people like to throw around the word "pretentious" when talking about things that they don't like, but i don't think that they Actually know what it means. when we, as people, describe something as pretentious, we mean that it is attempting to peacock as though it is more intelligent or significant than it actually is.

well, buddy, look no further than this game for that definition. a game whose gameplay is worse in nearly every way than its predecessors, one that makes grand gesticulations towards the ideas of "racism" and "american exceptionalism" only to fall flat on its face every step of the way, and possessive of a "twist" so meaningless in the context of the plot that acts merely as a smokescreen to quickly make its escape as it hopes players will walk away unable to remember anything else about the game.

if there were a poll online for "The Most Pretentious Game of All Time", i would bet money on the collective reddit-esque hive mind of "gamers" choosing something like Braid. well Bioshock Infinite, you've got my vote, friendo!

Still one of my favorite games of all time five playthroughs in.

Just a full package for me. I love the aesthetics, characters, story, and everything here. The soundtrack is probably my favorite attached to a video game ever.

Sometimes I think if this and the other CING games came a few years later and either saw a release on Steam or even the Switch instead they would've found more of a fanbase/footing. It wasn't meant to be though. I miss them so much. :(