This game is an absolutely unforgettable experience, but the slower pace may not be to everyone's taste. If you are the type who loses patience and isn't able to slow down and take in the dialogue, atmosphere and setting in deliberately paced encounters you may find yourself getting bored or impatient. This would simply be your loss however, as it is ludicrous to ever call such a tense, emotional and densely packed game 'slow' paced. In terms of combat/gameplay, it is largely the same as it's predecessor - you are required to stealth, scramble and improvise through tense encounters with soldiers that are significantly more challenging than those in Innocence the first time through, and navigate encounters with rats which are essentially environmental puzzles. Amicia has a more streamlined and imo effective toolset to deal with them however (despite actually being less mobile - there is no ability to dodge this time around) and overall I felt they took everything good about the gameplay in Innocence, and improved on it. However it is not fundamentally different so if you didn't enjoy Innocence's gameplay, I wouldn't expect to feel differently here. The graphics, lighting and environments are jaw-dropping and the soundtrack is unforgettable. But the true heart and soul of this game lies in the bond shared by Amicia and Hugo and every beat of the story is built to naturally reinforce that, which is why the final act is so devastatingly effective. The cinematic storytelling is simply some of the best that has ever been delivered in the medium. This story and these characters will stay with me for a very, very long time.
Loved this game. Played on the PS5, there are performance issues (I had 3 crashes and choppy framedrops when the game autosaved) and some goofy bugs - mainly with the audio and NPC dialogue - that need to be patched. None of the technical issues were game-breaking or really detracted from how much I enjoyed this game though - the setting is superb, the is story engaging, and the level design/traversal is tight and very satisfying. Also has a VERY nice, player-friendly UI/UX. But where it really shines is the combat and weapon designs. So if you're an action game enjoyer who can forgive some rough edges, this ones a no-brainer.
I loved this game up to a point close to the end, where there is a shift in player character and mechanic for the majority of remaining gameplay which for me, really didn't work and caused the emotional momentum it had built up to that point to just putter out. The ending felt quite abrupt and lacklustre for a few reasons, a big one being that, for such a scripted and linear little story, the antagonist ends up underdeveloped and underutilised, and the mystery at the heart of the story - Hugo's "affliction", the whole reason they're being pursued by the Inquisition - is kind of left on a bit of a bum note that didn't work with the grim historical/horror aspect it developed earlier on. It's a fantastic game despite this and I still enjoyed it immensely and will replay it. The artistic style is quite unique and very beautiful and the depictions of war-torn, plague-ridden French countryside are very memorable and quite gut-wrenching. The gameplay is pretty straightforward and I really enjoyed the stealth mechanics, especially in the early-mid chapters. There are a few thrilling escape and infiltration missions which alone justify giving this game a go if you enjoy that kind of thing. Overall, beautiful and extremely memorable despite some flaws (who knows, maybe I'll feel differently when I replay it), and well worth the money - especially on sale.
Absolutely amazing game with the most well executed open world ever. The story is timeless and engaging in its own right, but it's elevated further by just how good the gameplay is. Absolutely flawless design and execution. Learning how to utilise all of Aloy's different weapons, outfits and skills to take out all the different machines effectively is ENDLESSLY fun and rewarding, and despite what some others have said, the game does not reward a stealth approach over an aggressive one in any way. I found the opposite to be true. Stealth is just one one of Aloy's many tools. Resource gathering and management is simple and easy, the world is lush and teeming with everything you need, you simply gather while you explore all the gorgeous vistas. Most of the NPC's are fairly bland and interactions are basic, side quests are simple, good-natured and generally charming. I enjoyed them and personally I found the key characters in the story memorable (I really enjoyed Rost, Sylens, Ourea and CYAN). Aside from that, the map is just littered with so many fun things to do, I especially loved exploring each of the Cauldron's. Obviously there are misogynists whining because they're pressed about playing as a non-sexualised woman in an action game with a coming of age story (despite the fact there is literally no other notable female NPC until Ourea appears in The Frozen Wilds - guys, all of Aloy's mentors are dudes!). But, if you're not a pressed misogynist you're in for a touching story and some amazing gameplay. As an aside I'm running an RTX 2080 Super one of the i7 CPUs with a mix of high & ultra setting, everything ran beautifully, no crashes or stuttering, maybe 2 graphical glitches in 100+ hours. Can't wait for the sequel!
