@s0102247 @randallsilver: i know what he means. my first thought when starting the game was "ps2" as well. it's not the sharpness or the overall graphical quality (those are pretty much ps4 standards), it's HOW the levels are designed. they are very empty. all buildings look the same, there's nothing on the walls or anything particularly eye-catching in the environment. that just automatically brings back bland ps2-memories. and fyi i played until the game offered me to erase my data.

@Peazo: i agree with pretty much everything you say. i didn't know these sort of sidequests were still allowed in 2017. INCREDIBLY tedious. the game did some stuff right, but overall i was very disappointed.

wow, i really didn't like the game, which surprised me after all i read about it.

the gameplay is alright, it keeps you going, but it gets way too easy very early. the switches between 3d and 2d look nice and the bullet shooter parts were a distraction from the usual gameplay, but also way too easy. it's not true what the reviewer says, mashing one button actually IS enough. i bought the counterchip early on, because i like countering. whenever i did counter i did a ton of damage, but i might just as well have mashed square. so gameplay-wise i would say it's ok, but far too easy. it's definitely flashy though.

now the worst part, and what really just destroyed the game for me were the protagonists. i hate 2b and 9s. judging from those characters (and the looks of the machines) i would say the game aims at teens, but then all that brutality doesn't add up. they start the game basically like this:

9s: "hey 2b, i'm 9s, i'll support you on your missions. it's gonna be fun!"

2b: "gtfo, i don't need anyone. also, androids don't have emotions or experience fun"

(5 minutes later 9s gets wrecked)

2b: "i HAVE to repair him!"

pod: "don't think that'll work"

2b: "shut up, shut up, shut up, i don't wanna hear it, i'm very emotional".

so the game lost right at the start. but i gave it a chance. like i said the gameplay sort of kept me going a bit (plus i was hoping to find out, why everyone likes this game so much). not only were the characters incredibly clichéd, but they were also all over the place. first it seems like 9s isn't all down with killing machines, because they might have developed emotions after all (probably just mimicking humans though), but then when you see that emil guy the first time (which is simply a head without body and it's very clear he's friendly) 9s is like "this machine is weird, 2b, let's kill it". (me: ?????????). whatever the game wants to tell you (even if it just wants to make you think), it only scratches the surface and even that is done very poorly, with very bad dialogue and barely anything resembling a character development. i did like a2 a bit better, but after a bit of reflection i came to the conclusion, that this was probably only because she killed 2b.

i'll finish on something positive though. this game is really weird, but in a good way. i liked those little touches, e.g. that the game showed the pods communicating with each other and there were other parts where the game managed to get a smile on my face. i like when games do things differently, and this game has a lot of that. all the way to my favourite part of the game: deleting your game data to help other players with the end of the D (or E?) ending. that was such a cool feature. it feels like the right minds and hearts made this game. it's a shame they didn't invest in an interesting story and more challenging gameplay. it doesn't seem to matter though. from what i hear this game is already a legend.

@GunEye: :( well, as long as the gameplay is fun i can probably ignore that!

@nomadski69: sure they are nice, and they add gameplay value to the player that buys it but it doesn't give him advantages over other players. i spent hours in the character creation of Dark Souls, i want my characters to look how i want them to, too. they can release a thousand skins for god of war, nobody will care, because it's a single player game. it will make the publisher look like cash-grabbing scum, but there won't be any further consequences.

again: if it impacts the actual gameplay and gives players advantages over other players, that's where it gets critical.

more stuff for my library, that i don't actually play :) . i was taking a look in there a few days ago and my, there are some (probably) great games in there, like Lords of the Fallen or Mgs5. but somehow i don't really try out new stuff, because i know what genres i like. i took a leap the other week and bought nier-automata and i didn't like it at all. fell flat on my face with that one. bloodborne is hot again at the moment, i'm fine with that. also looking forward to god of war!

@livedreamplay: ah ok, starting to get his excitement. when i get the game i'll see what it adds for me.

nice review!

@g4m1ngon: if it's really just pressing x and square, aren't you glad your expectations won't be disappointed at least?

@dr_vancouver: games and herbs are a good combo. especially beautiful games. ooooooooh!