumes the Am bar quickly, but it is worth using every time you want to quietly eliminate an enemy. It can also be used during battles to temporarily disappear and reposition yourself, but it’s not always reliable if you want to vanish permanently.
Umbric Shield
My favorite ability in Haroona’s arsenal is Umbric Shield, which you unlock near the end of the second chapter of the game Unknown 9: Awakening. By continuously pressing the L1 button on PlayStation or LB on Xbox, Haroona uses her energy to summon a shield that can deflect attacks and bullets. It also emits a distinctive sound that gives me satisfaction when bullets hit it.
As you progress in the game and face more enemies wielding firearms, Umbric Shield becomes an essential tool that you must master. While bullet deflection is useful, the shield can also be used in hand-to-hand combat to deflect attacks (parry) and perform counter-attacks (riposte) if used at the right time.
Ripple
One of the least used abilities in Unknown 9 is Ripple, which you will unlock in the third chapter of the game as you explore the forest with Luther. By continuously pressing the right button on the D-Pad, Haroona creates an energy ball that can be thrown into the surrounding environment to scatter enemies.
If you have played Assassin’s Creed and used a rock to distract enemies, you’ll know how to use Ripple. Though the concept is good in theory, this ability often gets stuck in the environment when thrown, and its range is limited until upgraded. In general, it’s preferable to use Shroud and handle things yourself.
Pull
What would Haroona’s set of abilities be if she could push but not pull? By the time you reach the end of the third chapter of Unknown 9, Haroona will gain the ability to pull her enemies towards her by pressing L2 on PlayStation or LT on Xbox, which requires consuming some Am energy.
Initially, the pulling ability may seem useful only for opening enemies to melee attacks, but it becomes more useful over time as you learn how to pull enemies towards explosives or bombs launched by your foes. If upgraded, it can also be used for heavy attacks, making it more useful.
Umbric Attacks
The final power you will unlock in Unknown 9: Awakening is Umbric Attack, which you can obtain in the fifth chapter of the game after traversing through the forest and reaching the village. Once you find Reika’s talisman, you will gain this ultimate ability, which is activated by pressing or holding R2 on PlayStation or RT on Xbox.
Umbric Attacks allow you to use Am energy to send a copy of Haroona to attack enemies. Both light and heavy versions of Umbric attacks build a separate bar that allows you to perform a Burst Attack and deal significant damage to enemies. The light version resembles projectiles, while the heavy version is a shocking wave. Both are among the strongest attacks in the game.
Tip: If the enemy is using defense (blocking), they will not receive any Faze-type damage. So, make sure to use a regular heavy attack to break their defense and return them to a state where they can receive damage.
