[~1hr in]
YES. 1000% YES. This is fun as hell! I already loved the art style because it reminded me of Sable. The gameplay is like Tony Hawk's with guns! What is not to love?! I am totally here for this! Let's goooo!

[~5hrs in]
This game continues to keep me fully engaged and immersed. The feeling of synchronised pandemonium, delectable chaos, a symphony of carnage! I'm over here in poetic slow motion, flying majestically through the air halfway through pulling off a flawless 1080° Coffin Grab, whilst casually firing a multitude of perfectly aimed headshots like I'm in VATS off Fallout, unleashing entire clips that scream across the arena in all directions, taking down several enemies before I drop smoothly back into the halfpipe and catapult out at regular speed, just in time to see bodies drop all around me. Satisfying AF!

[~14hrs - END]
Platinum earned. Fun game aside from getting the 2500pt trick Challenge which was frustrating as it kept failing to register the Trick Token.

[~1.5hrs in]
First and foremost, let me begin by saying that Trico is both adorable and terrifying. It's like an XL Bully that you want to befriend; you stroke it cautiously, yet cannot ignore the possibility it may randomly snap and tear your face off at any moment. The game, though beautiful in design, does a spectacular job of no hand-holding whatsoever; I've already got frustrated enough to Google how to get past a section because the hint kept telling me to climb, but I could not find anything to climb. Turned out, I didn't need to climb; the hint was misleading to say the least. The path so far it has been relatively linear, unsure if that's how it remains throughout, but exploration feels faux organic - it seems like you're following your own intuition and figuring it out, but there really is no other way to proceed so eventually you're always going to end up being correct. The game has a constant tension, like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop... or my companion to maul me... I'm intrigued, but by no means blown away.

[4hrs in]
Did not finish. I'm regrettably abandoning this title already. The concept is nice, Trico is cool and the premise of training him like some kinda alien dog is novel... but my god are the controls janky and the environment repetitively bland. Jumping, climbing, and even running is frustrating - it's not smooth at all. And the gameplay is just not fun. I checked the IGN walkthrough to get a sense of how long the game is and after seeing I'm only on Part 5/14, I can't be bothered to endure that much more of this. I have way too many other games on my Backlog to find time for.

[~2.5hrs in]
Cute, charming, childish and nostalgic. Reminds me very much of older Final Fantasy titles crossed with the Legend of Zelda from when I was a kid. I had played the Demo of this previously so my progress transferred over into this play-through. Team is Kevin/Charlotte/Riesz. Currently heading to Beiser.

[~6hrs in]
Still really enjoying this game. Art style reminds me of Kingdoms of Amalur. The combat is a little button-bashy at present, but I'm putting that down to not having a very wide move-set available yet. I'm also noticing a trend of backtracking to previous areas I've visited, but at least the enemies update and scale so I can still grind/farm XP a little along the way. I can surely see the replay value appeal of discovering the different protagonist's stories, although I doubt I'll be undertaking multiple playthroughs simply due to my backlog.

[41hrs - End]
Game was repetitive by the third playthrough so it was speed-ran in ~5hrs on NG+ by carrying over my fully levelled team, using Magic Ropes wherever possible to remove backtracking in dungeons, and fleeing from pretty much every battle possible, and whenever I couldn't flee, I spammed Class Strikes relentlessly. Platinum trophy earned.

[~2.5hrs in]
Having already played all 4x previous Uncharted titles, it was pretty easy to jump right into this. I did check the trophy guide in advance, and after seeing a trophy tied to difficulty (requiring completing the game on Crushing) I opted to disregard the Platinum and just play through the title without concern for trophies. I had forgotten just how janky movement can be in Uncharted games, changing direction when running for example, or trying to move organically such as traversing with ropes and using the piton. It's not fun falling from great height because the game doesn't register the piton button being pressed. Or getting stuck on a wall for instance when trying to dodge into cover, and standing exposed to gunfire whilst desparately trying to get around a corner where Chloe just won't move properly is frustrating. Being able to loot and switch between weapons without concern for upgrading them makes it less stressful. In a gunfight you can just grab a dead enemies gun and crack on as you were. The graphics are acceptable for the age of the title. Exploration with the jeep is fun and the map feels nicely put together. I really enjoyed the handcrafted environments in the city at the beginning, the desk where you find the Disc especially stands out. Some of the dialogue has been a little cringe, and the relationship between the two protagonists feels a little forced at times, but for what it is, it's not a deal breaker.

