tl;dr 9.5/10 despite bugs and a worry that the concept will not keep up with a constant need to add more weapons, this is a wonder of a hardcore, systemic PvPvE FPS.

The gameplay is something you won't get anywhere else, and the art direction is world class. If you're the type of person that wants to earn their satisfaction, you should play this game.

This is my favorite FPS of all time. It is difficult, frustrating, and confusing, especially at first. The second trailer on the steam page is a great example of what you're in for. Keep in mind many clips rely on the one weapon in the game that leaves you with 1HP after a shot to the upper chest (50 ways to die in hunt). However, if you put in the time the game will reward you in turn. It is a highly systemic game, which, to me, makes the gameplay arena feel very immersive. Red barrels explode, so don't kill a grunt carrying a torch while you're both right next to one. Full metal jacket will penetrate a metal wall, but incendiary ammo will not. The more you learn the game's systems, the more creative your potential becomes. The sense of progression as your skill increases is very satisfying. You'll pump your fists when you get your first kill, and for me, that feeling hasn't really gone away. It's a game that rewards you when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone. It punishes you, too, which makes the victories all the more sweet.

In a world of games as a service, this game stands above the others as one that respects its aesthetic. Nothing gameplay related is locked away behind a paywall or FOMO. Even when they add new or strange weapons, they all belong in the world, which I love. To this point, the battlepasses actually encourage the player base to use different play styles; I feel this is healthy for the game. To be honest, there are a handful of weapons I wouldn't mind to see deleted from the game, such as the Mauser (Dolch, deadeye can stay) and any high velocity ammo types. But that's not going to happen and that's ok. It's one of the reasons I appreciate the structure of the battlepass. I still have a lot of fun playing, even when I'm frustrated by the options my opponents have.

Hunt is under new management, and I think the team is doing a very good job. While I don't personally agree with every decision, it is clear that Crytek is dedicated to this game. Sometimes I feel like the player base takes the developers for granted. Guys, it could be so much worse. There is a part of me that worries that one of these updates will jump the shark and there will be no going back, but it hasn't happened, yet. There are bugs in the game, trades, server issues, I still have so much fun. I hope this game will be around for another 10 years.

Devs, since we have so many conditions that make it hard to see, can we bring back dark nights?

tl;dr 9.5/10 despite bugs and a worry that the concept will not keep up with a constant need to add more weapons, this is a wonder of a hardcore, systemic PvPvE FPS. The gameplay is something you won't get anywhere else, and the art direction is world class. If you're the type of person that wants to [i] earn [/i] their satisfaction, you should play this game. This is my favorite FPS of all time. It is difficult, frustrating, and confusing, especially at first. The second trailer on the steam page is a great example of what you're in for. Keep in mind many clips rely on the one weapon in the game that leaves you with 1HP after a shot to the upper chest (50 ways to die in hunt). However, if you put in the time the game will reward you in turn. It is a highly systemic game, which, to me, makes the gameplay arena feel very immersive. Red barrels explode, so don't kill a grunt carrying a torch while you're both right next to one. Full metal jacket will penetrate a metal wall, but incendiary ammo will not. The more you learn the game's systems, the more creative your potential becomes. The sense of progression as your skill increases is very satisfying. You'll pump your fists when you get your first kill, and for me, that feeling hasn't really gone away. It's a game that rewards you when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone. It punishes you, too, which makes the victories all the more sweet. In a world of games as a service, this game stands above the others as one that respects its aesthetic. Nothing gameplay related is locked away behind a paywall or FOMO. Even when they add new or strange weapons, they all belong in the world, which I love. To this point, the battlepasses actually encourage the player base to use different play styles; I feel this is healthy for the game. To be honest, there are a handful of weapons I wouldn't mind to see deleted from the game, such as the Mauser (Dolch, deadeye can stay) and any high velocity ammo types. But that's not going to happen and that's ok. It's one of the reasons I appreciate the structure of the battlepass. I still have a lot of fun playing, even when I'm frustrated by the options my opponents have. Hunt is under new management, and I think the team is doing a very good job. While I don't personally agree with every decision, it is clear that Crytek is dedicated to this game. Sometimes I feel like the player base takes the developers for granted. Guys, it could be so much worse. There is a part of me that worries that one of these updates will jump the shark and there will be no going back, but it hasn't happened, yet. There are bugs in the game, trades, server issues, I still have so much fun. I hope this game will be around for another 10 years. Devs, since we have so many conditions that make it hard to see, can we bring back dark nights?