This game is phenomenal. Visually, it's the most stunning game I've ever played by a long shot. Every sector and room are beautifully designed and packed to the brim with intricate details. The use of color and lighting effects are incredible (even without ray-tracing, I'm sure it looks even better with an RTX capable PC). The game goes well beyond photorealism into "hyperrealism", which fits perfectly with the surreal atmosphere of the game.
Combat is intense and satisfying. The movement and combat abilities that you gain throughout the game synergize really well with the third-person shooter mechanics and create some very fast-paced, chaotic encounters. The environment around you is almost entirely destructible - papers scatter everywhere when you telekinetically throw office furniture at your enemies, and concrete walls crumble beside you as you scramble for cover. Encounters are paced well enough that there's plenty of time to experiment with different loadouts and playstyles while not becoming too repetitive.
The setting and worldbuilding are also fascinating. The game is set in a world that is superficially similar to our own, but you quickly discover that it's filled with fundamentally strange, supernatural forces like something out of a David Lynch movie. The main story is a cinematic experience where you slowly start to make sense of the world around you, and the side missions further reveal more details about the setting. Even the collectible documents and audio logs are pretty engaging, and I found myself trying to read as many of them as possible (something I almost never do in other games). The game also has an open map and encourages metroidvania-style exploration, and there are plenty of secrets and easter eggs to discover off the beaten path.
Overall, everything about this game comes together to form an enchanting experience. I spent about 40 hours completing all of the content and collecting all of the Steam achievements, and enjoyed every minute of it. And even though there's barely anything left to do, the game still lets me explore after the ending (something I wish more games would do). I think I'll spend a couple more hours doing some in-game photography and just appreciating the visuals of this fantastic game.
Combat is intense and satisfying. The movement and combat abilities that you gain throughout the game synergize really well with the third-person shooter mechanics and create some very fast-paced, chaotic encounters. The environment around you is almost entirely destructible - papers scatter everywhere when you telekinetically throw office furniture at your enemies, and concrete walls crumble beside you as you scramble for cover. Encounters are paced well enough that there's plenty of time to experiment with different loadouts and playstyles while not becoming too repetitive.
The setting and worldbuilding are also fascinating. The game is set in a world that is superficially similar to our own, but you quickly discover that it's filled with fundamentally strange, supernatural forces like something out of a David Lynch movie. The main story is a cinematic experience where you slowly start to make sense of the world around you, and the side missions further reveal more details about the setting. Even the collectible documents and audio logs are pretty engaging, and I found myself trying to read as many of them as possible (something I almost never do in other games). The game also has an open map and encourages metroidvania-style exploration, and there are plenty of secrets and easter eggs to discover off the beaten path.
Overall, everything about this game comes together to form an enchanting experience. I spent about 40 hours completing all of the content and collecting all of the Steam achievements, and enjoyed every minute of it. And even though there's barely anything left to do, the game still lets me explore after the ending (something I wish more games would do). I think I'll spend a couple more hours doing some in-game photography and just appreciating the visuals of this fantastic game.
GrantKeegan
3 years ago