My review may be colored by the fact I finished this game on the Steam Deck in 2024, but WOW, what a mixed experienced. I can understand that was a paradigm shift in 2005, a in a year where the other major releases were GTA: San Andreas and Pokémon Leaf Green, but for me the admittedly neat campaign was muddled by flat characters, mediocre encounter design, and a wickedly underwhelming ending. Dr. Breen’s absentee villainy felt like a huge waste of what could have been an iconic figure, instead being literally relegated to diegetic TV segments where his calming narration can populate the otherwise completely sparse hallways and corridors. If this is your favorite game of all time, don’t let my disappointment sour your admiration.

Just understand that I never want to fight another strider in my fucking life.