Direct 3d translation of the CRPG, jank included, but that adds to it if anything

The most god level hype combat ever put in a game, also the shortest and most linear souls game but I'll be damned if that didn't add to it

It always feels like you just barely can't do what you want but that just might be a skill issue

Why they went for the maximalist angle on the arcade gameplay is beyond me, when it works it WORKS but sometimes it just feels like you're following an if this than that script playing this because of how deadset the enemy counters are. A reliance on tutorials to explain this also feels off.

2016

Lost the juking element of classic doom combat but replaced it with a damn fun core gameplay loop and a surprisingly cohesive atmosphere

Combat sort of tops out about halfway in and I just lose interest

So much number crunching on loot it's painful, combat loop is theoretically interesting but just turns into every party member doing the same spells over and over again, and the story isn't even that good to make up sor it

Damn fun combat that keeps on getting more interesting set against the best dystopian setting ever

Oh my GOD this game is great, just filled with random little interesting characters and enemy designs and the loot progression is so damn addicting with how brutal the combat is. It actually feels like a game-changer to get a slightly better gun or armor and that's great. Out-of-combat progression is also great with how rewarding building up the faction questlines can be.

More Fallout, that's all you need

Extremely well-built story with the most creative story-based character building system ever

This is what survival horror needs, absolutely devastating setting and difficulty that places you in situations approaching the true madness of a brutal situation. Some game design decisions here seem a little counterproductive to this end though, the checkpoint system isn't too great and the plague doesn't feel interesting because getting it is an instant death warrant pretty much.

THIS is what you want out of a fantasy RPG, the whole world feels like a combat-narrative puzzle box that unfolds in a satisfying and oddly cinematic adventure.

Better story than most of the films and extremely well refined souls-like design