I loved this game from beginning to end. - Interesting and morally complex main story, where you have to measure stuff in either a materialistic or more idealistic way. Personally, this two views resulted in a big clash in my ranks towards the end with the plot and foes taking a turn I did not expect; - Interesting side quests that have limited impact on your game world; - Faction and reputation system and its consequences, just like good old New Vegas; -Great build variety (reolvers, HMGs, anti-robot hacker, smash everything with a blunt weapon, sniper, shotgun, explosives and so on); - It's a bit punitive with generalist characters, which is a good thing in my book, so I specialized in 3 skills with each character for a wide range of utility; - Companions were mostly alright, really liked Lucy Wesson's arc in my run; - Gorgeous to look at, always wanted a Fallout game in a snowy-area and this really filled that hole. Have to do other runs, trying different skill setups and going for that more idealistic route in the main story and see how things play out that way. Couldn't recommend it enough!
This was in my "to do next" list for a few years and I finally managed to give it a try, I had a blast, here are what I consider it's best qualities: - Freedom of building your character, you are not restricted to standard fantasy stereotypes, how about an axe and shield wielding pyramancer tank dude with summoning capabilities? - Freedom of using "unorthodox" means to solve situations, I beat the game with no lockpicking chacracters, I would just burn wooden chests and doors with my pyromancy spells (didn't work with metal chests, but still a nice touch); - Elemental properties were great on combat and non-combat scenarios, fire would melt ice, water would weaken fire based characters and so on (there are some flame dudes and their boss in a burning forest in Cyseal, even being weaker than them, I would just use my rain spell all the time to greatly weaken them and finish them off with a water-based weapon); - Frredom of approaching a combat situation with different tactics. To my playstyle, each character had some summoning capability, I would attract the enemies around an area and then overload the battlefield with my summons (and AoEs); - Non-combat scenarios were also fun, with different ways to complete each quest; - Needless to say, great replay value, looking forward to trying other builds and new tactics; - The plot and dialogue were mostly light-hearted and fun, but the game also managed to handle serious matters with care (like what happened near the elemental forge in Hiberhein or the quest centered around the librarian Orc or pretty much anything in Hunter's Edge). If you like CRPGs this game is a must, can't wait to play the sequel in the following months.
Can't believe how I never got into this series in all these years, this game has it all: - Great and consistent sci-fi/cyberpunk setting and plot with some good and subtle social commentary; - Well written characters, both the protagonists and antagonists; - Superb level-design, many ways to approach each situation; - Tools for all tastes, either if you are lethal or non-lethal; I really like how Jensen's skills tie so well with the environment he's in, you can: - Upgrade your arm augmentations so you can carry heavier objects (maybe putting one over the other so you can open new paths) or punch through certain walls; - Upgrade your lungs augmentations so you can filter toxic air and go through hazardous paths unreachable otherwise; - Upgrade your social reading skill so you can determine someone's personality and respond according to that in order to convince her (I had a lot of trouble reading through Taggart, hate that guy in particular, hardest person to "read through" in the game which makes perfect sense since he is an extremely cunning and perceptive psychologist); - Upgrade your eyes so you can see through always AND not be affected by flashbang granades. And I could go on and on, needless to say, loved this game.
