The world building is intriguing, and the graphics are surprisingly alluring, considering I played without the VR feature, on my PC. Some portions of the storyline were however redundant. The sequence in the desert was particularly tedious, with the start and end points looking so similar that I wasted a lot of time thinking I was going around in circles - not realizing that I had indeed made it to the intended destination. The narration progressed so as to slowly sow doubt into the mind of the player regarding how reliable or well-intentioned the guiding AI was. This presented a lot of potential, but proved frustrating at times. I thought the AI's chastising comments were intended to let me know that I was skipping important steps and needed to return to this task later. As it turns out, I was supposed to ignore those comments and complete the task right away. Past a certain point, I could no longer come back to it. As a player, you are not always aware of when you are reaching a point of no return. In summary: this game offers an immersive storyline, intriguing worldbuilding, fascinating graphics, but also some hiccups in the storyline that hindered its overall success.
I love this game so much - I cannot believe how ratings can be so divided. While the game can be a little tedious initially - particularly when traveling longer distances without any real means of transportation - it quickly picks up. I have spent over 200 hours playing this game, and I still haven't gotten bored. It is very similar to Stardew Valley, but with fascinatingly beautiful graphics and an intriguing post-apocalyptic storyline. I also find the characters fun to interact with. I have only started one game so far, but I will definitely start new ones later, to try and marry different people. Overall, a very fun time!
I cannot wrap my head around how the ratings can be so lackluster. I was completely engrossed in the game within the first hour. The gameplay is perfectly designed to ease you into its features without overwhelming you all at once. No need for tedious tutorials - features are introduced gradually, and the narration provides dependable reminders in the beginning. I am easily discouraged by games where one dies/fails too easily or frequently, but the easier settings of the game provided just the right amount of challenge without proving demoralizing. The graphics are also gorgeous and contribute to a fascinating world-building. The storyline is intriguing and outlined in a way that does not distract from the otherwise fast-paced gameplay. This may well be my favourite game of all time.
