Day one DRM free release for 20 bucks on one of the most anticipated games of all time. The game looks incredible, performs just as well, and plays incredibly smoothly. Worth the buy even if it were double the price. The only criticism I have of this game is that now I don't know what to do with my clown costume.
Rain World's biggest weakness, and also its biggest strength, is that it's utterly unconcerned with you as the player, both in its design philosophy and its moment-to-moment gameplay. The developers made an experience they wanted to and cared deeply for, and whether you understand what's going on or even manage to experience it is of no significance to them. If you want to play through some of the most beautiful and well thought out areas in gaming, you will find that here. You will also find incredible creature design, both visually and in their absolutely amazing AIs that truly make living creatures feel alive, and some occasional great music. If you want some of the coolest storytelling in gaming, coupled with a couple moments that made my jaw hit the floor, you will find it here (though you will have to search a lot for it). If you want to spend hours trying to find neat little secrets about how the game works and what makes it and its various little critters go about life, you will find that here. However, what distinguishes Rain World from any other game I've ever sunk my teeth into, is that it doesn't care whether you do any of this. And I don't mean this in the metroidvania/open world way of "it hides parts of the game from you to make it feel special", no. Rain World is constantly, whether you're looking or not, doing its thing, and if you want to understand anything from basic mechanics to the overarching plot, its up to you to decypher what its doing from context clues and a lot of thinking. While other games are like a puzzle for you, the player, that's been carefully crafted to be enjoyable to solve, Rain World is more like a beautiful but very messy painting. You can *see* the artistry, but whether you get the meaning or not is not the painter's business. Also slugcats are peak character design and I will die on that hill. So... scrungly. So beautiful.
I will keep throwing money at NOVECT for FataMoru goodies for the rest of eternity. Also the soundtrack's really good so that helps. Small aside, would be neat if the rest of their projects were on GOG as well. Let me buy Requiem and Seventh Lair again, dammit!
