This game feels much older than it is. The animations, gameplay mechanics, even your movement through the world and the sound effects feel like they're from a game 15 years older. The combat checks the right boxes for a modern third person RPG in theory (stamina bar, block, dodge roll, attack combos), but in execution is clunky and not nearly as refined as its contemporaries (though once I got used to it I still found it enjoyable). Whether all this is a deal breaker instead of charmingly quaint depends on whether you still enjoy the old school RPGs you played 15-20 years ago. However, if you are someone who likes deep open world RPGs, I absolutely recommend you ignore those concerns and play this. Because there still aren't really any games out there that quite scratch the same itch (other than PB's prior games). This is an open world RPG, that has the large handcrafted world full of environment storytelling and secrets, and no map full of questions marks to hold your hand (like Elder Scrolls). However, it combines this with a deeper, more character-driven story you'd see in a game like The Witcher 3. Granted, the open world is smaller with less to do than Skyrim, and the story won't win the same writing accolades as The Witcher, but it still has a compelling world with plenty to do and a cast of characters with believable personalities that develop through your interactions with them. Add to this that PB is still fantastic at creating a faction system with believable societies that have distinct feels, rules, motivations, and ways of navigating the harsh world they find themselves in. You have to choose one to join in your game, and it really makes your choice feel impactful on your playthrough. I also enjoyed the science fantasy setting. The stylistic mix of medieval fantasy and scifi is unique and compelling, and not found in many other games. Bottom line: If you like the genre and style and don't mind playing games that aren't AAA masterpieces, play it