[7hrs - End]
Finished the playthrough without much fanfare. Frustrated toward the end. Gameplay gets stale and repetitive. Combat is dumb frenetic. Super relieved I was not playing on Crushing as most gunfights descend into an utter shitshow immediately. The moment you fire an unsilenced gunshot, you are peppered from all sides. Enemies all immediately identify your precise position and unload on you, whilst you're trying desperately to line up a clear shot to conserve ammo since you can empty an entire clip and not even kill a single enemy. Nadine's retard AI got me killed on numerous occasions by running in the way as I tried to jump to a ledge causing me to fall to my death... or running toward me during combat and drawing enemies attention to my previously concealed position. Way before the end of the game I got bored of getting stuck on buildings constantly or the janky ass jump mechanic where you stand still jumping vertically on the spot rather than vaulting over minor obstacles. The only saving grace for me were the beautiful environments and the relationship between the protagonists. Would not rush back to replay this title and not bothering to even chase low hanging fruit trophies.

[~2hrs in]
Pretty decent start to a game; likely going to help that I played FC5 last year so the plot etc is relatively fresh in my recall. Graphically once you are out of the wreckage is gorgeous, moving up the river and seeing the abundance of flora and fauna; I anticipate it will all get a little samey-samey in due course but for now, it's charming enough. The premise of the plot seems coherent; then again, I have never played a FC game where the plot has been awful. Jumping into this directly after playing a game where you can slow time whilst aiming is a bit of trial by fire - almost died in the opening chapter, and my AI companion got downed multiple times which was annoying. I've already ventured out from base and cleared an Outpost, found a Stash, recruited a G4H etc, so it's safe to say the game let's you get on with it and doesn't force you into some long winded intro. Enjoying so far. Mindful that I intend to go for the Plat, so I've already invested in unlocking Expeditions so I can find a Co-op partner to get the associated Trophy.

[~5hrs in]
If you try to travel anywhere on foot in this game, you will be attacked by wildly overpowered animals (in the early game at least). Every time I try to head for an Outpost or a Mission Marker, I get mauled by a Bear, or a Wolverine, or a Cougar. And expend my entire ammo reserves in the process...

[~18hrs in]
The story mission where you fight the twins is frustratingly absurd. M&L are goddamn bullet sponges with impeccable accuracy. You try to get a vantage spot to fight back, and either get hit with a headshot, or blown up by an RPG... all whilst being mauled endlessly by infinite-spawning dogs. FML. Never known anything like it. This is just dumb.

[~21hrs in]
For anyone else arriving here frustrated, after leveling up the Homebase further, and upgrading Perks substantially, and getting Horatio to self-revive (15-Kills), and then using Wrath to prevent being knocked-down... the fight was considerably easier. Main questline finished. Now to mop up trophies. Also, Expeditions kinda remind me of Spec Ops from the OG CoD MW2.

[~24hrs in]
Mopping up trophies and feel the need to note my frustration with animals not spawning when you actively try to hunt them for their pelts. Wild how I can air drop directly onto the map marker for a specific animal (i.e. Moose), then spend 25-minutes wandering around in that area and still not see a single one.

[~30hrs in]
Just need to find another player to co-op the "Have Buddy, Will Travel" trophy so I can add the Platinum to my pile. Rest of the content is complete beside Expeditions.

[35hrs - End]
Platinum earned, game completed.

[~4hrs in]
First impressions of this game are overwhelmingly positive. I have not felt so in awe of landscapes since the first time I played Horizon Zero Dawn. This game is absurdly gorgeous. The leaves... oh my, the leaves... the way they dance and flutter in the Winds, the whole forest breathing life around you. I've just passed through the Golden Forest, and the colours... I cannot do it justice. It's perfection. Unfairly so. Just walking patiently through the fields, the wind whispering past you, the sound of water flowing out of sight, birds fluttering above you. Immersive AF. You could remove the plot and combat and sell this as a Walking Simulator and I would still recommend it off my first few hours. Speaking of other aspects of which I've only scratched the surface; the plot is seeming decent enough although how quickly Jin abandons his Code of Honour was a little questionable. Combat seems very in-depth given the Stances and wider move-sets. Collectibles tying in to lore and culture work very organically. No complaints really so far, slow but very engaging.

