This review contains spoilers
One of the most visually striking games I've ever played, this game is truly stunning in every regard. Beyond obsessed with the H.R. Giger influences and design choices, it was giving Alien in the best way possible.
Love how not hand-holdy this game was too. They truly said "ok! you're alive, now go! do what you gotta do, and be alive!" and then nothing else. I do partly wish there was more concrete story, but I also don't really mind how it was. There's enough world building and environmental context to let our imaginations fill in the rest. The only thing I truly wanted more context for was the ending, which.... 🙃 idk yalllll. Very nihilistic. No clue what we were trying to do at the end in that room, it seemed like we were trying to ascend/ reach enlightenment only for us to ditch that and keep moving forward? And then the parasite coming back? Eugh. Just nihilistic. Fitting for the themes of the game tho haha, so maybe thats the point.
In terms of gameplay, exploration and puzzle solving was 10/10 so fun so interesting. Not too hard, not too easy. Not much to say. Combat tho??? God, it was horrible lol. I wish they had just cut the idea of this game being a first person shooter. I like that there are physical threats, but it was not executed properly. Dodging projectiles felt impossible, switching between guns and reloading was clunky, and waiting for the jackhammer gun to go off cooldown while trying to kite the creatures was so tedious and annoying. Just plain dookie. And for the most part I felt like the jackhammer was the best weapon, I just saved my ammo for when I'd get swarmed or there were multiple bulls. Just unfun I'm so sorry. I ended up running past enemies whenever possible lol, its not like fighting things mattered.
Overall, I already want to replay this game... but then I think of the tedious combat and am left with a feeling of dread. I can't not rate this game highly tho, it truly was a work of art and one of my favorite games of the year even with its flaws. Just. EUUUUUUUGH. Bittersweet idk.
Would def recommend playing it tho if you like environmental puzzle games.
Love how not hand-holdy this game was too. They truly said "ok! you're alive, now go! do what you gotta do, and be alive!" and then nothing else. I do partly wish there was more concrete story, but I also don't really mind how it was. There's enough world building and environmental context to let our imaginations fill in the rest. The only thing I truly wanted more context for was the ending, which.... 🙃 idk yalllll. Very nihilistic. No clue what we were trying to do at the end in that room, it seemed like we were trying to ascend/ reach enlightenment only for us to ditch that and keep moving forward? And then the parasite coming back? Eugh. Just nihilistic. Fitting for the themes of the game tho haha, so maybe thats the point.
In terms of gameplay, exploration and puzzle solving was 10/10 so fun so interesting. Not too hard, not too easy. Not much to say. Combat tho??? God, it was horrible lol. I wish they had just cut the idea of this game being a first person shooter. I like that there are physical threats, but it was not executed properly. Dodging projectiles felt impossible, switching between guns and reloading was clunky, and waiting for the jackhammer gun to go off cooldown while trying to kite the creatures was so tedious and annoying. Just plain dookie. And for the most part I felt like the jackhammer was the best weapon, I just saved my ammo for when I'd get swarmed or there were multiple bulls. Just unfun I'm so sorry. I ended up running past enemies whenever possible lol, its not like fighting things mattered.
Overall, I already want to replay this game... but then I think of the tedious combat and am left with a feeling of dread. I can't not rate this game highly tho, it truly was a work of art and one of my favorite games of the year even with its flaws. Just. EUUUUUUUGH. Bittersweet idk.
Would def recommend playing it tho if you like environmental puzzle games.