The State of Story Driven Shooters - Reboot Episode 9.5

I'm going to have to disagree that this was "gameplay." It's likely scripted footage generated from the engine they'll be using to develop the game. No human was playing. There's just too many scripted motions in the footage. Nothing seems human-like in the sense that it was a recording of a person using a basic controller, and I wish there was a way to convince Mike and Jake of this.

Also, Jon Bloch (Executive Producer) stated that the demo was captured on a PC comparable to XBox One X.

Nothing better than a good single player FPSer with lots of exploration. BioShock, Dying Light, Fallout, HL, Prey and Rage all come to mind. I remember exploring the Van Braun in System Shock 2 way back in the dark ages. FUN!

Mike, I think your suggestion of looking back at earlier Far Cry games, in preparation for Far Cry 5, is a good one. I've got fond memories of the original Far Cry ... but that was early 2004, and I don't think I've played it since. And the Far Cry series has seen a few different iterations since then. Remember those old Instincts games for the Xbox? Or how Far Cry 2 had a malaria mechanic? Or that weird, half baked buddy system?

Also, if you do end up going back to Stalker again, I highly recommend the Stalker Complete mod. It's a nice, comprehensive improvement/polishing of game's systems, that doesn't actually alter the way the game plays. I think the modder made one for each of the three games.

I started Metro 2033 again (Redux, this time), and hopefully this time I'll get all the way through and on to Last Light. Metro's got the look, it's got the sounds, it's got atmosphere falling out of it and an intriguing story ... it just doesn't play super well. For a game that makes fighting the monsters feel like a mistake, it sure funnels me into a lot of scripted sequences were I have to fight waves of monsters. : \