[~18hrs in]
The environments continues to mesmerize me. I spend so much time in Photo Mode, just playing with lighting and angles. The breadth of content is insane in respect of Tales, Locations (Fox Dens, Hot Springs etc.) and Activities (Bamboo, Haiku, Shinto Shrines etc.), I am constantly drawn forward to new locations and experiences, further assisted by the fantastic design choice of using wind direction as your compass! The combat is satisfying (especially cleaving off limbs à la The Witcher 3), though at times frustrating if you are getting swarmed which occurs a lot of the times due to the inability to be stealthy since you are spotted so damn easily! I have just begun Act II and feel like I have barely scratched the surface. The scope of this game is huge and I am 100% here for it. One other note; I am not a fan of how the 'fog of war' removes so minimally even with Travellers Lv.3... I admittedly looked online and saw that clearing all the occupied Mongol camps will fully lift it, but I kinda wish it was done in territories with a smaller area clearing per camp rather than all at once. That's only a minor gripe though.

[~36hrs in]
If you are appreciating every aspect in it's entirety, this game is gargantuan. 36hrs in and I am still in Act 2 (of 3) and still have the Iki DLC to play. I still feel like there is overwhelming amounts of content for me to explore. The Tales (side quests) do not feel like typical fetch quests or trivial time wasting to beef up the playtime, each feels beautifully handcrafted, layered with depth and insight, and unique in content. In fact, thinking about it, there does not feel like much repetition in this title so far beside the combat (though even that is super varied using all the Stances and techniques). The Collectibles are not bog standard either; they are lore items, organically located, each steeped in lore which adds value to the experience. The Activities are little fun mini-games which you welcome rather than avoid. And the Shrines are some of the best level design I've ever seen; gorgeous little mini areas of parkour and exploration, isolated and preserved in their seclusion; utterly fascinating how they are structured in respect of traversal. The game continues to hypnotise me with it's refined beauty, and even now I still find myself stopping to just breathe in the scenery and bask in it's elegant splendour. This game is a true masterpiece.

[~62hrs in]
Just finished the main campaign and unlocked the Platinum Trophy. This game is incredible. Now eagerly jumping into the Iki Island content.

[~73hrs in]
This Iki Island expansion is solid content. The new activities and quests, the new environment (Senjo Gorge, Kidafure Battleground & Shattered Cliffs especially!) and the new combat mechanics are all great additions to the experience. The cherry on the cake so far however has been the Wind Shrine rewards and the Ghost of Iki cameo! Thoroughly enjoying this game still, it's not stale at all, even this far in.

[Finished 76hrs in]
Extremely reluctant to put this down, but it's time to move onto a new game after a month of playing this at every opportunity. Pretty much completed everything I possibly could besides a few Records, Vanity Items, and Banners. From a trophy perspective (as I do typically try to mop up as many as I can), I collected everything except those from NG+ and Legends (Online); frustratingly this meant missing the 'Common Courtesy Trophy' from the "Iki Island: Story" DLC set as it requires playing Legends rather extensively. Cannot recommend this title highly enough.

[~2.5hrs in]
Initial thoughts: story is shallow enough to work within the era the game is set. The world feels organic, but the need to constantly use a vision overlay to identify resources breaks the immersion somewhat. Resource gathering feels a bit repetitive. Combat is frenetic; if you fail to kill them with an arrow, it consists largely of running in circles trying to bash the enemies head in with a blunt weapon. Exploration feels refreshing, though the constant threat that you may be attacked at any moment makes me reluctant to venture out to far from home base.

[~8hrs in]
Really getting into Primal now and making some decent progress. Next observation is how frustrating it becomes when you are trying to move forward with the mission sequence, and you are constantly attacked by wildlife, pulled off course by Wenja Events, or distracted by a nearby collectible. Hence why my completion is so high, yet my actual mission progress is poor!

[~10.5hrs in]
Spent almost an entire hour trying to find 2x Rare South Stone, and trying to get a badger to spawn as I needed 1x skin to finish crafting a specific item. That was super frustrating. In the end, I ironically got the badger skin from my Stash after resting at a bonfire. Almost finished all the crafting, skill unlocks, and village hut upgrades. I've ventured both north and south into the farthest regions, and unlocked 11/16 bonfires across the map facilitating fast travel. I get this stuff out the way early on so I can stomp through the quest sequences without getting waylaid with side content.

