An improvement over 3! I can see how it could be controversial, but I think the carrying over of design elements from The Last Of Us worked to the game’s benefit, and while they didn’t fully solve the combat being the weakest link, it’s much much MUCH improved. Probably the game in this series I’m most likely to replay someday.

Maybe the platonic ideal of an indie-developed Soulslike? Does just enough new to avoid feeling like its hopping on a bandwagon, and I really liked how they used the eldritch, unknowable aspects of FromSoft lore as a metaphor for ocean pollution. (Even if the 'hey, doesn't capitalism suck?' NPC conversations got a bit preachy by the 20th one.) Can't wait to see what this team makes next!

Some really great set pieces, but you can reeeeally feel the crunched development when it comes to connecting story beats, and the fact they’re still relying so much on bullet-sponge cover shooting sections 3 games in makes me a lot less tolerant of how much they mess with the pacing.

Definitely understand the hype around this game now. Some absolute all-timer setpieces, and a huge improvement in so many areas over the first game. Still a bit too sloggy with the shootout segments at times, but at least some of those shootouts happen during a platforming section on the back of high-speed Jeeps, so still a major improvement in that department overall.

A charming mix of trend-setting innovation with the climbing emphasis, and more retro 3D game tendencies. Love the tone and characters, don’t love the bullet-sponge enemy shooting sections. Hope the sequels focus more on climbing.