If you like third-person or top-down stealth games (Hitman, Skyrim, Heat Signature) buy this game. I've put 90 hours in and have completed probably 80+% of the side-quests, including the DLC, as well as completing the main quest line and had a blast. However, there are many annoyances that detract from the user experience. With a bit of experimenting, though, the game really opens up and becomes very fun. You MUST save-scum. The one-shot-kill environmental features and unrestricted fall damage means you will have to use the save system intentionally. Since even side-quests can have different endings, you are encouraged to play out the various options by quickloading and trying a different approach. Many things aren't adequately explained to you such as the icons in the menus, how or why to upgrade weapons and armour, the stash system (available at the safehouse and every fast travel point and crafting bench) and how to upgrade your "magic" abilities, how to use them properly, differences in weapons, necessity of dodging or techniques for combat (the latter two encourage experimentation). You cannot ghost through the game which may put some people off when the game says you can "choose your playstyle". Combat is required for the two fights mentioned above and thus, watching for better weapons and crafting upgrades for them is also necessary. If you can get over the lack of guidance from the devs, this is a gem of a game that detractors haven't invested time into (e.g. Piflik's review can be softened by just explaining that he has to dodge more, switch between long-range and melee weapons, save-scum, use sense-mode more often to detect traps early, sliding is slower than the teleportation ability, don't pick up items you don't need, pay attention to upgrade requirements, use the invisibility ability, crouch more, read the tutorial on the fast-travel system--most of these things would apply to Skyrim too but you need to learn the systems of Seven).
I was coming off the back of GMTK's recommendation with its 100-day time pressure. However, the level design--random generation that doesn't always allow full access--and abysmal platforming controls leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Before you go on to the second of five stages, you must have the following: Hack L1 ($100), Hack L2 ($3000), Double Jump L1 ($600) at a MINIMUM. Wall Jump L1 ($1000) and Movement ($600) are also necessary if you don't want to be pulling your hair out in frustration. That's at least $3700. In the first level you can make a maximum of $900 and change (if you're not spotted) and the first upgrade will be Hack and Double Jump and then you'll make about $2000 every time you do the first stage IF you're not spotted and IF you don't fall into spikes because of the shoddy controls. It's a fucking grind. If I had got this on Steam, I'd get a refund.
