Don’t mind the hours - I played through the remastered version but wanted to review the standard copy, focusing on the core aspects.

One of the best open-world games ever developed? Note that I didn’t just say “games” or “Action-RPGs.” It took me three attempts to really get into it because, initially, the characters and overall story didn’t grab my interest. The opening hour felt as though it broke all the best practices in game design - no compelling points of interest, no exciting action to hook you in. You’re introduced to an odd tribal storyline, led through the dullest dungeon imaginable, and asked to take down some of the game’s simplest machines. I had better things to do at that time.

But once I got through those early hours in the remastered version, I fell in love with the world and the incredible machines designs. The story itself didn’t captivate me much, but the core gameplay loop was highly addictive. You’re out there exploring stunning biomes, learning how to exploit the unique weaknesses of various machines, and occasionally diving underground to solve puzzles and uncover the lore of the world. It felt like Red Dead Redemption 2 without the emphasis on narrative. Throughout, it had strong vibes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - the story wasn’t the main draw for me there either, but the sheer sense of exploration was almost tangible.

And I have to call out the insane snow tech in the DLC - though that might be a remaster-exclusive feature.

I’ve heard the developers are working on an MMO, and I can see how it could succeed. The world is insanely rich.

Don’t mind the hours - I played through the remastered version but wanted to review the standard copy, focusing on the core aspects. One of the best open-world games ever developed? Note that I didn’t just say “games” or “Action-RPGs.” It took me three attempts to really get into it because, initially, the characters and overall story didn’t grab my interest. The opening hour felt as though it broke all the best practices in game design - no compelling points of interest, no exciting action to hook you in. You’re introduced to an odd tribal storyline, led through the dullest dungeon imaginable, and asked to take down some of the game’s simplest machines. I had better things to do at that time. But once I got through those early hours in the remastered version, I fell in love with the world and the incredible machines designs. The story itself didn’t captivate me much, but the core gameplay loop was highly addictive. You’re out there exploring stunning biomes, learning how to exploit the unique weaknesses of various machines, and occasionally diving underground to solve puzzles and uncover the lore of the world. It felt like Red Dead Redemption 2 without the emphasis on narrative. Throughout, it had strong vibes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - the story wasn’t the main draw for me there either, but the sheer sense of exploration was almost tangible. And I have to call out the insane snow tech in the DLC - though that might be a remaster-exclusive feature. I’ve heard the developers are working on an MMO, and I can see how it could succeed. The world is insanely rich.