[~25hrs in]
As I come into the concluding content, I have enjoyed this title for the most part. I found some of the Wenja side quests a little repetitive and if I wasn't bothering to get the Platinum trophy, I'd likely have stopped doing them. The final Udam quest giving no XP felt a bit underwhelming when I still need to finish unlocking quite a few Skills. Really enjoyed many of the villager quest-lines like Karoosh and Urki. Biggest issue with the game is the way tamed beasts irrationally act at times, and how they get in the way, sometimes blocking you in somewhere until you dismiss them. The other major frustration is how when using the Owl to engage enemies, they immediately know where you are positioned in the surrounding wilderness and swarm you - it makes using the Owl largely useless beside getting the first couple hits in before all hell breaks loose.

[~30hrs Finish]
Just got the Platinum Trophy at 30hrs 15m. End game became very stale after finishing all the story content. Grinding side quests, replayable missions and collectibles for XP (which then capped) and finally Skill Points. Had a minor aneurysm when I was one Skill Point short for the Expert Wenja achievement and subsequently the Platinum Trophy... thankfully a new side quest appeared which rewarded a Skill Point and I managed to get it done. Overall, wholly enjoyed this game. Would recommend.

This game was worth every penny. Such a beautifully detailed, breathing terrain brimming with history and lore. Expansive quest lines, engaging narrative and colourful dialogue littered with dark humour and vulgar references to amuse. The assorted cast entangled in a complex tale of lost love, paternal instinct and good old fashioned blood lust that draw you in, further decorated with the thrill of hunting down Witcher contracts against formidable adversaries each with their own enriching traits and mannerisms. I still feel like I have only begun to scratch the proverbial surface of this masterpiece, and I am already hopelessly addicted to the adrenaline that floods my system as I hack bloodied, writhing limbs from any damned manifestations that dare cross my path.

Main Story complete after 98hrs. Likely another 40hrs of additional content I haven't touched left. The scope of this title is insane.

This is genuinely one of the best games I have ever played. Just finished off the HoS Expansion, and now getting my teeth into the BaW Expansion!

With over 146hrs under my belt and damn near all unique content exhausted, I feel content now to call it a day on Witcher 3. I cannot understate how much of a masterpiece this title truly is; after choosing it on a whim, it consumed me into captivating worlds, engaging emotional plots and one of the solidest character growths I have ever experienced. Quite possibly the single best game I have ever played.

Having never played the original, and usually detesting water based missions in FPS's (the good old obscured vision, oxygen depletion and being shot at when you can't return fire or seemingly find cover of any sort) I was justifiably a little bit... how can I put it mildly? Pessimistic. I envisioned long repetitive and frustrating underwater sequences which would culminate in either rage-quitting or sending my PS3 controller through the TV screen like a gamer who can't handle conceding a 90th minute goal on FIFA.

Ironically, I was pleasantly surprised by the contrast of my expectations with reality. I watched a quick recap video on Youtube of the original title, and then jumped right in to assuming the role of Subject Delta. The storyline is engaging and the growth of the characters realistic, although as anticipated within about half an hour of playing, the twists of the plot became predictable.

I did find the mission structure a little rinse and repeat (stop at a station, get off, find and kill big daddies, harvest ADAM, get back on) but the variety in interior locale of Rapture was appreciated, the loadout range and customisability of the weapon system was reminiscent of Dead Space (definitely a good thing since I fucking adore that franchise), and the progression of enemy NPC's was proportionate to the protagonists own growth.

The atmosphere created by the musical score was that of a sunken vessel, the sort of music you imagine playing on the Titantic as it sinks to Davy Jones' locker in a depressive, haunting fashion ("I'll never let go Jack!" promptly lets go). Ahem. What the game did superbly for me however, was create an unparalleled sense of urgency and emotional attachment with Eleanor and the other little sisters. Perhaps this is due to being the Father of my own daughter, but I felt an unshakeable thirst for redemption, a need to be the hero and to rescue these poor innocent children from the grasp of some demented cult logic of sacrifice. Kinda like rescuing my daughter from the demented logic of some other people... but I digress.

In closing, I found the game to be both aesthetically satisfying, and emotionally rewarding - with each adoption and rescue I really felt I was making a difference and that I was the saviour of these precious little girls. The last few missions felt more of a victory lap than anything else, I was slightly OP by this point (picture Charizard fighting Bulbasaur) so it was more about the sense of impeding and inevitable success that rallied me through those final chapters, as I strode defiantly amidst the Splicers wielding an electric shock charged, incendiary round loaded shotgun that literally decimated them into screaming piles of charred flesh.

I'd definitely recommend giving this game a chance to any sceptics out there - though not my favourite in the genre, definitely a solid title.