I really wanted to love this game. Playing Original Sin 1&2 in Coop were some of the most fun gaming hours I ever had. But this game is WORK. I am sorry but it just isn't fun. I had a friend who was constantly one Act ahead of me in his single player game so when we played together he knew the right order to play areas etc. so that you would not get screwed by level jumps etc. However, the moment he did not have time to play in Coop anymore I lost all enjoyment. Why do I still give 3 stars? Because I do achnowledge the sheer depth and scope of the game, it is impressive. Maybe it just caught me at the wrong time in my life. PS: The fact that all companions are super horny and hot for you was really distracting and might be the reason I did not continue playing. Gradually building releationships in games like Mass Effect or Dragon Age was a core part of the experience which is severly cheapened by this approach. Everybody can love everyone means that no one loves anyone. Limitations add meaning.
This is specifically for Phantom Liberty, not the base game: In this DLC every single quest is designed really well, no more filler GIGs. The main quest is captivating and has some really cool gameplay variations I don't want to spoil. The ending is incredible and I only want to say so much: Play the way you feel like, don't worry about the "best" choice. The decisions turn out really belivable in my opinion. Finally, I think the actors performances are the best in CDPR games yet. I even appreciate Johnny Silverhands parts, which I kind of disliked in the base game (due to his character, not the execution). Here there is more nuance to it. A small nitpick: The new end to the main game is divisive to say the least...
First of all, I must say that I liked the original release in 2020 and finished it a first time then, the world and character design is outstanding as expected from CDPR. For all their flaws, so far they have always managed to write gripping games and that worked from the very beginning. Now, with Version 2.0 (and Phantom Liberty which is not necessary although highly recommended) the gameplay fully lives up to the the other strengths in my opinion. The reworks make the game incredibly satisfying. Some designdecisions are a bit more gamey and less "realistic" but it is just so much more enjoyable now. You basically have 4 completly distinct playstyles (Hacking, Stealth, Close combat and Guns Blazing), that can be mixed and matched to ones individual tastes. And given the right hardware it also looks absolutly stunning and will age really well, scaling very nicely with more modern tech with no bottlenecks currently visible.
I like the trails games and felt like Trails of Cold Steel 4 was one of the most epic games I have ever played. However, at this point in time there are simply too many characters for the JRPG style of "everybody has their moment, even the small side characters" writing. It sometimes feels like a huge drag. The core gameplay is still fun and there are actually some nice upgrades to the general fighting system that make it worthwile. They do need to clean up for the next one though if they don't want to dissapear into the hardcore niche in my opinion.
