like the studio took 5 different movie nights they had and mushed them together into this, bizarre how well the mix of genres works for me. there's a lot of flair here but you wouldn't think abt it that way when its also such a sterilized offices/sewer/laboratories romp in its level design. honestly love that juxtaposition tho, it's got an extremely serious mid aughts fps feel that somehow also synthesizes its gimmicks and style into itself without sacrificing the stark and direct "realism" its going for. and something abt the half lit office buildings rendered in this harsh lighting engine that makes them feel like abandoned but spotless spaceship interiors more than workplaces; sterile spaces have an eerieness to them that makes cobwebbed dilapidated ruins seem excessive.

playing on even the hardest difficulty is not a massive challenge most of the time, owing to giving you overpowered slo mo and ai that feels a little oversold on how smart it really is, but the game still nails its goal of making you look cool in firefights aesthetically, which i am more than fine with. in fact getting into the theatrics, setting the goal of making the action movie playing in my head translate to gameplay, was where half of the fun was for me. you do need do well enough to survive, and the options you are given do feel good, but cant tell you how many times i would just go with the shotgun for how it forces close quarters encounters that cause blood explosions, or how it helps incentivize me to do more slo mo karate kicks, and i was extremely satisfied making it work from there.

just hits so many good notes for me, ideal of fps. adorable scares and story i didnt pay any attn to as well.