Yep, I sure did make fun of my friends for playing what looked like such a simple experience, all about numbers going up and up, and then poured dozens of hours into it myself once I gave it a try.

It's not easy to make something this simple, on its face, this compelling, but the rhythms are satisfying without being mindless. Having beaten it repeatedly now, I have my patterns, and am loathe to vary them, but I know mine are by no means the best, nor what my friends use, which shows the craft of the developer at work.

It's truly a triumph, the way Fromsoft managed to meld their honed gameplay loop from the souls series to a meticulously crafted world which is unlike any in their prior games. It does mean that it doesn't quite achieve the highest highs of their more singular visions, but it comes remarkably close. The Lands Between beg to be discovered of all they hold, and it held my attention raptly for its duration. Admittedly, this game's bosses caused me a fair bit of frustration, as they have continued to pushed the speed and complexity of
their combat, and I think it is starting to push just beyond the niche of enjoyable challenge they have staked their claim in. That said, some part of that is on me for playing this game in the same build as I have played most of their previous games, but if that becomes untenable, I can't say I won't be disappointed. However, the overreach is not insurmountable here, and the design and variety is commendable. It's astonishing the way this game managed to, not only live up to, but exceed the expectations most people laid at its feet, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I had such monumental praise for the base game, that when the DLC was announced, I was honestly worried that adding to it would end up being a detraction, due to the less focused nature. I was incredibly happy to be proven wrong, as this expansion almost feels like it could have been part of it from the start. It manages to expand the universe in fascinating ways, and captures that same ever elusive sense of mystery, curiosity, and discovery as the original, which was already a revelation. If there is criticism to be had, it is in how largely cordoned off the new content is (which can only be expected), and some of the puzzles lean a little more on the obtuse side compared to the original. However, that can barely undercut the achievement of this addition, which only deepens the emotional payoff of the full experience, and further cements it as one of the best video games yet crafted.

It was never likely to outdo the first game, and to my disappointment, but not surprise, it didn't. If the scope had been cut by a third, and that effort refocused into work on the main story, and characterization, it might have stood a fighting chance.

The events Aloy went through previously should heavily inform so much of what happens here, and yet it feels like she actively regresses in areas where she had grown. The melee system is far more than this combat demands, and the sheer volume of different weapon variations makes committing to more than one not worth the slog of resource gathering. Worst of all, the Hunting Grounds are terribly diminished in importance, with the best weapons no longer tied to these challenges but instead a boring arena.

That's all very negative, and what was on my mind when I finished the game, but the fundamental core of this game is as rock solid as ever. The robotic foes are fascinatingly varied, pushing well beyond the standard set, and fighting them is always a joy (Well, aside from how much more knockback these foes inflict over the first game. The arenas are chock full of healing grass because it's far more mandatory this time around.) The vistas are gorgeous, and the world aptly distinguishes itself from the areas explored in the first game, full of fascinating zones to play and climb around. The small, personal stories of new characters are still a treat, as is reading about the past.

I'm afraid the eventual next game in this series will commit further to the excesses that harmed this one, but I'll still eagerly await it, and hope to be proved wrong.

It's such a foregone conclusion to mention how gorgeous this game is, and yet it'd still feel wrong to skip it. Truly, a lovely world to run around in, full but not overstuffed. The story is refreshingly personal, at least as far as the main quest is concerned, and has a truly moving finale. The drawbacks of the standard open world are not missing here, but the high points do well to overshadow them. On top of that, the multiplayer is surprisingly engaging.

It's almost a shame that it's going to get a sequel, because this is such a complete work as it stands.

Incredibly easy to fall into "just one more level" with this game. The various systems all work nicely to vary your goals and gameplay styles based on the enemies, modifiers, and layouts. You almost always feel on your back feet, barring some generous ship traits (friendly enemies and free authorizations are significantly easier treks), which led me more than a few times to run the knife's edge between completely reckless and barely escaping. Ended a bit before I was ready to, I wish there had been more of a climax to the journey other than just cruising along the bottom of the nebula.